The history of Judaism in Mexico generally reflects that of Jewish communities in Europe and the Mediterranean. In Iberia, Sephardic Jews lived relatively freely until the late 14th century, when Catholic authorities brought about mass conversions. Many converted (or appeared to), becoming known as Conversos. In 1492, the Catholic Monarchs of Castile and Aragon ordered the expulsion of non-Christians from the Peninsula, mostly targeting Muslims and unconverted Jews.
Conversos were almost certainly among the early migrants from Spain to what is now Mexico; though given Catholic oppression, Judaism was not practiced in the open. As Jewish populations in Europe fluctuated throughout the centuries, based on local tolerance and trends, migration to the Americas continued to reflect these shifts. Mexico, like Europe, was affected by the rise and policies of the Ottoman Empire. The late 19th century saw a mass exodus from Ottoman-conquered territories, including present-day Lebanon and Syria.
Many of these emigrants settled in Mexico, where they are commonly called Libaneses. While the majority were Christian, Jewish migrants from the Middle East, known as Mizrahi, established Mexico’s first openly Jewish community in the late 1800s. In the early 20th century, further Jewish migrations followed, mainly Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern and Central Europe fleeing antisemitism and pogroms, which culminated in the Holocaust.
This heritage is reflected in the synagogue’s centerpiece, the aron qodesh, which houses the Torah; it is modeled after one in Lithuania at the request of the donor who provided the land. The temple, called Nidje Israel, was established in 1941 as a place of worship for the Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi community, distinct from the Arabic- and Hebrew-speaking Mizrahi.
The official name of Justo Sierra comes from its location on a street named after the Mexican intellectual and writer who advocated for public education but had no known connection to Judaism. The synagogue’s construction features a double facade—the Justo Sierra one being that of the Colonial building that once stood there, and the synagogue that was built in Art Deco style popular at the time. Within the temple, a piece of rubble from its sister Nidjei Israel Synagogue, which collapsed in the 2017 Mexico earthquake, is on permanent display.
Like in many other places around the world, Jewish communities in Mexico face antisemitism and stereotypes, especially when it comes to perceptions of Israel’s foreign policies. During the Israel-Palestine war of the mid-2020s, Mexico’s government supported South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
In 2024, Mexico elected Claudia Sheinbaum, its first female president, and the first with known Jewish ancestry. As a member of the left-leaning Morena party, however, she has largely supported the Palestinian cause. This stance, and the apparent fact that she is non-practicing, has sparked conflicting views on her Jewish identity, both within and beyond Mexico’s Jewish community. Her presidency serves as a reminder of the significance of the Jewish community in the country’s history—from this synagogue to the nation’s highest office.
