1937–1956 Archive of Global Zionist Diplomacy, Youth Networks, and Diaspora Coordination between Havana, Jerusalem, and New York

On offer is a remarkable nine-document archive tracing nearly two decades of Zionist political, cultural, and financial correspondence linking Cuba’s Jewish leadership with the centers of world Jewry in Jerusalem, New York, and Latin America. Together these communications chart the transformation of Cuban Jewry from a peripheral supporter of the Yishuv to an active and recognized participant in the international Zionist network—a Caribbean outpost engaged in fundraising, education, youth mobilization, and ideological exchange.

Mandatory-Era Migration and Bureaucratic Restraint

The earliest piece, dated September 22, 1937 comes from the Jewish Agency for Palestine in Jerusalem, addressed to the Zionist Federation of Cuba in Havana regarding an individual immigration request (the case of Rudzenewsky). The letter opens:

אין ברשותנו כל השמורות-עליה, לפיכך אין באפשרותנו לדון כלל בבקשתכם בדבר השגת תעודות לעלייה. [We do not have any immigration certificates in our possession; therefore, we cannot discuss your request regarding obtaining Aliyah certificates at all.]

Issued amid the tightening British immigration quotas of the Arab Revolt, this restrained refusal captures the bureaucratic limits of Mandatory-era migration and the frustration of a community newly seeking direct participation in the Zionist project. Even a sympathetic outpost such as Havana remained outside the gates of the Yishuv’s allocation system, dependent on permissions that never came.

As one of the earliest known correspondence between the Cuban Zionist Federation and Jerusalem, it marks the beginning of a paper trail that would, over the following two decades, trace the community’s evolution from petitioners to recognized partners in global Zionist coordination.

Fundraising for Settlement and Defense

Barely six weeks later, the tone shifts from denial to mobilization. On 5 Kislev 5698 (November 5, 1937), Keren Hayesod Ltd., the Erez Israel (Palestine) Foundation Fund, issued a Hebrew circular from Jerusalem to its global committees, including Havana. Typed on vivid blue-and-white letterhead, it announced the forthcoming fourth issue of HaMassad, “dedicated to the great enterprise of construction and security of Keren Hayesod this year.”

Inviting regional feedback to ensure the bulletin “fulfills its task perfectly and reflects the creative work being done in Eretz Israel,” the circular unites the twin imperatives of bin’yan uve’bitachon [building and defense] central to the Yishuv’s ethos amid the Arab Revolt. For Cuba’s emerging Zionist Federation, this stands as one of the earliest direct communications from Jerusalem, confirming the island’s inclusion in the pre-state fundraising and ideological network.

Wartime Solidarity and Political Conscience

Two vivid wartime items from 1944 illustrate how ideology, culture, and politics intertwined in Havana. The Unión Sionista de Cuba issued a bilingual flyer inviting “the Jewish public of Havana” to a lecture by Nathan Bistritzky on Moscow and Jerusalem – An Analysis of Two Revolutions, adding:

“En este Acto se homenajeará al heroico Ejército Rojo en ocasión de su 26º Aniversario.” [In this Act, the heroic Red Army will be honored on the occasion of its 26th Anniversary.]

An accompanying invitation from the Patronato de Ayuda al Pueblo Español greets the “President of Zionist Youth” and invites him to a December meeting “about the struggle of the Spanish people and the delivery of economic contributions for the Year-End Effort.”

These intertwined documents vividly position Jewish Havana within the broader antifascist and humanitarian currents of the Second World War.

Youth Networks and Ideological Pluralism

A Hashomer Hatzair letter of April 17, 1945 conveys the disciplined optimism of the socialist-Zionist youth movement as it rebuilt its trans-American network in the final months of war. Written from the North American headquarters in New York to the Cuban branch, it reports on arrangements for Tova Levin, a young Hebrew teacher in training at the movement’s Hightstown farm, who would soon travel to Cuba to assist with education and leadership development. The circular further details plans for a Latin-American management camp in Mexico and urges an immediate reply with participant names.

The writers lament the branch’s silence since October and request news and photographs for The Young Guard anniversary issue. Closing with “With the blessing of the movement. Strong and courageous!” it perfectly fuses administration and inspiration. Its bilingual Hebrew-English letterhead—“השומר הצעיר / Hashomer Hatzair”—embodies the group’s dual mission: Hebrew in content, international in spirit, linking Havana, New York, and Mexico in a single youth-driven Zionist network.

From Jerusalem, the Executive of the Zionist Organization issued a communiqué on July 15, 1946, signed by Dr. A. L. Leuterbach, in the aftermath of the British arrests and seizure of the Jewish Agency’s offices during the “Black Sabbath” raids:

“The imprisonment of members of the Jewish Agency … came as a heavy blow to us and greatly shocked the Yishuv and the entire Zionist world.”

The statement thanks Jewish communities abroad for solidarity, vows “to continue our work without hesitation,” and appeals to every Zionist body “to spread the spirit of Zionism even more strongly in their respective places.” Although the Agency’s files had been seized, the call radiates steadfastness and unity amid repression.

A decade later, this network’s endurance is reaffirmed through two trans-Atlantic communications. On December 14, 1955 The Jewish Agency, Inc., 16 E. 66th Street, New York, wrote to Betar, Calle 10 esq. 3, Vedado, Havana, enclosing a check for $150 “representing allocation by the Youth and Hechalutz Department for the period October 1, 1955 through March 31, 1956.”

The letter explicitly notes that the payment was made “pursuant to instructions received from Israel,” confirming that the directive to fund Havana’s Betar chapter originated in Jerusalem.

Signed by Fannie Speiser, Assistant Treasurer, the letter attests to the continuing New York–Havana financial conduit and to Israel’s oversight of diaspora youth programming.

Soon afterward, Dr. Aron Weinberger of Midstream magazine wrote inviting the Havana community to help distribute the journal “for free and frank discussion of all problems that face the contemporary Jew.”

final item, dated November 12, 1956, brings the narrative full circle. Issued by the Club Juvenil del Patronato de la Casa de la Comunidad Hebrea de Cuba, it invites Hashomer Hatzair, “Prado 260, Ciudad,” to attend the installation ceremony of the Patronato’s new youth board, to be held on Tuesday, 20 November at 9 p.m. in the Conference Hall of the Patronato.

Signed by Rafael Kapuskin, Secretary, the letter is both social and symbolic—affirming that by the mid-1950s, Zionist youth movements were no longer peripheral study circles but active civic partners within Havana’s central Jewish institutions. The letter’s tone, “En la seguridad de vernos honrados con vuestra presencia…” [In the certainty of being honored by your presence…], embodies the confidence of a mature, interconnected Jewish community just before the political transformations of late-1950s Cuba.

Together, these communications trace Havana’s evolving role in Israel-oriented and diasporic intellectual life—from the practical fundraising of Keren Hayesod to the ideological pluralism of Betar and Hashomer Hatzair.

As a whole, the archive captures the rhythm of Cuban Zionist life, from supplication and bureaucracy to political maturity and cultural dialogue. It offers scholars a uniquely multilingual cross-section of Hebrew, Yiddish, Spanish, and English voices negotiating identity, loyalty, and nationhood from the Caribbean periphery of world Zionism.

Condition and Language: Nine documents spanning Hebrew, Yiddish, Spanish, and English. Mixed paper stocks; significant folds, generally minor stains, and varying edge tears, especially prominent on thinner stock. Heavy handling, all text complete and legible. Age toning. Overall Fair to Good+.