Zionist movement Brazil
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The organised Zionist movement in Brazil: its federation, national institutions, community bodies, lobby groups, youth movements and schools, and links to "Israel"
The Zionist movement in Brazil is organised through the Federação Sionista do Brasil (FSB, Zionist Federation of Brazil), which describes itself as "the body that represents and coordinates the Brazilian Zionist movement at national level" and says it is recognised by the World Zionist Organization (WZO) as the movement's umbrella body.[1][2] Brazil had eight mandates at the 39th World Zionist Congress in 2025, the same as in 2020,[3][4] and the WZO's delegates page lists 14 people under Brazil.[5] The main communal body is the Confederação Israelita do Brasil (CONIB), one of whose stated pillars is to "guarantee the sovereignty and legitimise the existence of the State of Israel".[6] Sergio DellaPergola put Brazil's core Jewish population at 90,500 at the start of 2023, the tenth largest in the world;[7] CONIB gives 120,000.[6] For other countries see Zionist movement by country. For the wider political, business and diplomatic links between Brazil and "Israel" see Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Brazil.
History
CONIB was founded on 30 May 1948.[6] The FSB says it was "revitalised at the start of 2025" and brings together Zionist parties of eight ideological lines active in Brazil. Among its main missions it lists to "defend the State of Israel before the various sectors of the country".[1] In a statement signed in July 2025 it reaffirmed its "unconditional support for the State of Israel, its right to self-defence and to the protection of its families, its communities and its territory".[8] The FSB publishes the WZO's Jerusalem Program in Portuguese, including its commitment to "encourage recruitment and service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)".[9]
2025 World Zionist Congress election
Voting in Brazil ended on 18 July 2025.[10] The FSB reported 6,585 registrations, of which 6,080 were approved; 3,990 votes were cast, and 3,197 were counted as valid once payment of the Shekel Tzioni had been confirmed.[11] The WZO's rules for the Brazilian election required voters to accept the Jerusalem Program, "Israel" as a Jewish and democratic state and the Law of Return, and allowed no slate more than three mandates.[12]
| Slate | Valid votes | Delegate(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Meretz Brasil | 680 | Ezequiel Pessaj; Márcia B. S. Fischer |
| Likud Brasil | 537 | Fabio André Rosenfeld |
| Mizrachi Yachad | 487 | Rafael Cozer Antaki |
| Arzenu-Mercaz | 471 | Beatriz Rubinsztain |
| Eretz HaKodesh-Shas | 437 | Victor Eizemberg |
| Beit Yaacov-Netzah Israel | 374 | Felipe Soriano Blatt |
| Avodá-Habonim Dror | 149 | Patricia Tolmasquim |
| Kol Israel-Confederatzia | 62 | none |
Votes and delegates as published by the FSB.[11] Slates pooled surplus votes in pairs (Arzenu-Mercaz with Avodá-Habonim Dror; Kol Israel-Confederatzia with Likud Brasil), and Beit Yaacov-Netzah Israel, Mizrachi Yachad and Eretz HaKodesh-Shas made a mandate agreement.[13] The WZO's delegates page lists six further people under Brazil, appointed through world bodies rather than the vote: Luisa Ballas (Masorti Olami), Flora Sheila Grinspan and Denise Jozsef (Na'amat), Gabriel Milevsky (Maccabi World Union), Rafael Renkovski (student delegation, including the World Union of Jewish Students) and Arthur Rubinsztain (World Union for Progressive Judaism).[5]
National institutions
| National institution | Brazilian affiliate or presence |
|---|---|
| World Zionist Organization | Federação Sionista do Brasil[1] |
| Keren Hayesod | Fundo Comunitário (Associação Fundo Comunitário – Keren Hayesod), which raises money for "exchange between Brazil and Israel" and for programmes in both countries[14][15][16] |
| Jewish National Fund | KKL Brasil, Rua Cardeal Arcoverde 1749, São Paulo, which says it works to "strengthen the bond between the Jewish people and the State of Israel" and offers tree planting in "Israel" to mark special occasions[17] |
| Jewish Agency for Israel | Jewish Agency Brazil; its Brazilian site describes the Agency's shlichim, placed in schools, synagogues, camps, universities, youth movements and federations around the world, and ShinShinim, Israeli school leavers who defer their compulsory army service to work in diaspora communities[18] |
