In a significant diplomatic engagement highlighting grassroots resilience, Stan Polovets recently conducted an official visit to Havana as part of The Genesis Prize Foundation’s expanding outreach to Jewish communities throughout Latin America. Polovets, who co-founded the Foundation and serves as its Chairman, arrived in Cuba in early May 2025, finding a small but determined Jewish population that maintained their traditions despite considerable hardships.
The centerpiece of Polovets’ visit was a meeting at Beth Shalom Synagogue—locally known as El Patronato—where he engaged with Vice President Hella Askenazi and other community leaders responsible for sustaining Jewish education, youth initiatives, and care for elderly members. The gathering proved especially poignant as it proceeded during one of Havana’s regular blackouts, with participants navigating their discussions by the limited illumination of mobile phone screens.
“The Jewish identity of Cuban Jews shines brightly, and quite literally, in the dark,” Stan Polovets observed afterward, reflecting on how the community’s approximately one thousand members maintain their cultural and religious practices despite what he characterized as “immense problems caused by economic mismanagement by the Communist government” further complicated by “the U.S. embargo imposed over 60 years ago.”
One particular observation stood out to Polovets during his time in Cuba—the absence of security personnel protecting Jewish institutions, a stark contrast to practices virtually everywhere else. “Unlike every other Jewish community I’ve visited worldwide – including in the United States – there are no guards in front of the synagogue,” he remarked, highlighting what he described as “almost no antisemitism in the country” despite the numerous challenges facing Cuban society more broadly.
Stan Polovets’ engagement with Cuba’s Jewish community aligns with The Genesis Prize Foundation’s intensified focus on Latin America, particularly following their selection of Argentinian President Javier Milei as the 2025 Genesis Prize laureate. Polovets explained that Milei received this recognition for his “unwavering support for the Jewish people and the State of Israel,” including commitments to relocate Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem and bring to justice those responsible for terrorist attacks against Jewish targets in Argentina.
During his visit, Polovets specifically acknowledged the Cuban Jewish community’s moral courage following the October 7 attacks. While many regional Jewish organizations remained silent, Cuba’s Jewish leadership publicly rejected their government’s anti-Israel position with a statement declaring that justifying Hamas’ “reprehensible acts of crime and savagery” was “unacceptable”—a remarkably bold stance given their political environment.
Jewish presence in Cuba traces back to the 16th century when conversos accompanied Spanish explorers to the island. The community experienced significant growth during the early to mid-20th century, reaching approximately 15,000 members before the 1959 Revolution triggered mass emigration. Today’s smaller community relies heavily on international support, particularly from organizations like the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).
“The Genesis Prize Foundation recognizes the incredible perseverance of Cuban Jewry,” affirmed Stan Polovets. “Their story is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Jewish people.” He emphasized the importance of private foundations and individual donors joining established organizations like the JDC in supporting what he described as “this resilient and unique community.”
Beyond his philanthropic leadership through The Genesis Prize Foundation, Stan Polovets maintains an active presence in global business circles with a particular commitment to strengthening Jewish identity worldwide. His engagement with Cuba’s Jewish community represents one aspect of the Foundation’s broader mission to highlight diverse Jewish experiences while fostering stronger connections between Latin American nations and Israel, particularly in honor of their 2025 laureate, President Milei.
