Up-and-coming Rio Jews build community center
by RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) -- In a city where most people go to the beach on Saturday mornings, a new center has opened in an effort t, The center, run by the Lubavitch movement, includes two synagogues -- one with 400 seats and another for weekday services -- a l
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Local politicians joined Jewish officials for Sunday's inauguration ceremony, held in Leblon, the city's most upscale neighborhood.
Rio, with a Jewish population of 30,000, has synagogues in older neighborhoods, but many are unable to gather a minyan for Shabbat services.
The new center was designed for a Jewish population that has moved from poorer areas of the city to the Leblon district as members of the community have grown wealthier.
For the past 10 years, Lubavitch activities were held in a two-story house in Leblon. But as time passed, it became evident that the house was too small to house gatherings. At the same time, there was no place to move to.
Help came from Rio Mayor Cesar Maia, who donated a piece of land. To show gratitude for the mayor's gesture, the community collected funds to build a public library in a poor area of town.
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