| Women's International Zionist Organization | WIZO Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, whose aims include to "combat antisemitism and the delegitimisation of the state of israel"[19] |
The FSB's board and council are drawn from its member parties:[20]
| Name | FSB position | Party listed |
|---|---|---|
| Rafael Cozer Antaki | President | Mizrachi |
| Patricia Tolmasquim | Vice-president | Avodá |
| Felipe da Costa | Treasurer | Likud |
| Davi Bujarski | First secretary | Mercaz |
| Ezequiel Pessaj | Second secretary | Meretz |
| David Britva Beraha | Communication | Arzenu |
| Márcia B. S. Fischer | Communication | Meretz |
| Beatriz Rubinsztain | Council | Arzenu |
| Mauro Mann | Council | Avodá |
| Marcia Kelner | Council | Kol Israel/Confederatzia |
| André Rosenfeld | Council | Likud |
| Mario A. Grunebaum | Council | Mercaz |
| Rafael Nasser | Council | Netzah Israel |
| Daniel S. Blatt | Council | Netzah Israel |
Major Zionist and Jewish communal organisations
- Confederação Israelita do Brasil (CONIB): umbrella of 14 state federations,[6] holding its 57th convention at A Hebraica in São Paulo on 28–29 November 2026, with panels on the political scene after the elections in Brazil and in "Israel", to close the six-year presidency of Claudio Lottenberg.[21] In 2026 Lottenberg took leave from the presidency after Flávio Bolsonaro announced him as his future health minister should the senator be elected president; vice-president Ary Berger took over until the end of the term on 29 November.[22] Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was re-elected president on 25 October 2026, defeating Bolsonaro,[23] ending the prospect of that appointment.
- Federação Israelita do Estado de São Paulo (FISESP): Célia Parnes, also CONIB's secretary-general, was elected president for 2026–27. Its deliberative council includes A Hebraica de São Paulo, the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, the Fundo Comunitário – Keren Hayesod, Na'amat São Paulo, the Congregação Israelita Paulista and several Jewish schools.[16] In May 2026 the Israeli consul-general in São Paulo, Rafael Erdreich, met Parnes and executive president Ricardo Berkiensztat; FISESP said the meeting reaffirmed the joint commitment to "the right of Israel to exist and live in security" and the "permanent partnership" between the consulate and the federation.[24]
- Federação Israelita do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FIERJ): the Rio de Janeiro counterpart to FISESP. It was founded on 30 June 1947 as the Federação das Sociedades Israelitas do Rio de Janeiro, with 42 affiliated bodies; its first president was Fritz Feigl.[25] It describes itself as a non-party, non-profit association whose objects include representing the Jews of Rio de Janeiro state, and their interests, before the authorities, CONIB and other federations.[26] Its president is Bruno Feigelson.[27] In 2002 it moved into part of the former Israeli consulate at Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana 769; in 2009 a former FIERJ president, Osias Wurman, was named honorary consul of "Israel" in Rio de Janeiro.[25]
- A Hebraica de São Paulo (Associação Brasileira A Hebraica de São Paulo): founded in 1953 and opened its own premises on 22 December 1957. It says its mission is to bring together the Jewish community of São Paulo through sport, social and cultural activity and the preservation of Jewish tradition, and gives a membership of about 22,000.[28] The World Jewish Congress has called it the largest Jewish organisation in Brazil.[29] Its institutional history records a 2002 demonstration by the Jewish community in favour of "Israel" among the events that marked a new phase for the club.[28] Its youth movement, Hebraikeinu, founded in 1990 and affiliated to Maccabi in Brazil, lists Judaism and Zionism among the subjects it teaches.[30] CONIB is holding its 57th convention there in November 2026, and it sits on FISESP's deliberative council.[21][16]
- B'nai B'rith Brasil: in July 2025 called the Brazilian government's decision to support South Africa's genocide case against "Israel" at the International Court of Justice "a legal and historical absurdity" which sends the message that the Brazilian state backs "narratives that deny Israel's right to defend itself".[31]
- Na'amat Brasil, São Paulo: lists among its aims to "preserve Jewish-Zionist traditions and identity".[32]
- WIZO Brasil, KKL Brasil and Fundo Comunitário: see National institutions.
