Jewish Community Forced To Leave Guatemalan Village

Six years ago, a group of ultra orthodox Jews moved to the remote area of San Juan La Laguna, 200 miles from the capital of Guatemala, Guatemala City.  The 230 Jews who live there come from several countries, but mostly from the USA, Israel, Russia, Great Britain and Guatemala.  About 40 in the group are children.  They moved there six years ago, living in an area inhabited by an indigenous population.  Why they moved there in the first place is still a mystery to me.  I researched this group and try to find the answer, but all I found out is that they were an ultra orthodox Jewish group, interpreting the Torah and Bible literally, and that they just wanted to live in peace.

The indigenous tribes in Guatemala are protected by the government against outside influences that threaten their culture.  Since October the local indigenous population has accused the Orthodox Jews of discriminating against them and of violating Mayan customs.  The Council of Indigenous Elders said that the Jewish community wanted to impose their religion on them, and that they were undermining the Catholic faith, the predominant faith of the village.

With threats of lynchings if they didn't leave the village, the Orthodox Jews decided it was better to quit than fight.  They say they are people of peace, and when the Jews and the indigenous representatives failed to reach an agreement to respect one another, the Jews are leaving.  They have already begun to leave.  They know they have a right to be there, but they don't want to be where they are unwanted and in fear of violence.  Who knows where they'll go next?  If anyone out there knows how they even got to Guatemala in the first place, I'd like to know.