With Venezuela in a tailspin, Jews opting for 'Plan B'

haaretz ^ | 3/24/14 | JTA

[Nachum]

They left after Venezuelan secret police raided a Jewish club in 2007, and after the local synagogue was ransacked by unidentified thugs two years later.

They left after President Hugo Chavez expelled Israel's ambassador to Caracas, and when he called on Venezuela's Jews to condemn Israel for its actions in Gaza in 2009.

They left when Caracas claimed the ignoble title of most dangerous city in the world, and when inflation hit double digits, food shortages took hold and the country's murder rate reached 79 per 100,000 people.

With Venezuela now roiled by anti-government demonstrations-the death toll reached 18 last Saturday-Venezuelan Jews who remain have yet another reason to leave their country: growing despair.

"There's less hope about the future," said Andres Beker, a Venezuelan Jewish expatriate in the United States whose parents still live in Caracas. "My parents are huge fans of Venezuela. Until last year I thought they would stay no matter what. Now, for the first time, they're talking about Plan B: leaving Venezuela."

Over the last 15 years, from the time Chavez came to power and in the year since Nicolas Maduro has ruled the country, the Venezuelan Jewish community has shrunk by more than half. It is now estimated at about 7,000, down from a high of 25,000 in the 1990s. Many of those who left were community leaders.

[Pecos]

Thanks.

[gingerbread]

I have a question for these JEWS in Venezuela. “DID THEY VOTE FOR HUGO CHAVEZ”. It appears, from this article, that the majority if not all these JEWS voted for Chavez. And now they are complaining? Let’s look at history a little bit, shall we? In the 1930’s a lot of the Jews in Germany, about 50%, voted for ADOLPH HITLER. Oh, there were people that warned them not to do this, but they did it anyway. We all know what the outcome of that vote. Now, we have Venezuela, and the Jews in that country, I’m quite sure, voted for Hugo Chavez. Again, there were people that were warning them, not to do this.

[imardmd1]

I did contact my friend, who has the 10 acres in Chile. He responded that the Bushes bough an estancia in Paraguay of about 100,000 acres. It was me that took him to be saying the Bushes had properties in Chile, and perhaps I misunderstood what he was saying. That was a few years ago.

But he also indicated the activity of a husband/wife conservation-environmentalist team who are buying much more land some in Chile. They are creating national parks and preserves. Here's a link to that:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Tompkins

I am going to ask him who else it was that he spoke of in the past buying places to live, near where he bought his farm.

[imardmd1]

Did it ever occur to you that we should fight for our own country?

I don't know how you got this idea. I have been fighting for my country in concept and in my military obligation since experiencing the hatefulness of our foes in WWII when I was a child. And, although I have affection for Jews and have attempted to learn something of the culture, I am not Jewish.

As to my friend, who denounces America's condition now, I told him that if he hated it so much, he ought to leave, as he has been promising. Not me, though. I'm not leaving. It's mine, and the heathen we are admitting are not going to take it away from me, even if they get to be President.

[B4Ranch]

>>I don’t know how you got this idea.<<

From reading your posts at 11 and 13. I apologize if I came away with the wrong impression.

[imardmd1]

Nasal Spray to Treat Depression?

No offense taken. I hope I wasn't a little too brusque. I just couldn't figure out how I projected that impression. Actually, from my friend's description of Chile, I wouldn't mind taking a vacation there. It seems very beautiful from the photos, and stream/lake fresh water fishing ought to be great.

His farm is not too far from Puerto Montt:

"Established by German immigrants in 1853, this is now the key port, transit and business hub of the Lakes District – a good place to replenish supplies, pick up Chilean crafts and get an urban jolt before moving on to more pristine pastures. If you're in the mood to sample some of the famous local salmon, the Angelmo harbor... more"

Check it out -- click here for Puerto Montt & Lake District.

[imardmd1]

**Oooops! Nasal Spray to Treat Depression? lots of errors on me tonight!**

Should have been:
I apologize if I came away with the wrong impression.

[imardmd1]

**Oooops! Nasal Spray to Treat Depression? lots of errors on me tonight!**

I should have been responding to your:

I apologize if I came away with the wrong impression.