The agreement with CISCR, Costa Rica's central Jewish organization representing Costa Rica's 2,500 Jews, came about after the AJC Board of Governors met in San Jose, Costa Rica to help build a new community center.
"The
American and Costa Rican Jewish communities
share not only our rich Jewish heritage, but
also a deep commitment to democratic values and
human rights," said AJC President Bruce M.
Ramer.
"This agreement emphasizes our shared communal
interests and the importance of Costa Rica to
the United States as well as Israel." Costa Rica
is one of only two countries to maintain its
embassy in Jerusalem.
"Our new relationship with the American Jewish Committee is an expression of support for our own task as well as an acknowledgement of the historic commitment that the Costa Rican community has been fulfilling," said Mr. Julio Klerszenson, President of the CISCR.
AJC and the Centro Israelita Sionista de Costa Rica work together to strengthen Jewish communal life; deepen bilateral relations between Costa Rica and the United States; enhance Israel's security, peace and diplomatic normalization; combat anti-Semitic and other hate groups in their respective societies and strengthen the forces of democratic pluralism and mutual understanding.
They also jointly advance the cause of human rights; promote education and memory of the Holocaust and counteract the dissemination of Holocaust revisionism; and encourage greater dialogue and understanding within the Diaspora and between Israelis and Jews in other lands.
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Asociacion Corona de Oro (Gold Crown
Association)
The Asociacion
Corona de Oro was established in 1987 with the
sole objective of assisting and looking
after the needs and interests of the Jewish
community's senior citizens. Its main facilities
are located within the Centro Israelita's main
building. The association provides activities
and programs for the elderly, designed and
supervised by professionals in the field.
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Asociacion Damas
Israelitas Pro Beneficiencia (Association of
Jewish Ladies for Charity)
This group was established in 1952 and is
dedicated to raising and channeling funds
towards specific projects to help the needy in
Costa Rica, focusing primarily on disabled
citizens, children, teenagers and senior
citizens. Projects have ranged from building
hundreds of homes for low-income families to
donating medical equipment to dozens of
hospitals and medical centers to distributing
toys in impoverished suburbs of San Jose.
Email:
damasisraelitas@centroisraelita.com
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B'nai B'rith de
Costa Rica
In May 1957, 25 members of the Jewish Community
founded the Costa Rica 2094 Lodge of B'nai
B'rith. The lodge worked on charitable projects
(financing homes for individuals with limited
economic resources, aiding orphans); organized
fundraisers; honored local personalities;
provided conferences and courses on education
and culture; and organized joint activities with
the Christian community. Although the lodge
became inactive during the 1980s, community
members are currently working to re-activate
this group.
Email:
info@bnaibrithcr.org
Website:
www.bnaibrithcr.org
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Cementerio
Israelita (Jewish Cemetery)
In April 1931, the Jewish cemetery was
officially opened on the grounds where it
operates today. In the same year, the first
organized community group was formed to manage
the cemetery and provide the services required
under Jewish Law. An all-volunteer Chevra
Kadisha (Holy Society) has been operational for
75 years.
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Comite Yad Vashem
(Yad Vashem Committee)
The Yad Vashem Committee was founded in August
1978 with the goal of building a memorial to the
victims of the Holocaust. The monument is
located at the entrance of the Jewish Cemetery.
The group holds an annual commemorative act on
Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial Day).
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Deportivo Israelita
(Jewish Sports Club)
The Deportivo
Israelita was built in 1964 to offer members of
all age groups a place to congregate, to
practice sports and to hold cultural activities.
Since its inception, the Club has been managed
as a private entity where members pay monthly
dues. About 500 families are active members. The
club features three swimming pools, a soccer
field, basketball and tennis courts, an outdoor
Jacuzzi, locker rooms with saunas and steam
baths, a kosher restaurant and ample garden
areas for socializing.
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Hanoar Hatzioni
de Costa Rica
Hanoar Hatzioni is a Zionist youth organization
that reinforces Jewish identity and Zionist
values. It is intended to work as a barrier
against assimilation. Community children and
young adults aged 9 and older meet every Friday
night and Saturday afternoon. They are guided by
a professional envoy sent from Israel and an
elected group of leaders. Upon high school
graduation, the Hanoar Hatzioni offers a one
year Hajshara plan for young adults.
Participants travel to Israel for a year where
they participate in seminars and activities
around the country.
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Hayom
First published in May 1985, Hayom is the
monthly publication of the Costa Rica Jewish
Community. It is the primary media outlet for
news, articles and discussion on different
topics that concern the local community.
Circulation is free to members of the Centro
Israelita.
Email:
levcom@racsa.co.cr
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Instituto Dr.
Haim Weizman (Dr. Haim Weizman Institute)
Founded in 1960 and named after Israel's first
president, the Haim Weizman Institute is the
only formal Jewish school in Costa Rica. The
school is recognized by the Costa Rican Ministry
of Education. The institute offers a full
academic curriculum, plus courses in Jewish
Identity and Religion and Hebrew, and includes
pre-school, primary and secondary schools.
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Keren Hayesod
An Israel-based fundraising organization, Keren
Hayesod seeks to bring underprivileged families
to Israel and support the State of Israel.
Tel: (506)
2520-1013
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Museo de la
Comunidad Judia de Costa Rica (Museum of the
Costa Rica Jewish Community)
The non-profit Museum is a cultural and
educational entity, whose mission to collect,
document, preserve and interpret documents
pertaining to both the world and Costa Rican
Jewish communities. The museum was inaugurated
in September 2005, after 10 years of planning,
organizing and collecting the historic and
cultural documentation. The exhibits cover
subjects such as Jewish culture and religion and
the arrival of Jews to Costa Rica. A room is
dedicated to the memory of Holocaust victims.
Tel:
(506) 2520-1013 ext. 129
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WIZO (Women's
International Zionist Organization)
Costa Rica's WIZO
chapter was established in 1940, and it quickly
became an important association for charitable
and cultural events. The chapter is divided into
diverse age groups and its main goal is to work
towards the continuity of the Jewish people and
the stability of the State of Israel.
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