History of the Jews in Panama

The history of the Jews in Panama can be traced back to the 1500s, when the first Crypto-Jewish Sephardi immigrants began to arrive from Spain and Portugal. The current Jewish population of Panama is around 25,000 and is centered in Panama City. Small but growing, Panama has the largest Jewish population in Central America. Well-integrated into Panama's social and political life, Panama is the only country other than Israel to have had three Jewish presidents during the 20th century: Max Delvalle Maduro in April 1967, and Eric Arturo Delvalle Cohen-Henriquez from 1985 to 1988. Additionally, Mayer Mizrachi, another member of the Jewish community, was elected mayor.