I’ve hesitated to write about the plight of Jews in Venezuela ever since the Israeli incursion into Gaza. I think part of that comes from shock. It’s hard for me to process such overt hate, such overwhelming anti-Semitism, sitting comfortably in front of my computer in New York. It is easy for me to see how some Jews sat around in disbelief watching the events that led up to World War II without doing nothing. This is a very scary thing.

In the past few weeks, I’ve been invited to a rally in front of the Venezuelan consulate as well as to hear Dr. Daniel Benhayon, a guest speaker at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale during a recent Shabbat. Dr. Benhayon, a native Venezuelan, was one of the organizers of the massive rally protesting the heinous anti-Semitic attack that occurred on Jan. 30, at the Tiferet Israel Synagogue in Caracas, Venezuela. Unfortunately, I missed both events but was happy to hear that it was well attended. I know, I know, I should have been there as both a Latina and a Jew.

Here are recent articles regarding the situation in Venezuela:

“Venezuela’s Jews, Already Uneasy, Are Jolted by Attack”

“Venezuelan Jewish leader to address London conference”