The Third Space. Histories of Syrian Jews in Mexico

 

Even after watching Leona, I felt compelled to find out more about Mexico´s Jewish history, particularly related to the Syrian community. A couple of months after, I was offered the opportunity to watch El Tercer Espacio - The Third Place - by the talented documentary film maker Nejemye Tenenbaum featuring the 100-year anniversary of the Mount Sinai Alliance.

There are different generations whose voices are heard in the movie: from the oldest who still remember the hardship of the first generation of immigrants and the stories about the life in Damascus who the youngest ones, dreaming about Miami with no idea - and interest - about where Syria and Damascus are situated.

It is a dialogue between memory, history and identity which is shaped by the interaction with the biggest society. In some cases, one excludes the other, as in the case of those who, for different reasons, more or less religiously or ideologically motivated, simply decided to become part of the big, Mexican - and Christian - society.

The historian in me was very interested to discover stories that I had no idea about, among which the Jewish participation at the Mexican Revolution and the cases when Jews were accused of being spies and executed, their only fault being to be unable to speak the language, therefore to defend against the accusations threwn to them. 

The micro-society of the Mount Sinai Alliance offers a deep view into the social network of that specific Jewish community living in Mexico´s capital city. In just one jour and a half, Nejemye Tenenbaum covered a long list of topics, from the history of the community to its social diversity and the strong communal support. Personally, I would have been curious about the interaction with other Jewish groups as well as the very details of the everyday religious life - for instance, the collective bat mitzvah ceremony with dozens of girls celebrating, looked at me a bit like the Catholic confirmation ceremonies. 

El Tercer Espacio made me even more curious about Jewish life in Mexico, in its wider complexity and diversity. Until then, the information provided in the film is generous enough to help me have a basic idea, although I am mostly missing the puzzle pieces of the entire cultural, political and religious landscape.

The film is available to rent on Vimeo.