Jewish Mexico: 500 Years of Arrival and Survival

Uncover the hidden tapestry of Mexican Jewish heritage! Embark on a historical walk through 5 centuries of Jewish life in Mexico. A once-in-a-lifetime adventure that weaves together history, culture, and incredible human resilience. See the firs Sephardic temple, a living monument to cultural preservation and step inside the historic first Ashkenazi synagogue... feel the echoes of generations past. From crypto-Jews of the Viceregal era to 20th-century refugees seeking a new home, every stone, every building, every story has a profound tale waiting to be discovered.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   1 hour

   We will begin with registrations and introductions.

2. 2

   Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Mexico

   20 min

   We walk behind the Metropolitan Cathedral to see the Chapel of the Souls where the teachings against heresy (other religions) are displayed at a vantage point from where we can appreciate the colonial architecture designed "to keep the Jews away," imposed by the Spanish Inquisition.

3. 3

   Plaza de Santo Domingo

   20 min

   We visit the main trading marketplace from the 16th to the 19th centuries where Jews-in-Hiding had to come and trade their merchandise as they were being watched from the Palace of the Inquisition. At the palace, we decipher its anti-Semitic hidden messages as well as those on the Santo Domingo church at the starting point of El Camino Real, a safe haven for Jewish traveling traders of the time.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   20 min

   We will pass by the Administration building of the Inquisition as well as their living quarters, right next to its Perpetual Prison, where Jews were tortured and sentenced to death.

5. 5

   Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso

   15 min

   We will see from the outside, the place where Diego Rivera (of Sephardic origin) met Frida Kahlo (of Ashkenazim origin), to learn how the Mexican anti-Fascist movement supported the cancellation of the first and only ever anti-Semitic national convention and the reception as a refugee of Lev Davidovich Bronstein (a.k.a. Leon Trotsky).

6. 6

   Stop 6

   15 min

   At Plaza Loreto, we pass by the first purposedly-built synagogue, Sephardic Mount Sinai, in Mexico, and the neighboring one, the first Ashkenazim one, Nidjei Israel, where the experience comes to an end.

7. 7

   Justo Sierra Synagogue

   20 min

   We visit the decommissioned and first Ashkenazim shul in Mexico.

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.