Youth movements, education and aliyah
The Conselho Juvenil Judaico Sionista do Estado de São Paulo (São Paulo State Jewish Zionist Youth Council) lists its member youth movements (tnuot) as Avanhandava, Betar, Bnei Akiva, Chazit Hanoar, the CIP youth colony, Dror (Habonim Dror), Hashomer Hatzair, Hebraikeinu, Laor, Netzah and Noam.[33]
- Netzah Israel: founded in 1974; its pillars are "Judaism, Zionism and humanism".[34] Netzah Israel sat on the Beit Yaacov-Netzah Israel slate in 2025 and has two seats on the FSB council.[11][20]
- Hashomer Hatzair Rio de Janeiro describes itself as "a Jewish Zionist and socialist youth movement".[35]
- Habonim Dror ran jointly with the Avodá (Labour) slate in 2025.[11]
DellaPergola gives 501 immigrants to "Israel" from Brazil in 2021 and 345 in 2022.[7] Israel.com, using figures from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, gives:[36]
| Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immigrants to "Israel" from Brazil | 567 | 403 | 271 | 261 | 203 |
These people settled as colonists in occupied Palestine.
Lobbying and advocacy
- StandWithUs Brasil: in Brazil since 2018; StandWithUs describes itself as an "educational institution about Israel" dedicated to fighting "extremism and antisemitism".[37] Its executive president is André Lajst.[38]
- Frente Parlamentar Brasil-Israel (Brazil-Israel Parliamentary Front): registration requested by Deputy Carla Dickson (União/RN) on 14 October 2025 (REQ 4268/2025). The signatory list runs to 199 deputies and nine senators, including Flávio Bolsonaro, Sergio Moro and Damares Alves.[39]
- Grupo Parlamentar Brasil-Israel (Brazil-Israel Parliamentary Group): installed in the National Congress on 28 February 2023 with about 50 members, chaired by Senator Carlos Viana (Podemos); the then Israeli ambassador Daniel Zonshine spoke at the launch.[40]
- Instituto Brasil-Israel (IBI): a liberal body which supports a two-state solution and says it recognises "the right of the State of Israel to its security".[41]
- Israel Allies Foundation: see Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Brazil.
Antisemitism organisations
- Confederação Israelita do Brasil: its report on antisemitism in Brazil in 2025, launched on 30 March 2026, counted 989 cases (1,788 in 2024), 80.8% of them online, and 115,970 antisemitic posts identified by artificial intelligence. It was prepared with the state federations and ECOA, StandWithUs Brasil, the Memorial do Holocausto de São Paulo and the Museu do Holocausto de Curitiba. The CONIB team named includes Andrea Vainer, Rony Vainzof, Sergio Napchan and Joana Zlot.[42][43]
- StandWithUs Brasil: see Lobbying and advocacy.[37]
- B'nai B'rith Brasil: see above.[31]
- WIZO Brasil: aims include combating antisemitism and "the delegitimisation of the state of israel".[19]
- Memorial do Holocausto de São Paulo and Museu do Holocausto de Curitiba: partners in the CONIB report.[42]
Israeli state presence
- Embassy of Israel in Brasília, Av. das Nações Lote 38. Rasha Athamni, described as the first Muslim woman to serve as an Israeli diplomat, is chargée d'affaires a.i. and head of the political and economic division.[44] The rupture of 2024–25, in which the Israeli foreign minister declared Lula persona non grata and "Israel" withdrew its nominee for ambassador after Brazil left his agrément unanswered, is covered on Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Brazil.
