Jewish Heritage Tours in Cuba
Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Havana's Jewish community on our guided tours.
About Us
At Havana Jewish Tour, we are proud to offer tour guide services focused on showcasing Cuba's rich Jewish heritage and current affairs from the perspective of the members of this community themselves. We involve members of the Jewish community in the realization of our tourism services so visitors have the opportunity to contribute directly to this unique community and receive a real perspective of Cuban Jewish life.
Our Services
Havana Synagogue Tours
Take a brief tour in the most important synagogue in Havana and Cuba: Beth Shalom Synagogue.
Jewish Cuba Walking Tours
Explore the different places related to the history and current affairs of the Cuban Jewish community in Havana.
Jewish Cuba Classic Car Tours
Explore from a classic vintage car, the different places related to the Cuban Jewish community in Havana.
Jewish Trips to Cuba
Embark on these Jewish Trips to Cuba to learn about the past and present of this community, enjoy Cuban culture, history and nature.
Jewish Cuba Virtual Tour
If you are unable to travel to Cuba then we can bring you the history and current affairs of Cuban Jews through the Internet.
Private Tours in Cuba
Tell us know if you have a specific place to visit in Havana or in Cuba, and we will prepare a special tour for you.
Salsa/Rikudim Lessons
Learn the best of Jewish dance traditions through Rikudim lessons and the best of Cuban dances with Salsa lessons.
Highlights of Jewish Cuba
Beth Shalom Synagogue
Founded in the 1950s, it is arguably the most important synagogue in the country today. It is the headquarters of the entire Jewish community of Cuba.
Sephardic Hebrew Center
Founded in 1959, it is a community center of Sephardic Jews in the country. It also houses a Holocaust Memorial within its facilities.
Adath Israel Synagogue
Founded in 1959, is the only orthodox synagogue operating in Cuba. It manages a kosher butcher shop and the Ashkenazi Jewish cemetery in Havana.
Our Partners
Meet our partners and collaborators, who help us create a better experience for you.
Testimonials
Statics
Tours: +40
Visitors: +95
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why take a Jewish Tour in Cuba with Havana Jewish Tour?
The Jewish community in Cuba is one of the most unknown minorities in general in Cuban society. However, their cultural contribution to Cuba is truly fascinating, enduring and interesting for anyone interested in visiting this Caribbean Island.
At Havana Jewish Tour we can offer you Jewish Cuba Tours from the authentic perspective of members of the Cuban Jewish community, involved in the day to day life of this small but vibrant collective.
How many synagogues are in Havana/Cuba?
There are currently 3 active synagogues in Havana. There is also an active synagogue in the city of Camagüey and another in Santiago de Cuba.
Which is the most important synagogue in Cuba?
Temple Beth Shalom, in Havana, belongs to the building of El Patronato de La Casa de la Comunidad Hebrea de Cuba and is the most important synagogue in the country. It houses most of the congregants of the Cuban Jewish Community and it is where the most important celebrations are held, attracting the largest number of people, including foreign visitors.
There is antisemitism in Cuba?
In Cuba, so far there are no acts of hatred towards Jews as a religious or ethnic group. In fact, most Cubans do not know what it is to be Jewish, although at various times there have been official visits of Cuban political leaders to the Jewish community. Likewise, the Jewish community maintains projects to help society, such as the community pharmacy, as well as the promotion of interreligious dialogue, the dissemination of the history of Jews in Cuba, etc.
Where can I buy kosher food in Havana/Cuba?
In Cuba it is quite difficult to obtain kosher food; however, there is a kosher boutique hotel in Havana: Chateau Blanc, the first and only one of its kind on the island. There, you can order kosher food with all the guarantees of international certificates. Havana Jewish Tour can help you contact Chateau Blanc in case you need it.
What can I do to participate in a religious service or the celebration of a Jewish holiday in Havana?
