“I felt like I was meeting my relatives,” said Betty Luck, on her return last week from the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s five-day mission to Cuba.
She was one of 28 Milwaukeeans who went there Dec. 12-16 to experience first hand the revitalization of Jewish life in the communist country, much of which has been accomplished with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, one of the federation’s overseas partners that is supported by its annual community campaign.
“The people have so little,” Luck said, “but they only look at the good in everything. For me personally to see how our money is helping them exist both economically and religiously was very emotional. There are a lot of people in Milwaukee who can increase their gifts [to the community campaign], but don’t because they haven’t seen the positive impact for our ‘family.’ I’ve traveled to a lot of places, but I have never been touched like this.”
According to Jody Kaufman Loewenstein, Community Campaign 2003 chair, “We saw this very small community experiencing a re-birth and vibrancy of its Judaism that I couldn’t believe. Right now, they have little hope of leaving Cuba, so they want their Judaism to be at the center of their life.”
In addition to tours of historic sites such as the Old Jewish Quarter, Jewish cemetery and three synagogues, the Milwaukee travelers also discussed U.S. policy and relations with Cuba with U.S. officials and visited Nuevitas, Milwaukee’s sister city.
Spiritually rich
Today, only 1,500 Jews live in Cuba. The largest community is in Havana, but there are pockets of Jews in smaller cities such as Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba, Caibarien and Guantanamo.
Since the end of 1991, when the Cuban government eased restrictions on religious practices, the JDC has been helping to revive Cuban Jewish life.
“What I found exciting,” said Dan Bader, mission co-chair, “was that when I first visited Cuba six years ago, the younger community members had no real knowledge of Judaism. But on this trip we witnessed a double bat mitzvah, and not only did the girls exhibit an amazing understanding of Jewish traditions, I saw the younger children davening and singing the liturgy.”
He added, “Through the efforts of the JDC, which sent a two-man field team there six years ago, the people have acquired a body of Jewish knowledge to complement the strong Jewish feelings that motivate them, enriching their lives in ways more established communities take for granted.
“Six years later, to see little children practicing our traditions and adults literate in Judaism is incredible. And I think it’s due in large part to the work of the JDC. We actually saw how our money is bolstering the Cuban community.”
Loewenstein agreed that “seeing is believing.” According to her, mission participants who have made gifts to the Community Campaign 2003 have contributed $400,000, which reflects a 22.5 percent increase over last year.
“The people felt a strong connection to the Cuban community and fear it is at risk without external support,” Loewenstein added. “While Cuban Jews are not prospering financially, they are spiritually. I met an anesthesiologist who earns $25 a month, but is working hard to continue the development of the Jewish community.”
Buying even basic commodities is hard in Cuba, and people spend hours in line for items such items as bread, eggs and milk, which are rationed. Although the JDC sends food for religious ceremonies and holidays to all members of the Cuban Jewish community, the local delegation came bearing gifts, including thousands of bottles of aspirin and vitamins, tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes, bars of soap and clothing.
Since 1994, the JDC has been helping to meet the medical and pharmaceutical needs of Cuban Jews. To facilitate better quality health care — for Jews and non-Jews alike — the JDC worked with the Cuban Jewish community and the Cuban Ministry of Health to establish the Professional Medical Education Project.
Through it, the JDC has sent 29 American Jewish physicians to Cuba to give lectures and demonstrations to their Cuban colleagues.
Educationally, through JDC input, Judaic programs include Jewish literature and culture, Israeli history, Israeli folk dancing and Jewish theater and music. The Jewish education program for students ranging from pre-school to the elderly has been supplemented by visiting rabbis, teachers and lecturers.
The JDC also sponsors communal celebrations of Jewish holidays both in Havana and in smaller cities. This year, four rabbis traveled throughout the country to officiate at Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services.
And to further enhance the Judaic learning, the JDC has trained local teachers for the Sunday schools in Havana, Santiago and Camaguey attended by some 150 youngsters. Classes in Hebrew and Judaism and an array of social and religious activities, including Jewish camps, are provided.
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