Cuba has been ruled by Fidel Castro since the 1959 Revolution. Most Jews left in the early 1960s but a remnant remained on the island for ideological or personal reasons. Since the early 1990s, there has been a renaissance of Jewish life. Congregations in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Camaguey, and several other cities are thriving.

Life in Cuba today remains a struggle. The few stores that exist are poorly stocked. Almost everything is rationed. Very few people have cars; most of the vehicles on the road are old and in constant need of repair. Yet the Cubans are cheerful, concentrating on the good and trying to have as much fun as they can.

Because of the difficulty of life in Cuba, it is inevitable that some Jews will continue to want to emigrate. There is a steady stream, however, of "newly rediscovered Jews" who have Jewish roots, or who are married or connected to Jews, or want to be Jews. Dr. Jose Miller, the leader of the Cuban Jewish community for many years, recently passed away but new leadership is emerging. The Jewish community is undergoing revitalization now. But what will happen after Fidel dies?

Fidel and the Jews

"Daniel Esquinazi lives on a narrow street in Old Havana that shows the wear of 45 years of communism: Potholes gape like deep wounds and discarded fruit gives off an overpowering stench despite the harbor breeze..."

Elian Gonzalez: The Aftermath

In an article published for the Journal of Jewish Studies, Dana writes about the American climate and jewry in the Nineteeth-century American south.

The Future of Religious Life in Communist Cuba

The American Jewish community has placed a low emphasis on serious Jewish education. In an article written for the Journal of Beliefs and Values, Dana talks about the current situation, and hope for the future.

A Jewish Renaissance in Castro's Cuba

CUBA IS A COUNTRY VISITED BY RELATIVELY FEW AMERICANS. Despite the fact that it is only 90 miles south of Key West, Florida, there are severe restrictions placed on Americans who would like to visit the country. The Clinton administration has recently moved to liberalize some of these limitations, and it is possible for groups on cultural or educational missions to visit the country legally. According to the current law, it remains illegal for most Americans to spend money in the country. Nevertheless, a large and growing number of Americans ignore the ban and visit illegally.

Fleeing the Revolution:
The Exodus of Cuban Jewry in the Early 1960s

The Jews of Cuba since the Castro Revolution

Dana Kaplan discusses the Jewish community in Cuba post Castro's Revolution. This article appeared in the American Jewish Yearbook 2001.