In Havana, if you wish to participate in a conservative religious service, you can contact Beth Shalom Synagogue, where these services are being held at this time, together with the congregants of the Sephardic Hebrew Center.
In case you wish to participate in an orthodox religious service, then you can contact the Adath Israel Synagogue, where the services of this tendency are being held.
Havana Jewish Tour can assist you in contacting both synagogues.
How many Jews are there in Cuba?
In all of Cuba, at this moment, there are a little less than 1000 Jews. Most are in Havana, although there are small communities also in Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Cienfuegos, Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo.
Contact Us Today
Feel free to reach out to us using this contact form. We are here to assist you and answer any questions you may have about our services.
Reviews
This is an overdue (apologies Abel!) accolade regarding the time we spent with Abel on our visit to Cuba earlier this year. Honestly, considering the small Jewish community in the country (relative to when my family lived there) I was not sure what to expect when my wife arranged for our tour. I shouldn’t have been concerned. Abel was such a great host - AND person. We spent a number of hours walking through - and learning about, places that are important in Cuban Jewish life, and additionally others which were significant in my own family’s history. During our time together, Abel shared his family’s background with us, and even after our tour was completed, he walked around with us as we continued to search out other locations that were personally relevant (including being with us when we found the apartment in which my mom and grandparents lived at in Havana). Our time with him was one of the highlights of our trip, and we would recommend anyone that is interested in exploring Jewish Havana to reach out to him. Abel, te echamos de menos y ojala que te encuentras bien.
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Jeffrey Feldmann
1 month ago
I had the pleasure of taking Able's 1/2 day tour in Havana. Luckily we were visiting the one day a month the Sunday school was in sessio in Beth Shalom. We witnessed a father and son in front of members of the congregation essentially saying goodbye to each other as the son was making Aliyah soon, to be in the army, likely fighting in Gaza. After his father sang an impassioned song to his son, they embraced with tremendous love and heartache. It was a sight I will never forget. We learned about the shul's history and the various activities and projects that take place there. We also enjoyed watching the kids learn a dance for Hanukah. We then visited the nearby Sephardic Synagogue that was not as active but housed an excellent "Holocaust Museum". We then took a taxi to old Havana to visit a third synagogue, Menorah Park (which, sadly had much trash on part of its perimete), and Hotel Raquel, decorated with Jewish symbols and Hebrew. Able was very knowledgable and charming and we enjoyed being with him and getting an intimate look into the life of the Jewish community there.I recommend his tour wholeheartedly!
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Francine Cohen
24 days ago
Very informative. The visit to the cemetery was a history lesson, supported by Abel's knowledge and perspective.
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Martin Kohn
22 days ago
My wife and I and two friends had a wonderful time on the tour. Our tour guide, Abel, was very knowledgeable and friendly. He provided a great Havana Jewish experience for us. I highly recommend this tour.
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Sam Broverman
10 months ago
Visitar Cuba y encontrarse con Abel es sin duda el diferencial del viaje! Disfrutamos muchísimo de un tour muy enriquecedor, completo de conocimiento, por sitios sumamente interesantes. Muchas gracias Abel por enseñarnos sobre tus orígenes y la comunidad, y por el entusiasmo contagioso que le pones a tu trabajo, fue un placer! Recomendamos tus tours sin lugar a dudas! Un must al viajar a Cuba.
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Maia Bornsztein
4 months ago
Abel fue un guia maravilloso. Conoce la judería y nos llevó a todos los puntos de interés. Disfrutamos mucho del tour. De conocer acerca de la comunidad judía, las sinagogas y los lugares icónicos de la historia judía en La Habana. Lo recomiendo ampliamente.
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Hilda
10 months ago
Excelente oportunidad de descubrir la vida judeo cubana. Muy profesional y con amplio conocimiento de los temas. Opciones variadas y posibilidades diversas de conocer la real vida cubana.
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Vladimir Oduardo
5 days ago