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This community is relearning self-reliance. With their previous spiritual leader gone in July 2002, its younger members are assuming greater responsibilities within the community, besides leading services. In March they will be welcoming the visit of a young rabbi who will, hopefully, become their new spiritual leader. Martha E. Lichtenstein, who read the report, reflected that the UJCL is helping them cross the bridge to really connect to other communities in the area, therefore fulfilling the community mission. After listening to Rabbi D. Goldman's talk, she expressed the hope that, when the time comes to read the next report, her community will be able to answer the question of the hasidic story: Where are you? with two words: in shalom., growing spiritually in every sense.

BAHAMAS:

There are about 80 members and 27 children in the community. They do not have their own place of worship and rent space at the Hilton Hotel, a situation that does not foster consistency. The community has had its ups and downs. There is great influence from the U.S.A. On the last Saturday of each month, a Rabbi from Maryland volunteers his services.

COSTA RICA:

About 60 families (260 persons) form the community. There has been no growth and no decrease in numbers. There are about 45 children registered at Hebrew School. They attend all Shabbat services, led by para-rabbis who, in turn, have been trained by rabbis. The different committees work hard to give the community presence and permanence. As of July 2003, Rabbi Michael Holzman will be their full-time rabbi.

CUBA:

Dr. José Miller, who represented Cuba, said that there are 500 Jewish families, about 1500 persons, in the community. There are many mixed marriages, and fifty percent of the youth is not halakhically Jewish. However, they attend Hebrew school and are part of Jewish youth organizations. They are fully integrated to Jewish life, something that had not been possible before.

CURAÇAO:

Unfortunately, the community was unable to send any representatives this year.

ECUADOR:

Although not yet formally affiliated with us, they sent a representative who, for one and a half years has been their spiritual leader. His name is Andrés Bomse, and he says he arrived to a functioning community, already formed by 150 families. The community, however, has been shrinking consistently, since in 1950 there were 5000 families. Once a week there are Torah study classes for children. Also Talmud classes, to which now a Post Talmud Torah course has been added for the youth. There are lectures and cultural activities. Also, a Torah study activity on each day of the week. There are 70 children, 60 of whom attend activities. There is a Noar Hatzioni (Zionist Youth) group. The community center is two years old, and a model in its kind.

EL SALVADOR:

The community has organized different new activities with significant advances. Last year was marked by the arrival of the new spiritual leader, Rabbi Daniel Zang, who replaced Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik. The rhythm of community work continued to increase. Rabbi Zang organized night reunions for young parents, in which there were organized activities. The work system is based upon specific committees, e.g.: Financial, Cultural, Feminine, etc. As a result of this teamwork, they published the first illustrated yearly community book on Rosh Hashanah. Also, after the earthquake destroyed so much in the country, the community was able to reconstruct in a small town in the center of El Salvador, called coincidentally Jerusalem, the Instituto Jerusalem, formally inaugurated on Nov. 2002, thanks to contributions from many countries and organizations.

HONDURAS:

Although the community representatives were unable to attend, they sent us a note, congratulating the UJCL, and Panama especially, on this occasion. The construction of their new synagogue is quite advanced and, hopefully, theyll be inaugurating it officially within some months. We congratulate them on this effort, and hope to be present on such a happy occasion.

JAMAICA:

This community, that hosted our fifth Convention last year, is still searching for a rabbi. Steve Henriquez is their acting rabbi, leading weekly Shabbat services. Steve also gave lectures to the community youth. They held a community Seder for 120 people. They regularly receive the visits of Hasidic rabbis. The Hillel Academy has presently no vacancies available. There are 250 students in High School, and 460 in Preparatory School. The Board of the community welcomed its new members in September 2002.

PANAMA:

Kol Shearit Israel turned 125 years old last year. It has a proud history. Up to some years ago the congregation was shrinking, there were no institutions for the young members. Nowadays it is very dynamic and growing, thanks to a new generation of community leaders, young and idealistic. The Isaac Rabin School opened its doors two years ago; now it has a student body of 190 children. There are more volunteers all the time. The arrival of Rabbi G. Kraselnik and his wife, Ruthy, signaled the creation of different services to develop community life: there is an intensive agenda, with a Book Club, Bulletin, Shabbat dinners, family Sundays, a Youth Movement that has just started. The religious calendar is more complete and meaningful. There is greater participation of the 170 families that form Kol Shearit Israel. All these activities require larger physical installations and more human resources. They have a Community Development plan and a growth strategy. Perhaps on their next report they will be able to give us more information about hiring new professionals.

