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Brazil's Jewish Communities Face Potential Exodus Amid Rising Anti-Semitic Attacks
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Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, December 3rd 2025 at 22:48 GMT by The Jerusalem Post Blogs- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Jews in Brazil’s Largest Cities Face an “Exodus” Threat If They Don’t Back the Country’s “War on Terror”
The Jerusalem Post’s latest diaspora piece, “Jews in Brazil’s biggest cities are being threatened with an exodus if they don’t invest in the country’s war on terror,” paints a stark picture of the precarious position of the Jewish community in Brazil. The article, which we’ve followed through its internal links for context, argues that the confluence of rising anti‑Semitic sentiment, a politicised “war on terror” narrative, and a fragile sense of security is driving an exodus of Jews from the country’s urban centres. Below is a detailed synopsis of the piece and the broader backdrop it weaves together.
1. A Surge in Anti‑Semitic Attacks
The JPost opens with a grim statistical snapshot: between 2020 and 2023, Brazil registered a 45 % increase in reported anti‑Semitic incidents, from vandalism of synagogues and kosher food stores to hate‑speech campaigns on social media. The article links to a 2022 report by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs that highlighted the sharp rise in such incidents, citing São Paulo as the worst‑affected city. The piece also references a 2021 study by the Jewish Community Center of Rio de Janeiro, which documented that more than a third of local Jews reported feeling “uncomfortable walking down their streets” in the last two years.
The surge is tied in part to the political climate under President Jair Bolsonaro, whose 2018 election campaign included controversial remarks about Islam and left many Brazilians uncertain about the safety of minority groups. The article cites an op‑ed in O Globo that argues Bolsonaro’s rhetoric has emboldened far‑right elements who view Jews as allies of the Israeli state—an angle the JPost uses to underscore how political narratives feed into hate.
2. The “War on Terror” Narrative
What makes this article stand out is the framing of the Brazilian government’s anti‑terrorism policy. The piece cites a 2023 announcement by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice, which announced a new “National Strategy for Counter‑Terrorism” that includes increased funding for security in major cities. The policy, the article argues, is heavily publicised in a way that seems to conflate “terror” with “Islamic radicalism,” a rhetoric that some analysts link to the far‑right’s anti‑Islamic agenda.
In a rare twist, the JPost piece says that several high‑profile Brazilian Jewish philanthropists were approached by officials to fund a portion of this strategy—specifically, a $3 million “Community Security Fund” earmarked for synagogues and Jewish schools. The government’s justification, the article claims, was that “support from the Jewish community would help ensure their safety.” The article’s linked interview with a spokesperson from the Brazilian Association of Jewish Businesses shows that the request was framed as a civic duty: “If we don’t invest in security, the future generations will have to flee.”
3. The “Exodus” Threat
Central to the JPost article is the idea that the Brazilian Jewish community is being forced into a corner: either pay for a counter‑terrorism fund that the article says is “tied to far‑right ideology” or leave the country. The piece notes that a small but growing number of Jews have already started to sell property and migrate to Israel, the United States, or neighboring Latin American countries with larger Jewish communities. The article references a 2023 The New York Times profile on the exodus from Brazil, quoting a former Brazilian rabbi who said, “We’re being told that if we’re not part of the war on terror, we’re not welcome here.”
This threat of exodus is further illustrated by a link to an online petition by the Brazilian Jewish Youth Movement, calling for the government to guarantee security guarantees without requiring a financial contribution. The petition, which has over 12,000 signatures, reads in part: “We are citizens of Brazil; we deserve to live in safety without being asked to bankroll the state’s anti‑terrorism agenda.”
4. International Reactions and Context
The article does not stop at the domestic scene. It provides international context by linking to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 2022 resolution on anti‑Semitic discrimination worldwide, as well as a 2021 BBC documentary on Brazil’s shift towards far‑right populism. The piece quotes an Israeli diplomat who said that “Israel has always supported Jewish diaspora communities in times of crisis, but the current situation in Brazil is unprecedented.” The diplomat also notes that the Israeli government has opened a temporary office in São Paulo to assist Jews facing persecution.
The JPost article also highlights a reaction from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which issued a statement condemning Brazil’s “inadequate protection for minority communities.” The statement was linked directly from the article.
5. The Road Ahead
In its closing, the JPost piece calls for a multi‑pronged approach: stronger anti‑hate legislation in Brazil, independent investigations into the politicised “war on terror” strategy, and continued support from the global Jewish community. It links to a proposal by the Brazilian Congress’s Committee on Human Rights for a bill that would provide tax breaks for businesses that fund community security, explicitly excluding religious institutions. The article also notes that the Jewish Agency for Israel has launched a grant programme to help Brazilian Jews establish businesses abroad.
Key Takeaways
- Anti‑Semitic incidents in Brazil have risen sharply, with a 45 % increase since 2020.
- The Brazilian government’s anti‑terrorism policy, while ostensibly aimed at safety, has become a vehicle for pressure on Jewish philanthropists.
- Jewish community members are being faced with a stark choice: fund the security strategy or risk being forced to leave.
- International bodies—including the UN, IHRA, and Israel’s diplomatic corps—have condemned the situation and called for action.
- The diaspora is mobilising, but more structural reforms are needed to protect Jews in Brazil without turning security into a political bargaining chip.
This JPost article, through its careful weaving of statistical evidence, policy analysis, and firsthand testimony, argues that the fate of Brazil’s Jewish population hangs in the balance. While the community has historically thrived in Brazil’s cultural mosaic, the current “exodus threat” forces a reconsideration of how the country protects its most vulnerable minorities in a climate of rising nationalism and politicised security agendas.
Read the Full The Jerusalem Post Blogs Article at:
[ https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-879131 ]