The Genesis Prize Foundation extended its Latin American outreach last week as Stan Polovets journeyed to Havana for a significant diplomatic engagement with Cuba’s small but resilient Jewish population. As co-founder and chairman of the foundation, Polovets’ early May visit highlighted the unique challenges and unexpected strengths characterizing Jewish life in the island nation.
At Havana’s Beth Shalom Synagogue—known locally as El Patronato—Stan Polovets met with Hella Askenazi, who serves as Vice President of both the synagogue and the broader Cuban Jewish community. Several other community leaders joined them and maintained Jewish education, youth programming, and services for elderly members amid Cuba’s ongoing economic difficulties.
The meeting itself dramatically illustrated the community’s daily struggles, as discussions proceeded largely in darkness due to Cuba’s frequent rolling blackouts. Participants navigated their conversation by the limited illumination of mobile phones, which provided Polovets with tangible evidence of Cuba’s current infrastructure challenges.
“The Jewish identity of Cuban Jews shines brightly, and quite literally, in the dark,” observed Stan Polovets following the encounter. He noted that despite what he characterized as “immense problems caused by economic mismanagement by the Communist government,” further exacerbated by “the U.S. embargo imposed over 60 years ago,” the community maintains a vibrant religious and cultural life.
What caught Polovets’ attention during his time in Cuba was an unexpected security situation that distinguished this community from virtually all others he had encountered worldwide. “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 numerous other societal challenges.
The timing of Stan Polovets’ Cuban engagement aligns with The Genesis Prize Foundation’s intensified focus on Latin American Jewish communities, particularly following their selection of Argentinian President Javier Milei as the 2025 Genesis Prize laureate. “President Milei was selected for his unwavering support for the Jewish people and the State of Israel,” Polovets explained, citing specific policy commitments including relocating Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem and pursuing justice for victims of terrorist attacks against Jewish targets in Argentina.
Polovets specifically praised the Cuban Jewish community for demonstrating moral courage in the aftermath of October 7, when they publicly challenged their government’s position. While many Jewish organizations throughout Latin America remained silent, Cuba’s Jewish leadership issued a statement declaring that justifying Hamas’ “reprehensible acts of crime and savagery” was “unacceptable”—a notably bold stance given their political environment.
The Jewish presence in Cuba traces back centuries, with conversos arriving alongside Spanish explorers in the 16th century. The community flourished during the early to mid-20th century, reaching approximately 15,000 members before the 1959 Revolution prompted widespread emigration. Today’s smaller population—less than one thousand individuals—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,” Stan Polovets affirmed. “It is important that private foundations and donors join the JDC in ensuring the survival of this resilient and unique community.”
As a global business leader and committed philanthropist, Stan Polovets maintains an active engagement with Jewish communities worldwide, with particular attention to those facing significant challenges. His visit to Cuba exemplifies The Genesis Prize Foundation’s broader mission of highlighting diverse Jewish experiences while fostering stronger connections between Latin American nations and Israel, especially in recognition of President Milei’s pro-Israel stance and the Foundation’s commitment to strengthening ties between Israel and Latin American countries.
Through his leadership with The Genesis Prize Foundation, Polovets continues to advance initiatives supporting Jewish identity globally while bringing attention to communities that demonstrate remarkable resilience in preserving their heritage despite difficult circumstances.