FROM THE DESK OF RABBI SANDBERG
RabbiSandberg@bethshalomjax.org

RETURNING FROM CUBA

Most of our members know that Jeanne and I (along with associate members Dr. Joseph and Wendy Honigman) traveled to Cuba at the end of March. We were part of a mission from the Southeast Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. All together, there were 43 participants, including three Rabbis. Most of those on the mission were active members of their synagogues and the Movement. When we returned, I spoke to the congregation at a Friday night service (April 4th) that was very well attended, but I want to share some thoughts with all of our members.

First of all, I want to thank everyone who brought donations to the office. As it turned out, more was donated than I could carry. There are strict weight restrictions on the flight to Havana. Our group was 400 pounds over the limit. (We chipped in to pay the “weight penalty”.) I took all of the medications that I could, but had to leave behind some of the toiletries and other items. These have been donated to our local food bank, and will be put to good use in our community. The medical and religious supplies that we brought to the Jewish community in Havana and also to the smaller communities out on the Island were very much appreciated. Cuba is a poor country. The Jews of Cuba share in the lack of consumer goods, medicines and any items imported with all Cubans. What we brought will help make their physical and religious life a little better. What most impressed all of us who traveled to Cuba was the spiritual revival that has taken place on this Island in that last couple of decades. Cuba is still a communist country. It is still a totalitarian country where the government controls virtually all the means of production and the very lives of all its residents. Yet Judaism has survived. The community was reduced to about 1,000 members in the early sixties. It has now grown to about 1,500 even though Jews still leave Cuba, mostly to go to live in Israel.Those that remain are determined to rebuild a vibrant, active Jewish community life. It is not an easy task. But with the generous aid of the Jewish communities around the world, Cuban Jews have rebuilt their synagogues, community centers and their Jewish lives.

Those of us who traveled to Cuba want to continue to be of help. After all, the two largest synagogues in Havana are part of our Southeast Region United Synagogue. One project that we hope to carry out is to purchase 50 copies of a Spanish/Hebrew prayer book that is printed in Mexico and have them shipped to the Sephardic synagogue in Havana. I will let our members know if they will be able to contribute to this project. And if other special projects are proposed, I hope that our members will participate in them. Our tradition teaches us that “All the people of Israel are responsible one for the other”. The Jews of Cuba have maintained their Jewish heritage despite living in very difficult circumstances. We, who have so much and can practice our Judaism freely, should take a lesson from the perseverance of the Jews of Cuba. Rabbi Martin I. Sandberg

Rabbi Martin I. Sandberg