Bolivia

Bolivia’s few Jews cling tightly to their traditions
By LARRY LUXNER
LA PAZ, Bolivia - Members of the Circulo Israelita in La Paz like to joke that when praying, they feel closer to God than any other Jewish congregation in the world. After all, at an altitude of more than 12,000 feet, theirs is the highest synagogue on Earth.

Hotel Bolivia: The Culture of Memory in a Refuge from Nazism
When, in the mid-1930s, Jews began to leave Europe in flight from Nazi persecution, they found that they were welcome only in a few countries. One of them was Bolivia, which, despite the presence of many pro-Nazi German émigrés, readily accepted 20,000 Jewish refugees.

LeAtid - Training and Research, Latin America Center for Jewish Institutional Leadership - Spanish

Contact Information:

Associacion Israelita de Cochabamba
PO box 349, Calle Valdivieso, Cochabamba

Synagogue
Calle Junin Y Calle Colombia, Casilla 349,  Cochabamba

Circulo Israelita de Bolivia
Casilla 1545, Calle Landaeta 346
PO Box 1545, La Paz
Phone: 2-32-5925
Fax: 2-34-2738

Rabbi: Palti Somerstein

Circulo Israelita de Bolivia is the highest synagogue on earth, located at an altitude of more than 12,000 feet in La Paz, Bolivia. The synagogue serves 700 Jews in a country where the citizens are predominantly Catholic. Shabbo services are held every Friday night and every Saturday morning and afternoon. Classes are also held twice a week in the synagogue where children are taught Hebrew and Jewish history. Its rabbi, Palti Somerstein, has served at the synagogue for four years. Circulo Israelita, without a rabbi for 20 years, faces an uncertain future if Somerstein leaves (Source: Northern Light).

Comunidad Israelita Synagogue
Jewish School and Tour info
Calle Canada Stronguest 1846
PO Box 2198, La Paz
Affiliated to the Circulo.
Services: Friday evening.

Centro Cruceno
PO Box 469
Santa Crus

Wizo
Castilla 3409, Santa Crus

Chabad Centers in South America