Ahavas Torah

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Supporting Isolated and Emerging Jewish Communities Around the Globe All of Us

Volume 18 Number 3 Fall, 2011

A Jew by Choice:

From El Salvador to Milanto Jerusalem

By Meir Yehoshua Torres

My name is Meir Yehoshua Torres. I am 25 years old.In the last five years I have traveled from my home in

Armenia, El Salvador via Milan, Italy to Jerusalem.But my journey has not been about geography; it has

been a spiritual quest that has taken me from a smallevangelical church in San Salvador to an orthodoxJewish yeshiva (intense Jewish religious school) inIsrael, where I have fulfilled my dream and become amember of the Jewish people. This is my story.

I was born into a family with no religious traditions orcustoms and little interest in the preservation of afamily legacy. My maternal grandmother was the ex-

IN THIS ISSUE

A Jew by Choice : From El Salvador toMilan to Jerusalem .................... ... 1

Among the Igbos of Nigeria During theFestival of Lights .............. 2

Announcing the First Kulanu CameroonSpeaking Tour: ................. 9

Spotlight on Hunuco, Peru .................... 10

Letter from the President ........................ 14

Two Worlds Meet in Uganda ................. 15

Accidental Tourist in Kenya ............... 16

Growing Community in Puerto Rico... 21

Thank you donors ................................... 22

everyone sang Hatikvah (Israels national anthem)and read the Shema (seminal Jewish prayer of faith)every Friday afternoon when welcoming the SabbathSaturday was the day of rest and church holidays in-cluded Passover, Shavuotand Sukkot, complete witha seder(ritual meal at Passover) and a sukkah (tem-porary dwelling place for eating and sleeping duringSukkot). Church members did not eat pork, or anyother unclean animal mentioned in the Bible, andaccepted the Bible as the word of G-d and Jews asG-d's Chosen People. That was my first contact with

Judaism.

One day, a young Panamanian Jew* arrived at theheadquarters of our Church in San Salvador. He hadcome to El Salvador to complete his university stud-ies. At first no one noticed him, and it took us a while

ception. Every Saturdayshe faithfully visited asmall evangelicachurch on the outskirtsof the city to pray. As I

was close to my grandmother, I accompaniedher each week andspent the day in church

The congregants there were part of a smareligious community otwelve churches. Although they followedmostly Christian practices, they called them-selves Israelites andembraced many Jewishrituals and customsChurch leaders wore

prayer shawls and

Meir Yehoshua Torres

____________________________

* I have chosen not to identify this man by name to avoidcompromising him in an way.

Continued on page 6

Kulanu


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Among the Igbos of Nigeria

During the Festival of Lights

William F. S. Miles

liturgical gaffes as I bring my Long Island Ashkenaz(Eastern European Jew) understanding ofHanukkahto the Jewish Igbos of Abuja, capital of Nigeria.

Only 24 hours before, still in packing mode, I was

wondering what I should bring with me. Would theyuse latke mix (for potato pancakes eaten during Ha-nukkah)? Should I bring dreidels, (tops traditionallyspun on the holiday), Hanukkah gelt(money) or ha-nukkiahs (candelabras with nine candles)? I need nothave worried about my hosts lack of Jewish objectsThe Igbos possess more precious commodities than Icould have stuffed into my duffle bag: a joy-infused

It is the 24th

ofKislev, 5770 (2009),Erev* Hanukkah,I am in Nigeria. This is not my first visit. In fact, Ihave made some 15 trips over the last 30 years to con-duct a variety of research studies. This time, however,I have come expressly for the purpose of spending

Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) with a handful of Igbos who, in black Africas most heavily Muslim nation,proudly but incongruously identify as Jews.

In previous trips, I had little interaction with Igbosand even my knowledge of the tribe was scant. I didknow about the bloody Biafra War in the 1960s whenIgbos, angry over economic, ethnic and religiousproblems in the country, seceded from Nigeria andformed the independent state of Biafra. The secessionled to a highly publicized civil war in which over amillion civilians died. The nation of Biafra was short-lived, however, and, after two and a half years of war,

was reintegrated into Nigeria. I also knew that Igbos, who are highly respected as entrepreneurial mer-chants, have often been called the Jews of Africa fortheir business acumen.