- Consulate General of Israel in São Paulo: consul-general Rafael Erdreich (May 2026).[24]
- Jewish Agency for Israel: shlichim and ShinShinim (see National institutions).[18]
Religious Zionism and Chabad
The religious Zionist slates in the 2025 election were Mizrachi Yachad (487 votes), whose delegate Rafael Cozer Antaki is FSB president; Beit Yaacov-Netzah Israel (374), listed by the WZO under World Mizrachi; and Eretz HaKodesh-Shas (437), linked to Eretz Hakodesh.[11][5] Bnei Akiva is a member of the São Paulo Zionist youth council.[33] The Orthodox schools Iavne and TTH Bar Ilan describe their model as resting on "religious Judaism, academic teaching and Zionism".[45]
Chabad Lubavitch of Brazil
- Main article: Chabad Lubavitch of Brazil
Synagogue movements and schools
- Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP), São Paulo: the seventh of its stated values reads "We are Zionists; we believe in the unquestionable right of the Jewish people to have their home in the land of Israel and feel intrinsically linked to that democratic State, regardless of the government elected by its citizens".[46]
- Reform and Progressive: Arzenu Brasil calls itself "the progressive arm of world Zionism".[47] It ran with Mercaz as Arzenu-Mercaz in 2025, and the WZO lists Arthur Rubinsztain for the World Union for Progressive Judaism.[11][5]
- Masorti (Conservative): represented in 2025 through the Arzenu-Mercaz slate (Mercaz Olami) and by Luisa Ballas for Masorti Olami.[11][5]
- Colégio Iavne, São Paulo: its pillars include "Zionism, strengthening the relationship with the State of Israel ever more closely".[48]
- TTH Bar Ilan, Rio de Janeiro: see Religious Zionism.[45]
- Escola Alef Peretz, São Paulo: "a non-religious and Zionist Jewish school"; it calls Zionism a "fundamental pillar".[49]
- Escola Eliezer Max, Rio de Janeiro: describes its approach as "humanist, pluralist, Zionist" and says it strengthens "the connection with Israel".[50]
Leaders
| Name | Position | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| Rafael Cozer Antaki | President, Federação Sionista do Brasil (Mizrachi)[20] | November 2026 |
| Patricia Tolmasquim | Vice-president, Federação Sionista do Brasil (Avodá)[20] | November 2026 |
| Claudio Lottenberg | President, Confederação Israelita do Brasil (on leave)[22] | 2026 |
| Ary Berger | Interim president, Confederação Israelita do Brasil[22] | 2026 |
| Célia Parnes | President, FISESP; secretary-general, CONIB[16] | November 2025 |
| Ricardo Berkiensztat | Executive president, FISESP[24] | May 2026 |
| André Lajst | Executive president, StandWithUs Brasil[38] | November 2026 |
| Carla Dickson | Federal deputy; sponsor, Frente Parlamentar Brasil-Israel[39] | October 2025 |
| Carlos Viana | Senator; chair, Grupo Parlamentar Brasil-Israel[40] | February 2023 |
| Rasha Athamni | Israeli chargée d'affaires a.i. in Brasília[44] | November 2026 |
| Rafael Erdreich | Israeli consul-general in São Paulo[24] | May 2026 |
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Brazil
- Chabad Lubavitch of Brazil
- Zionist Movement Argentina
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Argentina
- Zionist movement US
- Zionist movement by country
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Federação Sionista do Brasil, "Quem somos" (Who we are), accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ World Zionist Organization, "Zionist Federations", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ World Zionist Organization, summary of election results and agreements for the 39th Congress (Hebrew), as submitted to the Zionist Court on 9 October 2025, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ World Zionist Organization, summary of election results and agreements for the 38th Congress, 2020 (Hebrew), accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 World Zionist Organization, "Delegates", 39th Zionist Congress, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Confederação Israelita do Brasil, "CONIB", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sergio DellaPergola, "World Jewish Population, 2023", American Jewish Year Book 2023, Berman Jewish DataBank, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Federação Sionista do Brasil, "Posicionamentos" (Positions), "Nota oficial em solidariedade ao Estado de Israel", 2025, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Federação Sionista do Brasil, "Programa de Jerusalém" (Jerusalem Program), accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Federação Sionista do Brasil, "Eleições ao Congresso Sionista" (Elections to the Zionist Congress), accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Federação Sionista do Brasil, "Resultado - Eleição Sionista 2025" (Result: Zionist Election 2025), 22 July 2025, updated 25 July 2025, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ World Zionist Organization, "Regimento das eleições para escolha dos delegados do Brasil" (Rules of the elections to choose Brazil's