History of the Jews in Costa Rica

The history of the Jews in Costa Rica dates back to the Spanish conquest with the arrival of many Sephardic converts known as Marranos who escaped from the Spanish Inquisition and settled mainly in the city of Cartago and its surroundings.^[1] They hid their Jewish past by all means, making even their descendants have no idea of it.

Currently, Jews have integrated into Costa Rican society, and an important amount of entrepreneurs, politicians and artists are Jews. Costa Rica has had four vice presidents of Ashkenazi Jewish origin; Rebeca Grynspan, Astrid Fischel, Luis Fishman (although he did not hold the position) and Luis Liberman, as well as several deputies and ministers, and a first lady, Doris Yankelewitz.^[1][2] The current Jewish community is estimated at some 2,000 Ashkenazi and about 850 Sephardic arrivals in the twentieth century.