PUERTO RICO :

They will be hosting our next Convention on Feb. 2004. The community has been busy organizing a food drive and a Community Seder. There are very good Adult Education programs, as well as Hebrew classes for adults. There is Torah study on Sunday mornings. The organization of our next UJCL Encounter will demand much manpower and effort, but we are sure it will be another success, thanks to the hard work of the Beth Shalom community.

ST. THOMAS :

No representative of this community, newly incorporated to our UJCL family, was able to attend due to unforeseen circumstances.

TRINIDAD :

Carl Nunes, who represented the Trinidad community said it is now very small; it once had 350 members but, due to different upheavals, this number has dwindled to about 55 people. They have sent their Torahs to Venezuela. They are getting organized now, and will hold elections to appoint Board members. The members learned about our UJCL Conventions upon reading a British newspaper, The Jewish Chronicle. The article served as a catalyst for their presence at our VIth. Convention.

On Friday evening the participants attended a beautiful Kabbalat Shabbat service, followed by Shabbat dinners at Kol Shearit members homes. Sharing with them gave us an opportunity to interact and appreciate their warm hospitality even more.

On Shabbat morning the moving service during which all the communities represented were honored with an alyah, plus one for all youth participants of the parallel II Youth Encounter, was followed by

GROUP TORAH STUDY

Prof. Norma Goldman discussed How the Jewish Calendar Works, Rabbi Moti Rotem The Study of the Torah- Talmud Torah, and Rabbi Daniel Zang The Sacrifice of Itzchak - Akedat Itzchak.

In this group the participants discussed the meaning and the different interpretations of the Sacrifice of Itzchak by artists through the ages, vis-a-vis our contemporary view of the Akedah.

AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

The afternoon workshops included fascinating topics such as:

• Rescuing the Woman in Jewish Sources, by Prof. Norma Goldman,
• Sexuality: Judaism Gets In Your Bed, by Rabbi Daniel Zang,
• The Jewish Perspective on Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence, by Elaine P. Klein, and
• Remembering: The Connecting Thread of the Circles of Jewish Life, by Rabbi Mordechai Rotem.

The HAVDALAH ceremony was very touching, and brought us all even closer together. It was followed by a gala dinner, that for some of us marked the closing of an unforgettable weekend that we would bring home in the form of cherished memories.

On Sunday morning we held two round tables: Israel and Us: The Role of the Jewish Community in the Diaspora, and Judaism and Society, What Do We Expect From the Synagogue? , with the participation of Rabbi Mordechai Rotem, Judge Arnold Aronson, Rabbi Daniel Zang, Ronen Nevo, Consul of Israel to Panama and Martha E. Lichtenstein on the panel for the first one, and Milton Henriquez, Dr. Dennis Cardozo, Rabbi Daniel Goldman and Dr. Jorge Schulman as panelists for the second round table.

WORKSHOPS

KOL ISRAEL AREIVIM ZE LAZE
(Every Jew is Responsible for Each Other)

Speaker: Enrique Burbinski, MS Political Sciences, J.F. Kennedy Univ., Bs.As., Argentina

Enrique Burbinski is the Director of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) for Latin America. He acts as consultant at different Jewish communities. When the Argentine socioeconomic crisis intensified we at UJCL got involved. Kol Shearit Israel (Panama) formed an ad hoc committee and invited Jewish families to contact HIAS. Then Enrique Burbinski came to Panama and, together with the committee, devised a plan of action. The committee gives logistics support: house, a job, support in legal processes, help in the process of integration to a new community and a new country. In total, four families and three individuals have emigrated to Panama. Fifteen people can make a big difference in a small community. In the following weeks three more candidates will come to evaluate possibilities to re-settle in Panama.

Some shocking figures: the economy in Argentina fell 10%, inflation rate of 41%, 27% of Argentineans are below the indigence line, the basic food basket went up by 84%, construction went down 3%. This situation has affected everyone, including professionals who used to be part of the middle class. There are 200,000 Jews in Argentina seriously affected. A similar situation occurs in Uruguay.

