Dominican Haven: The Jewish Refugee Settlement in Sosua, 1940-1945

This is the story of a small group of Jews, who, fleeing for their lives from Nazi persecution, found a welcoming haven in the Dominican Republic. The settlers arrived amid lush, tropical vegetation and could only describe this refuge as paradise. But they faced daunting problems. Middle-class, urban Europeans, they needed to learn a new language and acquire new skills while adjusting to a new climate and worrying about loved ones left behind in Europe. They created a Jewish community with a synagogue, built a school, and a thriving dairy industry, working side by side with Dominicans in an atmosphere that was distinguished by its lack of Anti-Semitism.