delegates), 2025, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Federação Sionista do Brasil, "Chapas 2025" (Slates 2025), accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Fundo Comunitário, "Fundo Comunitário", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Federação Sionista do Brasil, "Instituições Nacionais" (National Institutions), accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Federação Israelita do Estado de São Paulo, "Célia Parnes é eleita presidente da Fisesp para o biênio 2026/2027", 25 November 2025, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ KKL Brasil, "KKL Brasil", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Jewish Agency for Israel, "Shlichim e Shinshinim", Brazil site, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 WIZO Brasil, "WIZO Brasil", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Federação Sionista do Brasil, "Diretoria e Conselho" (Board and Council), accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Confederação Israelita do Brasil, "57ª Convenção da CONIB reúne lideranças para debater os desafios e o futuro da comunidade judaica brasileira", 2026, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Confederação Israelita do Brasil, "Cláudio Lottenberg pede licença da presidência da CONIB", 2026, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Kellen Barreto, Isabella Calzolari and Gustavo Garcia, "Em virada histórica, Lula derrota Flávio Bolsonaro e chega ao quarto mandato como presidente", G1, 25 October 2026, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Federação Israelita do Estado de São Paulo, "Cônsul-geral de Israel em São Paulo visita a Federação Israelita SP", 12 May 2026, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Federação Israelita do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, "História", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Federação Israelita do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, "Missão", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Federação Israelita do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, "Estrutura", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Associação Brasileira A Hebraica de São Paulo, "Institucional", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ World Jewish Congress, "Community in Brazil", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Associação Brasileira A Hebraica de São Paulo, "Hebraikeinu", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 B'nai B'rith Brasil, "Não há mais espaço para o antissemitismo no Brasil, na Europa ou em qualquer parte do mundo", 24 July 2025, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Na'amat Brasil, "Na'amat", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Conselho Juvenil Judaico Sionista do Estado de São Paulo, "Até o último suspiro! Movimentos Juvenis na Shoá", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Conselho Juvenil Judaico Sionista do Estado de São Paulo, "Netzah", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Hashomer Hatzair Rio, "Hashomer Hatzair", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Israel.com, "Aliyah statistics" and "aliyah-by-country.csv", accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 StandWithUs, "Brasil", 24 February 2025, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 StandWithUs, "Leadership", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Câmara dos Deputados, REQ n.4268/2025, "Requer o registro da Frente Parlamentar Brasil-Israel", 14 October 2025, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 Senador Carlos Viana, "Carlos Viana é eleito presidente do Grupo Parlamentar Brasil – Israel", 28 February 2023, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Instituto Brasil-Israel, "Sobre o IBI" (About IBI), accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 Confederação Israelita do Brasil, "CONIB lança Relatório sobre Antissemitismo no Brasil 2025", March 2026, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Bruno Bocchini, "Confederação aponta mais de 980 casos de ódio contra judeus em 2025", Agência Brasil, 30 March 2026, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "The ambassador", Embassy of Israel in Brazil, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 Confederação Israelita do Brasil, "18 escolas debatem em São Paulo gestão, formação de docentes e rumos da educação judaica", undated, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Congregação Israelita Paulista, "Nossos Valores" (Our values), accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Arzenu Brasil, "Arzenu", accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Colégio Iavne, "Quem Somos" (About us), accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Escola Alef Peretz, "Pilares da Escola" (Pillars of the school), 13 December 2023, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Escola Eliezer Max, "Quem Somos" (About us), 22 July 2025, accessed 10 November 2026.