The Jewish museum in Sosúa

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The history of the Jewish community in Sosúa dates back to the 1940s, during World War II. In 1938, the Evian Conference was held to discuss the growing refugee crisis in Europe, particularly for Jewish people fleeing persecution by the Nazi regime. The Dominican Republic was one of the countries that agreed to take in Jewish refugees, and in 1940, Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo offered to accept up to 100,000 refugees.A group of about 700 Jewish refugees, mostly from Austria and Germany, accepted the offer and settled in Sosúa, a small town on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. The settlers were aided by the Dominican Republic Settlement Association (DORSA), which was established to oversee the settlement and integration of the refugees into Dominican society.The settlers in Sosúa established an agricultural cooperative and successfully cultivated the land, growing crops such as dairy products, cattle, and produce. Over time, the settlement grew and prospered, and many of the original settlers and their descendants still live in the community today.The Jewish community in Sosúa has played a significant role in shaping the town's culture and identity. The settlement is considered a unique example of successful refugee integration and has become a symbol of hope and resilience for Jewish communities around the world. Today, Sosúa is home to a thriving Jewish community with a synagogue, Jewish cemetery, and various cultural and educational institutions.