Rio de Janeiro: Latin America’s Jerusalem?
Inspiration for artists, words for poets, a hostess by nature, a smile to the soul, each inch of it has a story to tell…
They have tried to dress it French style, naming it the Tropical Paris. Today, we turned the corner and they try to name Barra da Tijuca, one of Rio’s most modern neighborhoods, Latin America’s Miami. The Portuguese on the other hand tell the tale of vice-kings, architects, craftsman and masters who lived there from the Empire to the Republic.
On January 1st, 1502, Portuguese sailors saw the Guanabara Bay and, believing it was in fact a great river, named it Rio de Janeiro (January in Portuguese) which later originated the city’s name.
At first, Rio wasn’t colonized by the Portuguese, due to the hostility of the native Indian population which inhabited the coast and, between 1555 and 1567, the Guanabara Bay was occupied by a group French settlers who were religious refugees, under the command of Nicolas Durand de Villegagnon, who intended to create a French colony called “Antartic France”.
In order to avoid this, and to ensure the ownership of the Portuguese Crown over that territory, on march 1st, 1565, the city of Rio de Janeiro was founded by Estácio de Sá, with the full name of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, in honor of Dom Sebastião, Portugal’s king at the time.
Two hundred years later, in1763, Rio de Janeiro became the capital of Brazil, status which was sustained until 1960, when Brasília, the current capital, was founded.
Due to the Napolean wars in Europe, the Portuguese royal family fled to Rio de Janeiro in 1808, where in 1815 the regent prince, Dom Joao VI was crowned king of the United Kingdom of Brazil, Portugal and Algarves, a historical fact of great importance for the future of the Brazilian Nation.
History tells us that the population of the region is mostly formed of Africans brought by the Portuguese as slaves, and the Portuguese themselves.
Until the mid XIX century, most of the “fluminense” (name given to the people originally born in the city of Rio de Janeiro) population was composed of black Africans, however, the number of Portuguese people arriving in Rios increased drastically, reaching the same amount as the black population.
Something unusual and interesting happened here: the Jewish contribution to the discovery of new routes and new lands. The Portuguese crown was not limited to the scientific field, but also participated directly in these trips, in which the Jews proved to be of great use, thanks to their knowledge of languages and costumes of several countries.
Thus, they also took part in the expedition which resulted in Brazil’s discovery, once in the crew led by Pedro Alvares Cabral there were some Jewish counselor, among which, Professor João the king’s private doctor and astronomer, who carried with him the instruments of Abraham Zacuto, in order to carry out astronomic and geographic research. There was also Gaspar de Lemos, renowned interpreter and commander of the ship which carried the provisions, and considered by many historians co-responsible by the discovery of Brazil.
At that time, Portugal was going through an acute phase of persecutions and expulsions, for political, economical and mostly religious reasons, due to the installation of the Holy Inquisition in the country. This explains the great number of Jews, Arabs, Arab descendants and new and old Christians who volunteered to colonize, many of which would become members of the “Jewish Freemasonry” from Portugal. That would be the first time in which the religious differences were forgotten: Jews, Arabs, new and old Christians became one, united under the purpose of shaping the new world. This mysteriously takes place in Rio de Janeiro.
Later, German, Italian, Swedish, Spanish and other people contributed for the formation of the population of the state. Other Brazilians from different states also settled in Rio, which was the Federal Capital until the sixties.
The migration flux during the XIX and XX centuries reveals curiosities and unquestionable testimonies of miscegenation, which year after year colored the skin of the local population. A new blend arose: they were no longer white or European or African or Indians. A new identity was forged: Brazilians, “cariocas”, “fluminenses” (flûmen, from Latin meaning rio - or river in English)
What’s the secret of these “fluminenses”? What is the force that for so many years has attracted thousands of people from different countries and continents, regardless of their beliefs, religions, race, social status or culture? Could it be that such pleasing beauty to the eyes is reflected upon the soul of the “cariocas” making them wonderful hosts? Has the beautiful landscape designed by the luxurious, exuberant nature of Rio de Janeiro been imprinted in the form of a smile in all those who visit it? We cannot disregard the new “fluminenses” too, the ones who recognize themselves as such because they have been embraced and seduced by the city.
There, people don’t argue over politics or religion, they talk about everything and everything is acceptable. The “cariocas”, with their smile, welcome the foreigner, the tourist, with wide open arms. In Rio de Janeiro, diversity means union, living together means friendliness.
For these reasons, AMISRAEL – THE MESSENGER OF PEACE has chosen Rio as the host city for the “Latin America and Israel Religious Leadership Encounter” which will take place on October 28th, 29th, and 30th.
The meeting counts with the support of the Government of Rio de Janeiro and the most important Religious Institutions from Latin America and Israel, such as the Rabbinic Court of Israel, Islamic leaderships, Catholic authorities, representatives from the Protestant and Evangelic Churches, as well as scientists and religious scholars.
Fully aware of the fact that religion is power impossible to oversee, once it has great influence and its teachings highly impact humanity, AMISRAEL, as a peace maker, aims to use the carioca example to unite peoples, religions and races, under the simplicity and friendliness inspired by the beauty of Rio de Janeiro, capable of penetrating people ’s soul and generate unprecedented peace.
In their search for peace, the “cariocas” and their city will be the hosts of a great movement of people who, once more, will become one working towards a common goal which is reaching a wide spread peace fo humanity.
Text: Paula Virreira
English Version: Patrícia Mamede
|