So how did I find myself in Nigeria on this extraordi-nary mission? It was my interest in both Jewish and

African studies that led to this trip. Two years ago, Idiscovered the community when I reviewed EdithBruders bookThe Black Jews of Africa: History, Re-ligion, Identity.** The chapter on the Igbos jogged mymemory about an article I had filed away several years

before about Rabbi Howard Gorin of Maryland, whoseinterest and involvement with the community went

back many years. I wanted to meet this community.

So thanks to e-introductions by Rabbi Howard Gorin,I would spend this Hanukkah in the company of apeople who, not satisfied with having survived the

near-genocide of the Biafra war, have assumed an-other risky identity as a tiny minority of Jews in a me-ga-country that periodically fractures, in pogrom-likeriots, along its Muslim-Christian fault line. Tonight,though, I am more worried about making cultural or

Sar Habakkuk blessing his children after Sabbathcandle lighting -

Photo by William F.S. Miles

__________________________

* Jewish holidays begin the night before at sundown.** Elizabeth Bruders book was also reviewed in the

Spring, 2010 issue of the Kulanu News.

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approach to Judaism, an un-quenchable thirst for Jewishknowledge and masterful prayerleaders. And, though it costs 50dollars at the local market, theyeven bring a bottle of Kosher Ma-

nischewitz wine for the Kiddush(blessing over the wine).

In Abuja, I need to shuffle betweenthe Gihon and Tikvat Israel con-gregations. Each is over forty-fiveminutes away, in opposite direc-tions, from my accommodations inthe center of town. I find the twocongregations have some similari-ties and some differences. If themechitza (curtain separating men

from women during prayer) is astandard litmus test, we can saythat Gihon is orthodox and Tikvatis conservative.

But more striking is the differencein infrastructure. At Gihon, theceiling is finished, there is an ark for the Torah andthe hanukkiah is large and lovely. At Tikvat Israel,where I lit the first nights candle, the rafters are open,there is no Torah scroll and the hanukkiah consists ofpainted coke bottles mounted on a wooden frame.

What both congregations share in abundance iskavana, a sincere devotion to Jewish worship.

And neither community appears insecure in its observance of Judaism: it is I, the oddAshkenazi in theminyan (ten Jews required for communal prayer; inthis case 10 men) of black Africans, who looks like anoutsider. But the hand-painted saying in Hebrew onthe outside wall of the synagogue serves as a re-minder: Kol Yisrael Haverim Ze lZe (loosely trans-lated: All Jews are brothers).

SABBATH SERVICES

Where did you put the aliyah? (call to the Torah), Iam asked at the conclusion of the Shabbat morningservice. I thought my questioner meant the card withthe number of myaliyah (seven people say blessingsover the Torah reading) to the Torah. I am numberfour. Instead, he is referring to my bid for the honorof being called to the Torah. It is the custom here thatall Torah readers are expected to pay for the privilege

of an aliyah. For the honor to have my name, andthat of my father, invoked in the benediction over theTorah reading, I had pledged to the synagogue fivehundred naira (a few dollars). The Igbo gabay (synagogue beadle) was making sure I placed my money

into the appropriate box, lest the bid be forgotten.

This was just one of the customs that makes Judaismin Nigeria unique. Like the ablutions. In normativeJudaism, I had never experienced washing oneshands before entering the synagogue to begin prayersEven between prayers (say, between those ofShabbamorning andShabbatafternoon), ritual hand washingis practiced. Another first for me was men holdinghands and dancing around the altar in the middle ofthe synagogue not for Simchat Torah (celebrationof the sacred scrolls), but because it was Shabbat

And finally, at the conclusion of the Sabbath servicethe congregation exits the synagogue backwards, insong, to symbolize their reluctance to leave ShabbatI also found the children in the community specialHumbling, too. In contrast to the squirming, running

yelling kids in many American synagogues, I sequiet, obedient Igbo children taking in the hours-longservices.

In the women's section of the Gihon synagogue -Photo credit: William F.S. Miles

Nigeria,Continued from page 2

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In an ironic echo of the state of Jewry in America, theIgbos express their concern over assimilation. Themain problem is the public school system whereChristianizing influences are prevalent. My son wasbeaten up because he does not accept Jesus, is a typi-cal comment. We need our own school. Only that way can they [the children] remain open and proudJews. In Nigeria, you must be of some recognizedreligion, or else you are despised or worse. If youpractice something unknownsuch as Judaismyoumay be accused of being a cultist. This is the reasonthat Igbos dare not display their Hanukkah candela-bras in their windows.

