Loja hosts first Community Shabatón to rediscover Sephardic Jewish roots

The city of Loja hosted its first Community Shabatón on September 4 and 5, 2026, marking a significant effort to rediscover Sephardic Jewish roots among local descendants. The event focused on spirituality, study, and community coexistence.

Argentine liturgical cantor Ariel Foigel, representing the Circo Israelita Santiago, participated in the gathering to share knowledge and hear the ancestral stories of participants. Foigel noted that the Sephardic diaspora, historically linked to Spain, North Africa, Turkey, and Morocco, spread to Latin American countries including Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, and Ecuador following the Spanish Inquisition.

Many local families have identified ancestral Jewish practices preserved through generations, such as the lighting of candles at specific times, the conservation of Torah texts, and the presence of menorot. These findings represent an opportunity for families to reclaim identities that were previously hidden due to historical persecution and fear.