Republic in South America. Immigrants from Turkey, Russia, Germany, and France established a small Jewish community in Paraguay around 1900. Refugees from Nazi Europe swelled its ranks to 2,200 by 1940. Lack of economic opportunities led most of the refugees to emigrate after World War II. The Jewish community of Paraguay now numbers 900 out of a total population of 4.8 million. It maintains three synagogues, none of which has a rabbi, as well as Zionist and youth groups.