More Fun Venezuela Facts: Anti-Semitism

Entrance to a Caracas synagogue. Pedestrian access blocked, auto only, through a steel gate in a concrete wall surmounted by barbed wire. Two serious security dudes. Into a holding area, for inspection of trunk. Then through a second steel gate. On the other side of the wall, a happy weekday Bar Mitzvah celebration. I remark on the incongruity. The person to whom I make the remark shrugs: “The really scary thing is that we’re getting used to it.”

Posted at 6:21 pm

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Driving through an older part of Caracas, graffiti everywhere, most of it copies of 1990s U.S. gang tags. But also saw this, in letters 2 feet high : a star of David, and a slogan: “Israel, cause of all our misery.”  I spoke last night to Jewish community leaders, all agreed that Venezuela had no history of anti-Jewish feeling before the Chavez regime.

Posted at 5:37 pm