Beth Shalom Temple (Havana, Cuba)
| Gran Sinagoga Bet Shalom Beth Shalom Grand Synagogue בית הכנסת בית שלום | |
|---|---|
|
Exterior of Templo Bet Shalom | |
| Basic information | |
| Location |
Calle i Esq. 13 Havana, Cuba 10400 |
| Affiliation | Conservative Judaism |
| Rite | Ashkenazi |
| District | Vedado |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Website | http://www.chcuba.org |
| Groundbreaking | 1951 |
| Completed | 1952 |
Temple Beth Shalom, built in 1952, is a synagogue located in the Vedado neighbourhood of downtown Havana. In 1981, much of the original building was sold to the state, and was then turned into the Bertolt Brecht Cultural Center, including a theatre, a music venue, a gallery and a bar. Only part of the structure remains in Jewish hands today. Extensive repairs were undertaken in the 1990s. Beth Shalom is considered the headquarters of the Cuban Jewish Community. The building also houses a Jewish library. [1][2][3][4]
Relationship with Castro Government
Overall, the Jewish community has enjoyed security and anti-Semitism has been minimal. In the years leading up to his death, Fidel Castro even attended the community's Hanukka celebration.
References
- ↑ For Cuban Jews, endless deprivation Archived July 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Globe
- ↑ The Cuba Connection The Star Tribune
- ↑ Havana Synagogue Dark for Decades is Once Again Aglow in the Light of Shabbat Candles Archived October 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. United Jewish Communities
- ↑ 4. Jewish Community of Cuba: The Golden Years, 1906-1958, Westview Publishing Company, Nashville, Tennessee, (February 2006). ISBN 0-9776207-0-0
Coordinates: 23°08′30″N 82°23′22″W / 23.141634°N 82.389425°W