My talk will offer a broad perspective on the Jews of Cuba drawing on historical scholarship, ethnography, and literary and artistic visions. We will start with a close look at the formation of the first Jewish communities in the early twentieth century and examine the rise and fall of these communities after the Cuban Revolution.

The revitalization of Jewish life since the 1990s will lead us to the present day and to how Jews continue to assert their presence on the island in challenging times. We will also spend time exploring the nostalgia felt by Jewish Cubans who left the island but could never forget their beloved Cuba. Sharing my fieldwork experiences, stories, and poems about the diverse journeys that are encompassed in the world of Jewish Cuba, I hope you will come away from this talk informed and inspired by the fascinating confluence of cultures and dreams that found a home in this unique tropical island.