JOURNALfor the STUDYof ANTISEMITISM

158 JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF ANTISEMITISM [ VOL. 3:157
Communists.” 1 It was the time of the Getulio Vargas government, and at
those times, Brazilian official diplomacy told to the American authorities
they would help the Jewish refugees, but used secret documents to forbid
the entrance of Jews fleeing from Europe. During those times, Brazil
reduced its immigration quotas and explicitly ordered its consuls in Europe
to deny entry visas to anyone of “Semitic origin.” 2 The background of Brazilian
politics related to Jews shows that there is a need to look deeper into
the situation in order to better understand about antisemitism in our country.
UNDERGROUND AND NOT SO UNDERGROUND
Even though this might sound strange to some Brazilians, intolerance
and antisemitism can also flourish or show its face in the country in times
of democracy and freedom. Most Brazilian citizens and politicians, however,
think that racism and antisemitism are not serious problems in the
country. Immigrant Jews who arrived in Brazil after being persecuted in
Europe and the Arab countries thought that the country would always be
friendly to the Jews. In this scenario, the issue of handling antisemitism
becomes very complex. The Jewish community knows that underground
movements can change a country and that some new geopolitical arrangements
like the situation in Venezuela can be the breeding ground for
antisemitism but don’t feel this in their daily lives, and sometimes don’t
want to admit the risks.
Until recently, independent Jewish organizations and rabbis worked in
a quiet and isolated way against antisemitism. But as an answer to the
demand of the community leaders, antisemitism and all kinds of discrimination
and bigotry began to be a priority for the Jewish Federation of the state
of Sao Paulo, the umbrella organization of the biggest Jewish community in
the country.
RIGHT-WING ACTIVITY
Let’s reveal some facts. Favored by the opening afforded by democracy,
violence and intolerance began to flourish and grow stronger, as some
events in the last few years show. In 2009 in Sao Paulo, during the Gay
Parade, a bomb was dropped, wounding 21. Young neo-Nazis were the
instigators.
1. Hélgio Trindade, Integralismo, o fascismo brasileiro na década de 30 (Sao
Paulo: Difel, 1979).
2. Graciela Ben Dror, The Catholic Elites in Brazil and Their Attitude Toward
the Jews, 1933-1939 (Shoah Resource Center, www.yadvashem.org).