Virtual Tour of Jewish Cuba

Join the BZD and our guide, Aliet Achkienasi, and explore the Jewish life in Cuba since the very beginning of the history of Cuba in 1942. In the Christopher Colombus ship, the expedition’s interpreter was a Jewish Converso named Luis de la Torre. Currently, there are five active synagogues on the Island: three in La Havana, one in Cienfuegos, and the last in Santiago de Cuba. The Jewish population in Cuba is approximately 600 members, of which 500 are located in La Havana. They celebrate ALL the Jewish festivities, including Sabbath.

Aliet Achkienasi was born in La Havana, Cuba, and has been an active member of the Cuban Jewish community until she arrived in Mexico to study for her Ph.D. She was a member of the greatest Synagogue in Havana, Beth Shalom, built in 1953. She is also part of the Judaic Tourism team; she started working as a guide for Jewish Tours in Havana and spreading about Jewish Cuba’s History and Heritage today.