Over two years ago in March of 2024, I had the opportunity to visit the historic, majestic and scenic city of Cartagena, Colombia. As you walk through the beautiful and historic walled old city, you feel like you are walking inside of a painting, in which each and every building is painted a different color. As you meet the locals, you find that each and every one of them are eager to tell you about the city’s rich history and the story of their culture. Cartagena’s Jewish history dates back to the Spanish colonial era, beginning in the 17th century with the arrival of conversos (secret Jews) fleeing the Inquisition.

Today, the city is home to a small, resilient Jewish community of about 50 individuals, supported by local institutions and historic heritage sites. In the 1500s and 1600s, many Sephardic Jews escaping the Spanish and Portuguese Expulsions settled in the Americas. Cartagena became a hub for these conversos, who outwardly practiced Catholicism while secretly maintaining Jewish traditions. Established in Cartagena in 1610, the Inquisition held jurisdiction over much of northern South America. The Church actively sought out secret Jews. Many Sephardic merchants and families were arrested, tried, and executed, while their vast wealth was seized.

Following independence, a new wave of Sephardic Jews arrived in the mid-19th century, this time migrating from Curacao and other parts of the Caribbean. These families became prominent merchants, establishing banks, municipal infrastructure, and trade networks. The 20th century saw another wave of immigrants from Syria and Turkey. Today, the wider........

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