(...) About 210 immigrants have settled in Costa Rica since 1933. Most are merchants or artisans and most migrated either because they were poor or because they were persecuted, or both. Not one among us is a farmer, including the Sikora, as you see, "she said opening her arms to show him the store. "Most of us come from Central Poland, from the area around Warsaw, Lublin, Siedlce and Radom. Many come from about 25 small rural towns much the same size of those you might find here in Costa Rica, Don José, including Jedrzejów [pisownia oryginalna] (about the size of Heredia), although some others come from Ostrowiec, which is larger.
"Jedrzejów, you see, is located in the province of Lublin and its main activity is the leather industry, mostly shoemaking. The founders of Costa Rica Jewish Community came from these two towns of Jedrzejów and Ostrowiec. Marcos Aizemer first arrived in 1929 and he created a stir in Poland with letters, convincing many to follow him. A 'chain' was thus created".
"A chain? What do you mean by a chain?" interrupted Don José. Anita laughed, and then continued. "Oh, it is just an expression, my friend! Marcos' messages got around, that Costa Rica was a nice and welcoming place for immigrant Jews. And then one after the other, encouraged by the news received from their friends or relatives already living in this country many other families decided to come."
Źródło / source:
Hitler in Central America: A Non-Kosher Story from the Tropics
