Current Newsletter

A R U B A

The 7th. UJCL Encounter on this island was very successful. It enabled us to bring our friends from the different affiliated communities even closer, and make very important connections with a learning institution in the States, that is a pioneer in Distance Learning. It also brought our youth together as a group, empowered to make decisions concerning their future as Jews.

** The Youth Group is busy organizing a fund – raising Bingo that will help defray the cost of attendance to the 4th. Youth Encounter, at El Salvador.

** Also on the first stages of planning is a joint youth weekend with Mikve Israel, from Curaçao.

** After the High Holidays the community will deliver non – perishable food and clothing to the residents of Ambiente Feliz, a facility that caters to mentally challenged adults.

** A parallel collection of non – perishable food has been delivered to the local branch of the Red Cross, that is at present assisting the Aruban victims of hurricane Ivan, whose homes were flooded during the storm.

B A H A M A S

This community is trying to engage the monthly visit of a Hebrew teacher from the U.S.A. to prepare the children who are approaching their Bar / Bat Mitzvahs for this important milestone in their lives.

** In spite of not having a spiritual leader, the congregation has celebrated Jewish festivals, such as Pesach and Shavuot, at hotels and members’ homes.

** Rabbi Charles Arian will once again be leading the High Holiday services this year.

C O S T A R I C A

We extend a warm welcome to Rabbis Daniela Szuster and Rami Pavolotzky , who have become the spiritual leaders of B’nei Israel as of Rosh Hashanah 5765.

They received their ordination from the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and have arrived to Costa Rica via Israel, full of projects and ideas to bring out even more the wonderful potential of the community’s members. They share the congregation’s President, David Feingold’s hope:“ to be able to make Judaism relevant to our lives and to the lives of our fellow Jews.”

** The Torah committee announces that the translation work of “The Jewish Home – A Guide for Jewish Living”, in Jody Bonilla’s words “ a wonderful series on the celebration of Judaism from a liberal point of view”, has been completed and is now in the editing stage.

The idea behind the project was to help fill the void in Jewish publications in Spanish dealing with liberal Judaism.

** The Mixed Marriages group continues to get together, and to develop tolerance, sensitivity, and respect for all differences, not only religious. Relevant topics such as ethics, parenting, education, life –cycle events, Jewish and Catholic holidays, etc. are always discussed and explored.

C U B A

The Hebrew Community of Cuba, presently integrated by about 500 families, is experiencing a rebirth of its cultural life.

The movie “Shoah” was recently shown. This impressive film about the Holocaust was then followed by a lecture by the author Claude Lanzmann, and a debate on the topic.

** The ORT ( Center for Technological Resources) continues to give courses on Computer Science, and teaches Hebrew and English regularly.

** A colorful festival of traditional Jewish dances ( Rikudim) took place recently at the Patronato in Havana. Youth from Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo and other cities in the country participated in this touching expression of Judaism. Dany Chaves, from Argentina, was in charge of the choreography, Myriam Lypszic directed the traditional songs in Yiddish, Ladino and Hebrew. Tatiana Asis and Marlen Prinstein were the dance directors.

**The community has fully supported the petition of the World Jewish Congress for the United Nations to specifically condemn anti-Semitism: “…This community does not forget the spectacle at Durban, an event sponsored by the United Nations, that became, with Mr. Kofi Annan’s acquiescence, not an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people, but a true anti-Jewish demonstration.”

C U R A C A O

** Mikve Israel- Emanuel will be decorating their communal Sukkah (Cabana) on Set. 28th, with a special Sukkot dinner the day after.

** A violin and piano concert will be held in October at the Snoa to raise funds for the preservation of their 1866 pipe organ.

** On October 31st. the members will enjoy a Snoa Family Day, with many games and sports, that promises to be lots of fun.

** On the afternoon of Yom Kippur Mikve Israel –Emanuel will hold a Forum, during which the members will sit in a concentric circle to encourage a sense of community and involvement, with appropriate singing, reading and reflection based on the writings of great teachers and authors, that were inspired by this solemn day.

Every one is expected to contribute his/her perceptiveness and creativity “to supply the members with food for thought on a day without food” (Snoa Bulletin).

** At a Kiddush luncheon on Sept. 4th. the members discussed the Present and the Future of the Snoa. As the President of the congregation wrote in her Rosh Hashanah letter to the members: ”…I hope that we will, each and everyone of us, reflect on our own role in our Snoa, our Curaçao Jewish Community. …. We need to know where you want us to go, what you want for yourself and for your children.”

Introspection and analysis are essential ingredients of a successful community. This is a healthy initiative that we hope will be followed by all of our congregations, if they have not done it yet.

E L S A L V A D O R

Preparations for the 8th. UJCL Encounter, that will take place at the Radisson Hotel in San Salvador, from January 27th to the 30th, 2005, are in full swing.

