Guantanamo is the capital of the province of the same name with a population of about 180,000 people located on the far east of the island near Santiago. While the city’s name is well known now for the military base the U.S. reserved as part of treaties signed at the end of the Spanish-American War, most Cubans go about their lives unconcerned about the U.S. military presence.

The 40 members of Guantanamo’s Jewish community are lead by David Mizrachi who has built up the community and kept it alive. The Cuban Jewish Relief Project donated a torah to the synagogue which is housed in a home.