From the mountainous desert to the rainforest: the journey of the Moroccan Sephardic Jewish community to the Amazon

• In Event: The Jewish Moroccan Diaspora--ERETZ AMAZÔNIA, The Jews of the Amazon

Abstract

Memory as a link between the past and the present, is sustained through rituals and the transmission of stories, and it's this common cultural heritage that bridges the different generations of a community. Within this context, this paper aims to rediscover the history of the Jewish community of the Amazon, accessing scientific documentation of the period, and firsthand accounts of the lived experiences of community members. The Spanish Inquisition is the starting point for this article. The methodology is based on qualitative research supported by a review of the narrative literature. The results suggest that neither the community's memory nor its Sephardic customs is affected by the process of migration. Instead, the rituals, symbols and traditions were in fact maintained by the very migratory process. The Jewish community in the Amazon is notably marked by its founding members, who left their legacy in science, economics, and religion.

Author

• Anne Benchimol, Comitê Israelita do Amazonas