The community was founded in 1966 by a local man of Trujillo named Segundo Villanueva, who began studying Judaism at the age of twelve in 1939, while living in the city of Cajamarca. Villanueva founded a religious group called Israel de Dios ("Israel of God") that followed Jewish practices as described in the Hebrew Bible.
The community was established in 1966 by a local man of Trujillo named Segundo Villanueva, who started studying Judaism at age twelve in 1939 while residing in the city of Cajamarca. Villanueva created a religious group called Israel de Dios ("Israel of God"), which adhered to Jewish practices as outlined in the Hebrew Bible.