Jews living in Brazil “live in harmony” with their neighbors, the president of the World Jewish Congress said.
Ronald Lauder met Jewish and non-Jewish officials last week in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
During his first visit to South America’s largest city, Lauder was welcomed Thursday and Friday by Latin American Jewish Congress president Jack Terpins and Claudio Lottenberg, the new president of the Brazilian Israelite Confederation, the country’s umbrella Jewish organization.
Lauder came to Brazil to talk about the World Jewish Congress’ work around the world. He also met Sao Paulo state governor Jose Serra and Sao Paulo city mayor Gilberto Kassab.
Lauder and Serra discussed the fight against anti-Semitism. The WJC president also expressed his gratitude to Kassab Sao Paulo’s warm welcome to Jewish immigrants.
Kassab told Lauder there are several similarities between Sao Paulo and New York, both among the world’s largest cities. He boasted the peaceful coexistence in the Brazilian city among people from various origins and religions.
“Jews who live in Brazil, and particularly in Sao Paulo, live in harmony,” said Lauder.
Sao Paulo has a 60,000-member Jewish community out of a population of 11 million.
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