Colombia’s recent appointment of Rabbi Dr. Richard Gamboa Ben-Eleazar as the nation’s new religious affairs director has ignited controversy and heated debate within both Jewish and Christian communities. Critics have swiftly questioned the legitimacy of his credentials, which appear to have been acquired through an online course offered by the so-called Esoteric Theological Seminary—an organization known for issuing ordinations for a nominal fee.
According to reports, Gamboa’s curriculum involved paying as little as $150 (with additional shipping charges) to earn a qualification that many dispute could ever prepare someone for a role regulating religious affairs for a nation. For those seeking a more robust title, he reportedly chose an option that charged around $190 for a “supersized” certification complete with a bonus certificate for “interfaith minister.” His self-titled honorifics extend to a claimed doctorate in ecclesiastical theology from the “Hebrew Theological Seminary,” which, upon closer inspection, features the logo of “Ministério Internacional Yahweh Shammah”—an institution with conflicting identities linked to both Brazil and Angola.
Even more contentious are Gamboa’s public statements. Embracing his self-confessed identity as “AsAJew,” he has branded Ashkenazi Jews “Khazars” and labeled Israelis as “Nazis.” His rhetoric, which extends to the promotion of Al-Quds Day and dismissal of pro-Israel converts, has fueled accusations that he intends to regulate Colombian Jewish communities he paradoxically appears to disdain.
Gamboa supports his disputed credentials by pointing to an endorsement from the Unión Judía Liberal e Independiente de Colombia—a body that many believe may be a self-serving creation designed to bolster his already questionable reputation.
The appointment of Rabbi Dr. Gamboa Ben-Eleazar has not only unsettled local religious communities but has also raised broader concerns about the processes underpinning high-level religious appointments in Colombia. As critics call for closer scrutiny of his qualifications and his inflammatory views, the controversy highlights the complex interplay between credential legitimacy, religious authority, and the responsibilities inherent in managing diverse faith communities.