The first Nicaraguan Jews arrived in the early 1800s from France. One of these core families was the Oppenheimer's, who remained in Nicaragua until they decided to return to France, only to be killed by the Nazis. In the 1920s, more Jews arrived, forming a permanent community. This was supported by Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe in 1929, with the majority of Jews who settled living in the capital city of Managua. They were largely involved with the economic development of the country, working in the farming, manufacturing, and retail industries of Nicaragua.

Before the founding of the state of Israel, Nicaragua provided Israel with agents that had the diplomatic cover necessary for Israel to purchase arms in Europe. In February 1957, Israel negotiated a 1.2 million-dollar deal with the Somoza regime and began to sell weapons to Nicaragua. Israel supplied Nicaragua with almost all of its arms imports. 

By 1972, the Jewish community in Nicaragua had reached its peak, with approximately 250 Jews living there. However, an earthquake in Managua that year saw many Jews leave the country. This exodus was exacerbated by the rise of the Sandinista government in 1979, which was openly hostile to the country’s Jews, in large part due to Israel’s past support of the Somoza government. The Sandinista government publicly declared support for the Palestinian Liberation Organization and punished the nation’s Jews. The government expropriated the synagogue along with other properties of the Jewish community and imprisoned its leader, who managed to escape and then flee the country along with most of the Jews. Most Jews emigrated to Israel, the United States, or other Latin American countries.

After 1979, there were very few Jews in Nicaragua, and Jewish life in the country was largely dormant. The few Jews who remained in Nicaragua were constantly persecuted by the Sandinista government, and the Congregación Israelita de Nicaragua synagogue was forcibly converted into a secular school. Jewish life experienced a revival in 1990, when Daniel Ortega lost the presidential election. A number of Jewish citizens began to return to Nicaragua, and the Jewish community has slowly rebuilt itself since. A number of Jewish citizens began to return to Nicaragua, and the Jewish community has slowly rebuilt itself since. Herty Lewites, a Jew, served as mayor of Managua from 2000 to 2005 and was a presidential candidate in 2006. 

During World War II, Nicaragua sided with the Allies. In 1941, Anastasio Somoza Garcia declared war on Germany and also issued the imprisonment of Germans. Following the Holocaust, Nicaragua received some survivors but the amount is unclear.

In 2024, various population estimates suggest that approximately 175 Jews reside in Nicaragua. Remarkably, around 130 of them have embraced Judaism within the past 15 years, primarily descending from conversos—those who were forced to abandon their Jewish faith in Spain or Portugal during the 14th or 15th century. Neither the religious denomination nor the age of this community has been surveyed.

At present, due to the small number of Jews in Nicaragua, Jewish communal life there is very limited. Nevertheless, the Congregación Israelita de Nicaragua (CIN) works to ensure that all Nicaraguan Jews are able to maintain some semblance of Jewish life. There is also a Chabad in Managua that offers daily dining and holiday events.

Since there is no longer a synagogue except for a chabad in Nicaragua, Kabbalat Shabbat services are often carried out in private homes. In recent years, the Jewish community has been organized both as a social organization and for religious activities, including communal Passover Seder and Sabbath dinners on Fridays. It is difficult, however, to form a minyan due to the Jewish community's geographical dispersion. The majority of Nicaraguan Jews follow Hasidic traditions, while others adhere to Sephardic or Ashkenazi customs.

1. Nicaragua was the second country to ever recognize Israel.

2. In 2017, Nicaragua's Jewish population skyrocketed due to the high volume of conversions to Judaism.

3. Many Israelis stop in Nicaragua on their post-IDF trips.

4. Many Nicaraguan Jews are in the textile industry, a field commonly pursued by Central and South American Jews.

There are two Kosher restaurants in Nicaragua: "Jerusalem" is in the Chabad house in Managua, and there is a cafe in San Juan del Sur.

Turismo Judaico and Chabad Nicaragua can be used for visitor information.

Since the creation of the State of Israel until the suspension of diplomatic relations in 2010, there have been friendly and cooperative relations in various fields such as agriculture, health, and education. In 2017, the governments of Israel and the Republic of Nicaragua restored diplomatic relations. The countries have maintained their relations throughout the Israel-Hamas war, but their friendship has worsened after Nicaragua filed a suit against Germany at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for being complicit in what they viewed as Israel's 'genocide.' 

Mr. Arturo Vaughan is the consul honorary of Israel in Nicaragua. 

Telephone: (+505) 2255-7860
Email: avaughan@agricorp.com.ni