When a fire alarm sounds in the south-central section of Santiago, it’s answered by a unique company of firefighters — Bomba Israel. In keeping with the Chilean custom, this is an all-volunteer bomba (fire brigade), and each of the company’s firefighters is Jewish. Their emblem is the Star of David and their trucks proudly fly the flag of Israel alongside that of Chile.

Established in 1954 in what was once a largely Jewish section of Santiago, Bomba Israel was created by the Jewish community “to thank the country that welcomed them,” said firefighter Robert Segal, 23, the son of a German-born Jewish mother and a Jewish Chilean father.

Despite the country’s very large and vocal Palestinian community and a history of dictatorships on the left, as well as on the right, Chile has been quite hospitable to Jewish immigrants. The Chilean Jewish community consists of more than 20,000 people, with the majority living in Santiago, the country’s capital.

Today’s Chilean Jewish community is well integrated and relatively prosperous.

Many Jews are prominent professionals, academics and civil servants, including an ambassador to Russia and three Cabinet members. And the backgrounds of the diverse Bomba Israel crew include everything from businessmen and lawyers to manual workers.

Segal, a student, is among the diverse crew at the station located in what is now a blue-collar neighborhood.

“The role we play in the image of the Jewish community is very important,” he said. “Many people can’t believe that Jews do this kind of work; they think we’re all rich and powerful and don’t want to dirty our hands.”

Segal said that except for the fact that all of its members are Jewish, Bomba Israel is a regular fire company. It owns two pieces of equipment, one of which is a state-of-the-art rescue truck that is used for automobile accidents more often than fires.

In addition to its regular members, Bomba Israel also supports a youth brigade of 20 cadets ages 12 to 17. Like the senior members, they receive extensive training in firefighting, rescue operations, first aid and CPR. When they reach age 18 they can qualify for full membership in the company.

While many visitors to Chile are attracted to its spectacular scenery rather than its cities, Jewish travelers can add a stimulating dimension to a visit by connecting with Santiago’s welcoming Jewish community.

Santiago has about a dozen synagogues, including an Aish HaTorah shul and Beit Emunah, a relatively new chavurah in the upscale Las Condes neighborhood. There is a size-able Sephardic community with its own synagogue, and others.

(Source:JJC)