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The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) made its first-ever official visit to the Dominican Republic last week, with CAM Hispanic Affairs Director Shay Salamon and Manager of Hispanic Affairs Nurit Caplivschi traveling to the capital, Santo Domingo, for a series of high-level meetings with government officials, Jewish and Christian leaders, and civil society representatives.
The itinerary included sit-downs with: Dominican Minister of Interior and Police Dr. Faride Raful; Dominican Minister of Culture Lic. Roberto Angel Salcedo; members of the Dominican-Israeli Interparliamentary Friendship Group, including President Carmen de la Rosa and Vice President Dr. Elias Wessin; President of the Centro Israelita (Israeli Center) Isaac Lalo; President of the Dialogue Council of Evangelical Churches Bishop Reynaldo Franco Aquino and his board; 120 pastors from the Salvation Council, led by Bishop Gabriel Corniel; and Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul of the Israeli Embassy in Santo Domingo Ilan Vulej, among others.
Among the topics of discussion was the potential for the Dominican Republic to host CAM’s sixth-annual Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism in 2026.
“The Dominican Republic holds a unique place in Jewish history as the only nation that opened its doors to Jewish refugees during the Holocaust, offering safety when the rest of the world turned its back,” Salamon said. “On CAM’s first visit to this country, we were privileged to see the sympathy that still exists here today for the Jewish people and state.”
“I believe that we can strengthen CAM’s activities in the Dominican Republic and hold a major summit here next year,” he added.
CAM en Español would like to thank Dominican Chamber of Deputies Member and Former Chamber Vice President Lic. Olfanny Mendez and Dr. Elias Wessin for helping coordinate the trip.
CAM’s outreach in Latin America began more than four years ago, and since then it has worked diligently to build meaningful partnerships and friendships with influential leaders, legislators, diplomats, community organizations, and civil society activists from a diverse assortment of religious, political and cultural backgrounds in the region to combat antisemitism together.
During this time, CAM en Español has emerged as a key player in the battle against Jew-hatred in Latin America, with a growing coalition involved in impactful activities in countries including Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador, and Bolivia, among others.
CAM en Español has organized regional summits in Brazil in 2025, Costa Rica in 2024, Uruguay in 2023, Panama in 2022, and Guatemala in 2021, and the plan is for the Dominican Republic to be next in line in 2026.