The guest speaker will be Bruce Ramer, who has an impressive career in the field of Law , in the promotion of Jewish culture, and in public service.

This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn, enlarge our circle of friends from our Caribbean and Central America communities, and generate valuable projects.

Parallel to this Encounter, the 4th. Youth Encounter will take place. We ask all our communities to make a special effort in order to make possible the attendance of their youth representatives , who are a valued part of our future.

The theme of this Encounter will be: To Be or Not To Be: a 5765 Years Old Question.

Let us all try to answer it together, and be there!

J A M A I C A

The United Congregation of Israelites is presently planning a varied program to celebrate their 350th. anniversary. We hope to have more details on our next Newsletter.

** Because of their achievements and the high score in GSAT tests, two Hillel Academy students obtained Government scholarships. We congratulate them and wish them continued success.

** Hurricane Ivan brought about a Rosh Hashanah that our Jamaican friends will not easily forget: because of a curfew where the synagogue is located, lack of power and of security, the Board decided to conduct services at the Hillel Academy on the eve of Rosh Hashanah and on Thursday morning. On Friday, with all services back, the congregation was able to return to the synagogue, where they offered prayers for their deliverance.

We also elevate our thankful prayers because no member of the community was hurt, and hope that Jamaica will soon be able to recover from the extensive damage caused by Ivan. We wish our friends much strength and courage to start rebuilding their homes and keep their faith intact. If there is any way in which we can help we’ll be glad to do so.

M E X I C O

It is a great pleasure for us to include Guadalajara for the first time in our Newsletter. We look forward to a very rewarding relationship with our Mexican friends, and recent affiliates to the UJCL.

The Hebrew Community of Guadalajara ( Kehilah Masortit) is busily preparing for the High Holidays.

** They are planning to celebrate Succot with an ecumenical party, to which representatives from other faiths have been invited.

** The community is organizing the exhibit “Anne Frank, A Current Story”. It will take place from Nov. 11 to Jan. 16, 2005. In connection with this cultural activity there will be literary and pedagogical contests, as well as a competition of children drawings, all centered on the theme of tolerance.

Furthermore, there will be a contemporary dance recital, a play, and several conferences on the Holocaust theme.

** Within the framework of the International Book Fair the community will organize two lectures.

P A N A M A

** Parallel to its weekly Kabbalat Shabbat services, Kol Shearit Israel offers Shabbat Iachad, exclusively for its younger members.

** Adult Education is a very important component of a vibrant community. This congregation offers regularly Introduction to Judaism courses, as well as Introductioo to Torah Study, and a discussion on the Parashat Hashavua ( Torah weekly chapter) every Shabbat, after the Shacharit service.

Also offered is an Adult Bar and Bat Mitzvah Program.

**Congratulations to Mr. Alberto Motta, honorary President of Kol Shearit Israel, who has received the 2004 “Solidarity prize”, awarded by Fundamujer.

**Sponsored by Kol Shearit Israel congregation, together with its Sisterhood and the Isaac Rabin School, a presentation of rikkudim called The Creation will be held on October 26 , with Dany Chaves and Adriana Rotstein directing the show.

We wish them much success!

P U E R T O R I C O

At the conclusion of Yom Kippur services, a "bagel and lox break the fast" will be served, to renew the congregation’s spiritual and communal bonds.

**The Women’s Book Club organizes regular Shabbat dinners in which a particular book is discussed.

**Temple Beth Shalom regularly invites guest lecturers that, in conjunction with their Sunday mornings Adult Bible Study group, enhance their Adult Education program.

**This community is presently undergoing a restructuring process that, hopefully, will bring about positive change. We wish them much success in their endeavor.

S T. T H O M A S

On its historic cruise celebrating the 350th. anniversary of Jewish life in North America, the National Foundation for Jewish Culture visited the Synagogue. Among the group members was Nobel Prize winner and celebrated author Elie Wiesel.

** The chain of tradition gets stronger: Joanna Goldman, of Potomac, MD, celebrated her Bat Mitzvah at the Synagogue, linking her with her great, great, great grandmother, Hannah de Sola who, in 1844, was part of the first confirmation ever held - at the same Synagogue! (Hannah later married Jacob de Castro, member of a well-known St. Thomas Jewish family.)

** Feed the Hungry: As in previous years the congregation will be conducting a High Holiday food drive to help feed the needy at local soup kitchens and shelters, thus fulfilling the mitzvah of sustaining life.

**Rabbi Arthur Starr and Imam Musab Abdul Hakeem took an 8-day course at the Hartford Seminary , in Hartford, Conn.,entitled “ Building Abrahamic Partnerships”. Both returned impressed and enlightened.

Martha E. Lichtenstein
September 2004

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