Another Milestone in Mexico> Its First Jewish President
By: Yair Rosenberg
On July 1, 2018, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a left-wing populist, was sworn in as the president of Mexico. He is the first Jewish president in the country’s history.
López Obrador, who is of Sephardic descent, was raised Catholic, but he has publicly acknowledged his Jewish heritage. In 2012, he told the Mexican Jewish newspaper Amanecer that he was “proud of his Jewish roots.”
López Obrador’s Jewish ancestry is a result of the forced conversions of Jews in Spain during the Inquisition. His great-great-grandfather, Isaac López, was a Jewish merchant who converted to Catholicism in the 18th century.
López Obrador’s election is a significant milestone for Mexico’s Jewish community, which numbers around 50,000. It is also a testament to the country’s diversity and its rich history of religious tolerance.
López Obrador has pledged to address the country’s economic and social challenges, including poverty, violence, and corruption. He has also promised to prioritize the needs of Mexico’s indigenous communities and to promote dialogue and reconciliation with the country’s various ethnic and religious groups.
As president, López Obrador has already taken steps to fulfill some of his campaign promises. He has announced plans to increase social spending, to create a national development plan, and to reform the country’s energy sector. He has also promised to consult with indigenous communities on issues that affect them and to promote the use of indigenous languages in schools and government offices.
López Obrador’s election as Mexico’s first Jewish president is a reminder of the country’s rich history and its commitment to religious freedom and tolerance. It is also a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Mexico’s Jewish community, which has survived and thrived in the face of adversity for centuries.