In Argentina in 1998 there were 27,900 persons below the poverty line; in 2002, there are 60,000, and 30,000 unemployed totally or partially.

HIAS is there to help. Every Jew wants to live with dignity. Although HIAS will help them resettle, it emphasizes that Israel is always ready to receive the Jews who want to immigrate. It also stresses that for a life project within legality the prospective immigrants need the proper information.

The organization, that is 120 years old, provides counseling about visa systems and how to apply. For instance, in Canada, Australia and New Zealand it is necessary to apply first, and only then, if the application is accepted, one starts trying to get a visa. At their website, www.hias.org there is a database where prospective immigrants'CVs are entered in English. If a community is interested, HIAS advises the person on a trip to explore possibilities. It also prepares free of charge immigration documents for the U.S.A., and buys tickets for the immigrating family. This loan only starts to be paid back by the recipient after seven months, without interest.

HIAS tries to join the need with the opportunity. It connects the person who needs a job, or wants to work in his profession, with a community that wants to grow. In Birmingham, England they placed 12 families; in Italy the Government granted visas for 15 people; in Montreal, Canada, although there are 10,000 Jews, they want to recreate and bring renewal to their communities. Many have applied there.

FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Directed by Dr. Jorge Schulman and Myriam Lipszyc, from Leatid Community Development program, JOINT (Joint Distribution Committee)

The Joint Distribution Committee was formed by American Jews to help Jews in distress outside the U.S.A. They also have a community development program, Leatid.

They are aware that culture is transmitted through the children. A learning organization is a living organization; sustainable organizations are constantly learning.

Jewish continuity teaches us that Judaism has historically found specific "organizational models" that enable it to develop a sustainable project. A system is any group of people that are interdependent and interact, relating to each other. Jewish tradition invites us to think of the community as a complex system. We see through the complexity and think of the future.

There are four fundamental strategies:

1. Biological sustainability (Youth exchanges are related to it).
2. Economic sustainability (maintaining its institutions, sustaining the members of the community)
3. Sustainability of knowledge, information and transmission. There is no possibility of a community if we are unable to transmit the knowledge of the previous generations. The family is the source per excellence of these experiences. To multiply through the number of children we have is a strategy to transmit ideas.
4. Critical connections: The net of interactions and connection that works through coordinated steps to produce the "small world effect". There is a theory by Milgram which postulates that any human being is separated 6 degrees from each other. The small world effect refers to small nets, with a few degrees of separation, where there is a high degree of cramming.

A workshop related to the subject followed. The participants formed work groups to discuss the strategies.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON WORKSHOP:

SEXUALITY: JUDAISM GETS IN YOUR BED

Directed by Rabbi Daniel Zang

In Judaism sex is not sinful. The concept of sex as original sin does not apply. We do discuss what is forbidden and what is allowed in sexual relations. In the Garden of Eden, Adam named all the animals but did not find amongst them one to be his companion.

God made one from his side (not his rib): Eve. But, according to Rashi, the snake was jealous and tempted Eve to get her out of Paradise.

In the Bible we see different types of sexual relations.

Abraham introduced Sarah, his wife, as his sister to Pharaoh so as to save his life, and she was taken as Pharaoh's wife; Isaac took Rebekah to his mother's tent; Yaakov had two sisters as wives, who competed for his attention and favors.

What is required for marriage? A ketubah, to protect the woman in case of divorce or rejection, a kniah, public symbol that they acquired rights, and a sexual relationship, the private element.

In the ketubah it was stated that men paid their wives' house, as well as for their sustenance and clothing, and for cosmetics, to remain attractive for his sexual enjoyment.

There is a sexual element as foundation of a couple's relationship. In the life of a married Jewish couple the sexual relationship is an integral part. The mitzvah is to reproduce, but conception is not its only end.

The ketubah was drawn for a virgin, a widow, a divorced woman. Most weddings used to be on Wednesdays. On Thursdays, if the husband was not satisfied, he could divorce. If he had already eaten at his in-laws home, he could not obtain a divorce immediately.

The Talmud discusses a contraceptive method that was supposed to be used by girls under twelve, and by pregnant women, as well as mothers who were breast feeding.

Onan, son of Yehudah, married Tamar, but he threw down his semen to the earth. This was not to be done, the enjoyment had to be uninterrupted.

