I'm passionate about visiting sites of significance to Jewish history and culture whenever possible…read morewhen I travel! The Sinagoga Justo Sierra - a historic synagogue on Justo Sierra, which is where it gets its name - was a must visit for me when in Mexico City for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Ashkenazi Jews from Poland, Russia, Lithuania, and other Eastern European countries began to arrive in Mexico in greater numbers in the 1920s. Nidje Israel (the name of the Sinagoga Justo Sierra when it was an active synagogue) was the first synagogue built in Mexico by Ashkenazi Jews. It opened its doors in 1941, and it was the center of Ashkenazi Jewish life in Mexico City for three decades until the Acapulco Street synagogue opened in 1965. When you visit, a security guard greets you, you show ID, and they put your bags in a locker. They give you a pamphlet on the synagogue's history (ours was in English) and you can wander around the synagogue with the pamphlet as a guide. While it doesn't have some historical aspects some other historic synagogues maintain (matzo oven, mikveh), you can walk around and take in the bimah and the women's balcony. The synagogue has been restored, and the murals on the ceiling are beautiful, as is all the stained glass in the synagogue! For self-guided visits, they currently (Jan. 2023) allow visitors Sunday through Friday from 10am until 5pm (donation suggested, no charge for admission). They offer some guided tours as well as a walking tour of the gold Jewish neighborhood - check their website if you're interested in these! Definitely interesting to visit, and I'd happily return for a guided tour next time I'm in Mexico City! Definitely worth a visit if you're interested in Jewish, Mexican, or Jewish Mexican history!
