RECIFE, Brazil (JTA) — Preparing to leave this city’s main Jewish community center, Sabrina Scherb peeks beyond its blast-proof gate into a quiet street strewn with branches and shredded mango fruits. The debris, left over from an overnight tropical storm, is not what’s worrying Scherb, a 22-year-old university student and volunteer dance instructor. “I’m looking…
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) — Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may cut his five-day visit to Brazil short over the political developments in Israel. Both Israeli and Brazilian media reported on the possibility of a shortened trip on Tuesday evening, more than a day after the ruling coalition agreed to dissolve the government and go…
(JTA) — An Israeli drug dealer who leads a smuggling network was captured in Brazil after trying to escape extradition. Dany Treyger, 32, was initially arrested last week in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, in Bolivia, and taken to Paraguay’s capital city Asuncion. He was expelled from Paraguay and handed over to Israeli authorities, who…
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) — The son of Brazil’s president-elect has confirmed to the U.S. president’s Jewish son-in-law that his country’s embassy will move to Jerusalem. “The question should not be whether we will do it, but when we will do it,” Brazilian congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro told Jared Kushner during a meeting in Washington on…
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) — A Jewish ritual object that initially was believed to be a Torah scroll was seized from criminals during a police raid of a Rio slum. Jewish representatives were called Monday to identify the object, which was determined to be a sefer Haftarah, or readings from the books of the prophets…
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) — The governor of Brazil’s Sao Paulo state apologized to the Jewish community for welcoming a Muslim clergyman accused of having ties with Hezbollah. Gov. Marcio Franca welcomed Sheikh Bilal Mohsen Wehbe as part of a group of members of the local Lebanese community during a visit to the state government…
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) — A Brazilian rabbi who supported an iconic ex-president convicted of corruption apologized after being slammed for acting as if he represented the Jewish community. Rabbi Alexandre Leone has been under fire since the release of videos and photos of him protesting on a sound truck in favor of ex-president Luis…
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) — A same-sex Jewish wedding ceremony held in the iconic Brazilian hotel frequented by kings and queens has made headlines in Latin America’s largest nation. It is the first Jewish same-sex wedding to go so public and is believed to be the first Jewish ceremony between two women in Brazil. Some…
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