Women observe seven days of sexual abstinence after their period, similar to a period of mourning because she did not conceive.

Ascetism is seen in a worse light than forbidden sexual relationships.

Judaism channels sexual desire and converts it into the deep knowledge of the other.

Nowadays, in the Reform movement, some rabbis perform weddings between homosexuals; they see it as a new possibility of family. The Conservative movement has not yet defined the "ideal" home model.

ROUND TABLES:

1)    ISRAEL AND US:
THE ROLE OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE DIASPORA

Martha E. Lichtenstein expressed her conviction that Israel and the diaspora, being part of one people, resemble a wheel, in which the hub is represented by Israel, and the spokes are the communities of the diaspora. The hub gives them stability and cohesiveness, the spokes add force and impulse. They are all connected, and together they march forward, feeling the irregularities in the terrain, and overcoming the obstacles as one. She felt that our relationship was highly emotional, and unconditional. In the face of a worldwide organized campaign of anti -Semitism and smearing of Israel's image, we have to become well informed guardians. We must raise our voices to tell the world all that Israel is, and how much it has to offer to mankind. The low profile of many diaspora communities in the past is no longer operative.

The connection is made manifest through cultural, educational, organizational ties, and by support and clarification of biased news.

Martha Lichtenstein mentioned the MASHAV program from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, created in 1954 to transmit Israel's expertise in different fields to all the nations of the world who desired to further their socioeconomic and technological development. She said that, up to date, 10,000 experts had instructed more than 200,000 students in a variety of topics. The graduates, upon returning to their native countries, became spokesmen for Israel, having experienced the reality of the country. It is our responsibility and challenge to have the world discover the special qualities of Israel, an oasis of democracy among totalitarian governments who want its destruction.

Rabbi Rotem, a native Israeli, said that he is now in the unique position of seeing Israel from the Galut. Above and beyond dealing with the political issues, there is a need to know more about Israel. The Jewish people would not be the same without it.

At Temple Beth Shalom (P.Rico) this year they are organizing a trip to Israel. The Adult Education program has its students experience a bit of Israel in the diaspora. His advice: Go and visit! The impact will reach the individual as well as the community.

Fund raising is important, but there are other worthy projects.

Israel must enhance pluralism and freedom of religion.

We all must work together for Israel, as a Jewish state for all Jews.

According to Rabbi Zang, Israel represents all Jews, and guarantees our existence as first rate citizens. It is our duty and our right to be connected to Israel. It is not easy to be a liberal Jew in Israel. This must be our concern, we must strive for equality of civil and religious rights in the country.

Judge Aronson discussed our need to be updated, reading newspapers like The Jerusalem Post. Also, have our children join the Birthright program , that gives college students who have never visited Israel the opportunity to do so free of charge.

The Anti Defamation League of Bnai Brith protects Jews from harassment and persecution around the world.

The World Union for Progressive Judaism connects diaspora communities worldwide. It has recently sent a fact finding mission to Argentina.

Ronen Nev?, Consul of Israel to Panama, called our attention to two points of reflection:

1. Demography: The Jewish people are shrinking; there ae 13,500.000 Jews around the world but, because of assimilation and other factors, the numbers are decreasing. We, in the Diaspora, are the last line of defense. The solution is there: Israel. The last ten years have been the most glorious for the Zionist dream: immigration from Yemen, USSR, Ethiopia, Yugoslavia has increased the number of Jews in Israel. It is now 6.5 million people.
2. Zionist vision: Many Jewish communities in the Diaspora are shrinking or disappearing altogether. Israel is there for those who want to become a part of it. How does the Jewish people survive in a nuclear world? Solidarity between the communities is important: Israel as the center, and various subcenters to develop Judaism.

2)    JUDAISM AND SOCIETY:
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE SYNAGOGUE?

Milton Henriquez gave an analogy about a fountain of clear water. He said that when we distance ourselves from the fountain the water is no longer the same.

Who is a Jew? He who identifies himself as such. We went from the ghetto to tolerance, and then to the mosaic.

Can we reach the crucible? Beware! When we pulverize the mixture we produce a new one.

In Panama, Jews influenced the formation of the Nation: The Lindo brothers enabled communication between the Revolutionary Junta and the U.S..A., the first Electricity Company was formed with Jewish capitals, the Technological University was created by Victor Sasso, the music of the Marcha Panam? was written by an organist of Kol Shearit Israel, and so it goes on.

