From War to Diamonds: The Untold Story of Jewish Refugees in Cuba

I had the distinct privilege of embarking on an enriching Jewish heritage journey with Jewish Heritage Travel, titled The Jews of Cuba: A Marriage of Culture.  The experience offered a unique opportunity to discover the rich history, traditions, and cultural legacy of Cuba’s Jewish community. Among the many remarkable stories shared during this journey, one stood out: the rise and fall of Cuba’s wartime diamond industry, a pivotal chapter in Jewish history. This aspect of Cuba’s past provides Jewish travelers with an unexpected yet profound connection to heritage, revealing a chapter that has long remained in the shadows. As this history unfolds, it underscores Cuba’s significant role in the lives of Jewish refugees during World War II and serves as an essential reminder of the impact a small island nation had on Jewish survival and resilience during a time of unimaginable hardship. The story of the Jewish refugees in Cuba deserves to be remembered and honored, as it provides a powerful example of compassion, ingenuity, and hope amidst crises.

The story of Jewish refugees who found sanctuary in Cuba during World War II is one of the least-known yet most remarkable chapters in Jewish history. It is a story not just of survival, but of resilience, adaptation, and the unexpected ways in which a small Caribbean nation played a pivotal role in safeguarding lives and fostering opportunity amidst the darkness of war.

“Holocaust memorial at The United Hebrew Congregation Cemetery in Guanabacoa, Havana, New York Jewish Travel Guide.”

Between 1933 and 1944, approximately 12,000 Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution found themselves on Cuban soil. Many of them arrived with the hope that Cuba would serve as a brief stopover — a temporary refuge while they awaited visas to enter the United States. However, restrictive U.S. immigration policies, endless bureaucratic hurdles, and the chaos of a world at war meant that their stays were often far longer than anticipated. For some, Cuba became home for several years; for others, it was where they would rebuild their lives entirely.

When the first groups of Jewish refugees arrived in Cuba in November 1941, they were placed in quarantine at Tiscornia, an isolated detention center along Havana Harbor. The camp served as a gateway; a holding point until the refugees were cleared to enter the broader Cuban society. Released into a foreign land with little more than hope, they began the difficult process of adapting to a new culture, a new language, and an uncertain future.

Cuba’s immigration policies presented both opportunities and challenges for the refugees. At the time, Cuban labor laws required that at least half of all employees in businesses be Cuban nationals, limiting immediate job prospects for newly arrived Jews. However, this legal constraint fostered an unusual form of integration — businesses often employed Cuban workers alongside Jewish refugees, creating opportunities for cross-cultural cooperation. Despite economic hardships, the refugees frequently expressed gratitude for the relative safety they found in Cuba and the welcoming attitude of much of the Cuban population, which stood in stark contrast to the hostility Jews faced elsewhere.

As weeks stretched into months and months into years, Jewish refugees searched for ways to support themselves and their families. Among them were artisans and craftsmen from Belgium and the Netherlands who possessed expertise in the diamond-cutting and polishing trade. With the blessing of the Cuban government, these skilled refugees established an entirely new industry — diamond polishing — on the island.

Family photos of working in the diamond-polishing factories of Havana from the documentary ‘Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels.’ (Courtesy)

 

By the mid-1940s, Havana had become home to as many as 50 diamond factories, employing both Jewish refugees and Cuban workers. The industry’s rapid growth provided a vital economic lifeline, not only for the refugee community but also for the local population, who found steady employment in the thriving trade. This unexpected collaboration between Cuban laborers and Jewish artisans gave rise to a brief but brilliant economic boom that linked the island to global markets in ways previously unimaginable.

However, the industry’s success was short-lived. With the war’s end, many refugees were finally able to secure the U.S. visas they had long sought. As the Jewish refugees departed for new lives in the United States, the diamond industry — which had been entirely dependent on their technical expertise — collapsed almost overnight. The skills needed to sustain the trade disappeared with the refugees, leaving Cuban workers without employment and ending a fleeting yet extraordinary chapter in Cuba’s economic history.

This remarkable story — the rise and fall of Cuba’s wartime diamond industry — has largely faded from public memory, overshadowed by the better-known narratives of Jewish refugees who found safety in the United States, Canada. Further complicating its preservation is the profound political and social transformation Cuba underwent after the 1959 revolution. As most of Cuba’s Jewish community emigrated in the years following Fidel Castro’s rise to power, they took with them not only personal histories but also the collective memory of their community’s role in shaping Cuba’s wartime economy.

Despite its obscurity, the story of Cuba’s Jewish refugees stands as a powerful testament to resilience, ingenuity, and the unexpected ways in which displaced communities can leave indelible marks on their temporary homes. It is also a reminder that humanitarian acts, even by small nations, can have far-reaching consequences. By offering sanctuary to 12,000 Jewish refugees, Cuba not only saved thousands of lives but also created the conditions for a unique cross-cultural exchange — one that briefly transformed Havana into an unlikely hub of the global diamond trade.

As Jewish travelers uncover their heritage in the most unexpected corners of the world, Cuba’s pivotal role in this history is one that must be remembered and honored. It is a tale of hope, survival, and ingenuity in the face of unimaginable adversity — a powerful reminder that the spirit of resilience can endure and even flourish in the most unlikely places.

Preserving and sharing this history ensures that the contributions of Jewish refugees to Cuban society, and the generosity shown to them in turn, will not be forgotten. By revisiting this forgotten legacy, we pay tribute not only to the refugees themselves, but also to the Cuban people who, in a time of global conflict, chose compassion over indifference and opened their doors to strangers in need. It is a story that belongs not just to Cuba or to the Jewish diaspora, but to the global history of human dignity and survival.

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Story by Meyer Harroch, New York Jewish Travel Guide and New York Jewish Guide.

This unforgettable journey was graciously hosted by The Jewish Heritage Travel, with heartfelt thanks to Luis Arteaga and Miriam Levinson for organizing such a remarkable and unique experience.

A special thanks to Vickie Prince for her knowledgeable and engaging guiding, bringing Havana’s hidden gems and history to life with her insights and enthusiasm.

For details on upcoming trips and to request a travel brochure, contact The Jewish Heritage Travel at https://jhtravel.org/ or call 1.845.256.0197.