Shmuel Szteinhendler
Encyclopedia
Shmuel Szteinhendler, a rabbi
in Santiago, Chile
, is considered the current Chief Rabbi
of Cuba
as well as the regional director for Masorti
in Latin America
.
Szteinhendler was born in Argentine and trained as a Conservative rabbi in Buenos Aires.
He started visiting Cuba regularly since 1992, operating from his base in Guadalajara, Mexico, and oversaw a reviaval of the Jewish culture there, serving as an informal spiritual head of the Jewish community in Cuba. Szteinhendler's visits to Cuba were sponsored by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
in Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, is considered the current Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
as well as the regional director for Masorti
Masorti
The Masorti Movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in Israel and other countries outside Canada and U.S. Masorti means "traditional" in Hebrew...
in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
Szteinhendler was born in Argentine and trained as a Conservative rabbi in Buenos Aires.
He started visiting Cuba regularly since 1992, operating from his base in Guadalajara, Mexico, and oversaw a reviaval of the Jewish culture there, serving as an informal spiritual head of the Jewish community in Cuba. Szteinhendler's visits to Cuba were sponsored by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is a worldwide Jewish relief organization headquartered in New York. It was established in 1914 and is active in more than 70 countries....
.