Unexpected Pleasures of Costa Rica
When we first decided to come to Costa Rica on vacation, we did so for a number of reasons. We were told that we would be able to see the most amazing wildlife and breath-taking sights. We arrived here last week and everything has been exactly like we expected it to be. The monkeys swing out in full force every morning, and we can see them from our window, then we run into them again when we go to the beach later in the day. We have seen butterflies that seem to have been colored by the hand of God, the colors are not only vibrant but they are unlike any colors we have ever seen before! We were prepared for all of these, and we haven’t been disappointed.
Before we came here, we also knew that Costa Rica boasts a small but strong Jewish Community. Growing up in Mexico City, we always had contact with many Jews from Costa Rica as many of them married people from our community.
Jewish life in Costa Rica today is very vibrant and caters to the 2,500 Jews in the country. All denominations of the community revolve around the Centro Israelita Sionist,a founded in 1930, which includes a WIZO, B’nai B’rith, La Sociedad de Damas Israelitas de Beneficencia, several Zionist and youth groups, and a social and sports club.
The Centro publishes a monthly newsletter called Hayom, which includes a bulletin devoted to improving Jewish-Christian relations. New buildings for the Shaare Zion Synagogue and the Community Center were inaugurated in September 2004 on a 17,000 square meter plot. The new buildings house the new synagogue, the Hanoar HaTzioni Youth Organization’s headquarters, a community museum and library, a kosher restaurant, and three mikvahs — one for women, men, and khelim. These buildings also house administrative offices for all active Jewish organizations in Costa Rica, including the Asociacion Ciudadano de Oro House, the Golden Citizen Association for the elderly.
B’nai Israel is a Reform synagogue, which meets Friday nights at 7:30. This community also has a youth group, cultural events such as lectures and movies and a bulletin called Koleinu on synagogue activities.
Kosher food is readily available in San Jose with a kosher butcher shop and a delicatessen run by Orthodox Jews that carries kosher products. There are two kosher hotels in Costa Rica, one in San Jose and another in Camino Real.
We expected all of that; we knew it. Here is what we didn’t expect — we have seen many, many Israelis. It all started when we were going through passport control, we saw many young Israeli tourists clearly getting out to see the world after they completed their military service. Costa Rica seems to be a wonderful destination because it is peaceful and extremely safe. We have all heard the stories and seen pictures of entire cities in India and Thailand that cater to Israeli tourists, menus in restaurants, directions on the streets can be found all in Hebrew. I never heard that about Costa Rica.
While we were traveling in the rain forest, going up towards the Arenal Volcano, we ran into a very interesting sight. In the middle of the road, right there at the top of the rain forest paradise, we saw a sign in Hebrew directing us towards a hotel and restaurant. We were instantly drawn to it by the Hebrew and stopped for a little break. We found an amazing place where about 30 Israeli young men and women have opened up a hotel where all the food is vegetarian. When you walk inside, you are immediately struck by the beautiful facility that resembles a luxury Kibutz (if that can exist!). There are books in Hebrew on the tables, and we all had a chance to practice our Hebrew right there amidst the monkeys, the sloths and the butterflies.
It is a great feeling. When you run into other Jews in the most unexpected places you feel safe, you feel as if you are visiting long lost family. We drank a cup of coffee, had a couple of blintzes and continued on our journey to see the second most active volcano in the Americas erupt multiple times. Every day that I have been here, along with everything our eyes have taken in, I have been repeating as a mantra one of the most beautiful verses in The Tanach. “Kol Israel Arevim Ze B’ze.” — all of Israel is responsible for one another.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Loved reading about your Costa Rica experience. As you know, Jerry and I went there a few years ago and found it just as beautiful and inspirational but missed the Israeli presence. Enjoy. Arlene
August 9th, 2008 at 4:21 am
The exact same thing happened to us. We were late arriving when I saw the hebrew writing and the words Lands of Love. We couldnt stop on the way in to Costa Rica but our friends (who are mormon) surprised us on the way back and stopped there for me. We were taken on a tour and treated to their blintz’s and challah. What a treat…they were wonderful to us and they also have their own ziplining..which we had already tried someplace else. It certainly is on my list to visit if we ever get there again.
August 10th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Yes! I remeber you guys telling me about it when you came back from CR. I just did not know if it was the same place. You were absolutely right about it. I kind of feel that I missed out by not having stayed there at least one night. We did do the Canopy Zip Line with them. It was great!
August 12th, 2008 at 9:42 am
You? On a Zip Line? I sure hope there are lots of photos that you are going to show us when you get back!
August 13th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Now this is a real surprise, who would have thought there would be kosher amenities, let alone a kosher resort in the sunny tropics of Costa Rica?