The Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue in Recife, Brazil (Wikimedia Commons) A new Brazilian law, signed by Brazil’s new president Jair Bolsonaro, will allow Jewish students to skip exams on Shabbat and other Jewish holidays. Previously, Brazilian Jews were not granted religious exemptions, leading to problems like in 2016 when over 70,000 sabbath-observant high school students were given no alternative to sitting in a classroom on a Saturday in order to pass their exams. Under the new law, students will be permitted to be absent on any date when the exercise of activities is prohibited. Now exams falling on the sabbath, Yom Kippur, Passover, or Rosh Hashanah will no longer infringe upon Jewish students and their ability to excel academically in Brazil. The recognition of Brazil’s Jewish population’s demands in this regard came soon after a recent meeting between Bolsonaro and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The recent high-profile meeting has led to a bolstered diplomatic relationship between the two countries, something that now appears to have a positive impact on Brazil’s Jews domestically. Brazil has the ninth largest Jewish community in the world, with over 100,000 Jews living throughout the nation. Anti-Semitic beliefs in Brazil, according to the Anti-Defamation League, are harbored by a significantly lower percentage of the population than Brazil’s South American neighbors. Bolsonaro’s election has remained a controversial topic, with Bolsonaro’s right wing rhetoric leading to much criticism both in Brazil and abroad. The Brazilian Jewish community is split on what Bolsonaro’s leadership holds for Brazil’s Jews. Bolsonaro’s pro-Israel sentiments have galvanized support among Jewish Brazilians but his populist rhetoric, praise for past Brazilian dictatorial military regimes, and anti-LGBT comments have alienated others still. As Bolsonaro’s presidency has only recently begun, the Jews of Brazil will have to wait to see what the future holds.