THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

The Jewish community of Uruguay is estimated at about 25,000 out of a general population of 3.2 million. Conversos were among the earliest settlers of the region; however, today most Uruguayan Jews are descendants of twentieth century immigrants of both Sephardi and Ashkenazi origin. The majority of Jews live in the capital Montevideo, with a smaller community in the city of Paysandú. Jewish families are scattered throughout other parts of the country but not in organized communities.

The Comité Central Israelita del Uruguay (CCIU), embracing some 60 communities and organizations, functions as a national Jewish representative body. There are a number of well-attended Jewish day schools.

EXTREMIST ORGANIZATIONS AND ANTI-SEMITIC ACTIVITIES

In 1999 anti-Semitism was most commonly expressed in more than 20 incidents of graffiti on walls in Montevideo and elsewhere in Uruguay. Some phone threats against members of the Jewish community were received and one incident of distribution of anti-Semitic leaflets in the streets was reported. While it is difficult to establish the exact identification of the perpetrators, it is clear that neo-Nazi elements have been trying to increase their activities in Uruguay. For several years now representatives of the Jewish community have warned that extreme right elements in Uruguay have been strengthening their relations with like-minded groups in Latin America and seeking to emulate the modus operandi of the extreme right in Europe.

Anti-discrimination Law No.16048, which was incorporated into Uruguay's Criminal Code in 1989 as part of the authorities' measures against the extreme right, stipulates 3 to 18 months imprisonment for incitement to hatred against a person based on skin color, race, religion or national or ethnic origin. Members of the Orgullo Skinhead group, who disseminated racist propaganda through the Internet, were prosecuted in 1999 under this law. During their raid, police confiscated arms and propaganda material, such as Nazi T-shirts, posters, cassettes and flags. Legal experts claim that this law can be interpreted to consider membership in a group that incites to hatred as a crime.

RESPONSES TO RACISM AND ANTI-SEMITISM

A direct dialogue between the Jewish and Arab communities in Uruguay was begun in 1999. Late in the year, the first meeting was held between representatives of the country’s Lebanese Arabs, the main Arab institutions in Uruguay and FEARAB (Arab Federation for Latin America), and leaders of the Jewish Central Committee and the Israeli ambassador. This meeting received considerable media attention.

As part of its struggle against anti-Jewish prejudice, the Jewish community initiates meetings and dialogues with representatives of the entire social spectrum. During the year meetings were held with government officials, and with representatives of various political parties, the unions, the ethnic communities (black, Armenian, Arab, etc.), academia and the publishing world. It should be noted that the work of the commission fostering Jewish-Christian dialogue, which has existed since 1959, has resulted in the absence of anti-Jewish expressions from the church pulpit.

CCIU collaborated with the University of the United Nations for Peace (UNI.PAZ), through the Internet, in the development of two programs: “Education through Values” and “The Holocaust -- Shoah.” The Jewish community is seeking to incorporate anti-racism issues in the curricula of both public and private schools.