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Writer's pictureMark Vogel

São Paulo’s Jewish Immigration Museum and Holocaust Memorial: Inside Kehilat Israel Synagogue

Memorial da Imigração Judaica, São Paulo, Brazil


Jewish Immigration Museum and Holocaust Memorial in São Paulo, Brazil
Jewish Immigration Museum and Holocaust Memorial in São Paulo, Brazil

While in São Paulo, Brazil, I visited The Memorial da Imigração Judaica (Jewish Immigration and Memorial) which is both an immigration museum and holocaust memorial in the Kehilat Israel synagogue. Kehilat Israel, located in the Bom Retiro neighborhood, is the oldest synagogue in the area.





“The Memorial da Imigração Judaica is a living example of the resilience of the Jewish people and a chronicle of their journey to and life in Brazil.”

The building itself resonated with prayers and stories of a community that sought refuge and a fresh cradle of life in Brazil. Within these hallowed halls, the Memorial da Imigração Judaica tells the story of the poignant saga of Jewish immigrants who, carrying the weight of historical anguish, navigated unknown terrains to find a home in this new land.





The Memorial da Imigração Judaica is a living example of the resilience of the Jewish people and a chronicle of their journey to and life in Brazil. The museum aims not merely to be a house of objects and old photographs but an active space that encourages dialogue, reflection, and learning. It allows visitors to immerse themselves in the rich stories, cultures, and histories of Jewish immigrants who made Brazil their home, contributing immensely to its socio-cultural landscape.