The fountain from which the Jews of Kol Shearit Israel drank was the synagogue.

The dynamic tension we feel as Jews makes us survive. We must not feel it only when we are persecuted or threatened. Our eternal task is to look for the crystalline water to share with all others.

Dr. Jorge Schulman felt that the mystery of our survival is our social organization. Our way of life is organized in a social way.

The minyan is a transcendental system of organization. The beit knesset a mythical and epic meeting place. It is where his grandmother proudly showed him as her grandson, and where he took his daughters to show them. It is also a place to manifest pain, where he said kaddish for his father every morning before going to school, supported by a group of elders. The synagogue was also the place for his rites of passage, bar mitzvah and wedding. When he lived in Israel he frequented a small synagogue in Kfar Saba, where people met and recognized each other.

In another small Sephardic synagogue in Sfat people sat in circle so that they could all see each other and look at all congregants respectfully. Then, at the Beth El synagogue in Buenos Aires, he was showing a way to his daughters.

Judaism is software that we take along with us to any meeting place. Today we are here, in another "beit knesset", to renew our ties to Judaism. Dr. Dennis Cardozo said that we are the People that Chose, we have a universal vision of existence. Spirituality is growing and we are integrated.

Jews have made great contributions at all levels. Many have an existential philosophy but do not proclaim their Judaism.

The Orthodox Jews see all the others as strangers. They are the fossil remains of a culture. They do not accept the universality of Moses Mendelsohn that brings the Jews out of their isolation and into the general society.

The synagogue is not a place to pull back. It foments universal values and progress, it proclaims the uniqueness of God.

The light is the symbol of the mission of Israel , to "be a light unto the nations".

Our growing spirituality is a continuous process that includes consideration and respect for the other. Spiritual growth is a daily involvement. We have to dehumanize God and make men more in His image.

Rabbi D. Goldman thanked the UJCL for the spiritual enrichment. He said that he lived in a very cynical and fragmented society. It was uplifting to see people with ideals and the will to do things.

We know certain villages in Poland by their rabbis. But there is a difference between a rabbi working with a contract and a Rebbe, with a deep vocation, who thinks of his rabbinate as a mission.

Sometimes we have to fight with our Board for important issues that can change the world.

The synagogue is not the restricted place where we practice rituals, rather it is a congregation, a community.

ELECTIONS

The UJCL held elections of the Board of Directors. The new Board is composed by the following members:

• Honorary President: Marvin Sossin (Costa Rica)
• President: Martha E. Lichtenstein (Aruba)
• First Vice President: Jack Davidson (El Salvador)
• Second Vice President: Hilda ten Brink (Costa Rica)
• Secretary: Julieta Maduro ( Panama)
• Treasurer: Cheryle Tacher ( Puerto Rico)

Each community appointed two representatives to the Board.

We congratulate all of them, and wish them continued success in their projects to fulfill the aspirations for the UJCL.

We are still trying to sort out experiences and emotions felt at our Sixth Convention. If we had to sum them up in one word, we would probably choose celebration, for this was, indeed, a celebration of our Judaism and its highest ethical values, in an atmosphere of spirituality and friendship. The II Parallel Youth Encounter was extremely successful. It gave youth from our different communities a venue to meet, make lasting friendships, express their Judaism and hone their leadership skills. It was, also, great fun!

Martha E. Lichtenstein
February 2003

Upon our return from Panama we received the following letter from Cheryle Tacher, President of Temple Beth Shalom, Puerto Rico, and new Treasurer of our UJCL:

To all my brothers and sisters in Latin America and the Caribbean:

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for sharing a glorious weekend with me in Panama! New friends and old acquaintances alike, embraced me, Rabbi Mordechai (Moti) Rotem, Sallie Valcarcel, Sue and Jim Klau, Keila Acevedo and Susan and Ellie Freiband with the kind of love, support, and camaraderie that only 'family' could provide. A special note of gratitude goes to the members of Kol Shearith Israel for their warmth and hospitality, and for their efforts at organizing such a spectacular conference! I returned to Puerto Rico with a renewed and revitalized spirit and am looking forward to meeting with all of you again here, in 2004.

Shalom Chaverim,

Cheryle Tacher
President Temple Beth Shalom
Treasurer, UJCL

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