Expressing distress at what they perceive as an upsurge of anti-Semitism in Venezuela, local Jewish community leaders hand-delivered a letter outlining their concerns this week to Martin Sanchez, the S.F.-based consul general of Venezuela.
Meeting with Sanchez on Feb. 10 were Rabbi Doug Kahn and Ruvim Braude of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Nancy Appel and Mark Feder of the local chapter of the Anti-Defamation League, and Mervyn Danker and Nat Schmelzer of the American Jewish Committee.
The letter cited the Jan. 30 desecration of a Caracas synagogue and its Torah scrolls (related story is on page 20). Since then, the Venezuelan government announced several arrests in the case, including the former bodyguard of the synagogue’s rabbi and several local policemen.
The letter also mentioned the fomenting of anti-Jewish sentiment within the Venezuelan media and among certain politicians, especially in the wake of Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. Venezuela broke off diplomatic ties with Israel in the midst of that war.
“We call upon your government to forcefully, swiftly and unequivocally renounce all expressions of anti-Semitism in Venezuela,” the letter said, “and to take immediate steps to protect the Jewish community from harm or intimidation.”
Kahn, Danker and ADL regional director Jonathan Bernstein jointly signed the letter.
“The tone was very respectful from both sides,” Sanchez said of the meeting, adding that his Jewish visitors “were happy the perpetrators [of the synagogue attack] were captured, and we are happy that it was not an anti-Semitic attack per se but an attempt to cover a common crime.”
Kahn countered, “The suggestion that this incident was not really an anti-Semitic attack, but a petty crime or inside job which was then camouflaged as anti-Semitic attack, is not a credible explanation. The mere fact that a group would decide to desecrate a Jewish institution is itself an anti-Semitic act. We reaffirmed our belief that this incident did not occur in a vacuum, but was the result of a whipped-up atmosphere.”
However, Kahn added, Sanchez “seemed appreciative he has a document he could send to the foreign ministry. He was absolutely open to hearing from us again. An important door of communication was opened.”