Who we are

Kol Shearith Israel

Kol Shearith Israel was founded on May 14, 1876 in Panama City, primarily by Sephardic Jewish families from the Caribbean islands of Curaçao, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Thomas and Jamaica. Today, our congregation, made up of approximately 225 families, brings together Jews from more than 20 countries.

We are a progressive Jewish community, with a modern vision of tradition, religious, educational, cultural and social activities of excellence, a proud, growing and committed membership; successfully integrated and respected in Panamanian society since our foundation.

We are part of the Panamanian Jewish Congress, to which our partner organizations also belong:

about ksi

We have a full Jewish life, in terms of the celebration of Shabbat and holidays, as well as the rituals of the cycle of life. We have study spaces for children, youth and adults, and cultural and social activities to enrich the lives of our members.

We have many very significant traditions. We can mention some of them:

Yom Kippur

On Yom Kippur, during the memorial service(Izkor) with the entire congregation present, it is customary to mention the names of the relatives of members who have passed away.

Simchat Torah

On Simchat Torah, after the dances with the Torah(Hakafot), and before its reading, we are accustomed to fully unroll a Torah scroll.

We have a community center of approximately 2000 m2 with a main and a small synagogue, classrooms, event rooms, kitchen, offices, among others.

MISSION

Developing Jewish community life:

VISION

A Jewish community with a modern vision of tradition, religious, educational, cultural and social activities of excellence, a proud, growing and committed membership; successfully integrated and respected in Panamanian society.

VALUES (ARACHIM)

First synagogue on Cuba Avenue

KOL SHEARITH ISRAEL ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF JEWISH LIFE IN PANAMA 1876-1976 First Chapters: Our Origins

Forty-five years ago, on May 14, 1976, our congregation Kol Shearith Israel celebrated 100 years since its founding. To commemorate this important date, the community leaders of the time published an impressive book, Kol Shearith Israel 100 years of Jewish life in Panama 1876-1976, which narrates its history in great detail.in which their history is narrated in great detail.

This important book was written almost half a century ago and had a rather limited circulation, which is why in the year 2021 the first four chapters were republished, with the subtitle First Chapters: Our Origins, since this is where the history of the founding families from their expulsion from Spain to the founding of the congregation in 1876 is recorded.

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