__________________________

A teacher. Thats all we want. Someone who cancome and teach our children."

__________________________

Jewish education: this is the main message that SarHabakkuk, leader of the Tikvat Israel congregation, wishes to convey. A teacher. Thats all we want.Someone who can come and teach our children. Wehave a building, we have a room for the teacher. Butwe need to give our children a Jewish education!

If there was a rabbi, things would be easier. Currently,the congregations are led by elders venerated Igbo

men who, over the last two decades, have rediscov-ered their Hebraic roots. For most, that path was acircuitous one, taking them first through the detour ofso-called Messianic Judaism. For some, the theologi-cal contradictions eventually began to gnaw merci-lessly. When I first began thinking about it, saysPinchas (n Azuka Ogbukaa, a member of Gihon), Icould not sleep an entire night. The contradiction wastoo much. If we are to be worshipping the one andunique Creator as God, than how can we also be sup-posed to worship Yeshua (Jesus)?

In the absence of trained and bone fide local rabbis,Igbos are Internet Jews. While holy books and Jewishtexts do make their way to Nigeria, many via RabbiGorens book project, it is by going onlinehoweverfitfully, given limited computer access and frequentpower outagesthat Igbos connect to the greater Jew-ish world of learning. Miraculously, 29-year-oldMoshe ben Natan Levi, who does seamless Torah rea-dings in a beautiful voice and near flawless delivery,learns his Hebrew online.

HOW MANY ARE THEY?

How many Igbo Jews are there in Nigeria? Numera-tion is vague among the Igbos, at least in Abuja. At

Tikvat Israel, I was originally told there are sevenactive families. But Elder Agbia puts the number atsixteen. Later I am told that there are definitelymore. For the Gihon congregation, there seem to beat least double the number of congregants. Throughout Nigeria there are 20 congregations. Some Igbostalk of 30,000 Jews among them, but there is no wayto verify this number. Rabbi Gorin puts his estimateof the number of Jews practicing normative Judaismin the low thousands. Either way, it is a compellingphenomenon.

In describing their Jewish roots, I am told: As Igboswe circumcise our sons on the eighth day. We pray athe coming of the new moon. We blow the rams hornThis we have done, as Igbos. But we did not know

before that we were continuing the acts of our Jewishancestors. These are not the only Igbo customs now

believed to be Israelite survivalisms. As Igbos, whave always observed Shavuot (harvest holiday) asUfegiku, andSukkotthe Feast of Tabernacles as

Afigolu.

An Igbo Elder - Photo by William F.S. Miles


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FINAL DAY IN ABUJA

In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe lamented thedeterioration of traditional Igbo culture that accom-panied the advent of colonialism and Christianization.

Reclaiming Jewish ancestry and identity, according toRemy Ilona, the most prolific writer from and aboutthe community, is part of the contemporary Igbostruggle against those colonial and missionary lega-cies. In his Introduction to the Chronicles of Igbo-

Israel and The Igbos: Jews in Africa,* Ilona claimsthat one of the aims of the British was to alienatethem from their real roots, contemporary and historic.For him, part of the work of cultural decolonization isto reclaim Judaism as the true religious heritage ofthe Igbo. Whether world Jewry itself is prepared toembrace this or any type of African Judaism is an-

other matter altogether.

The time has come to bid shalom (goodbye). Takingleave of Hezekiah, the young Torah reader of Tikvat

Israel, is hardest of all. I see it is difficult for him, too.

He is a prodigy, this eleven-year-old, who chants forthe community in soulful Hebrew. Quiet and soft-spoken as a boy, as prayer leader his beautiful andfull-throated chanting sails far beyond the unfinishedrafters of this Nigerian shul (Yiddish word for syna-gogue). With the deep eyes of a Hasid-in-the-makingthis African boy looks up to me and asks, in a mixtureof sadness and hope, Will you come to mybar mitzvah?

Young Hezekiah leading prayers at Congregation TikvatIsrael - Photo by William F.S. Miles


_______________________

* The Igbos: Jews in Africa by Remy Ilona is available forsale at kulanuboutique.com

William Miles is a professor of political science at North-eastern University in Boston, teaching courses on Com-

parative Politics, Religion and Politics, Music and Politicsand the Politics of Developing Nations. From 1998-2002he was the Stotsky Professor of Jewish Historical and Cul-tural Studies at Northeastern. This article has beenabridged and adapted from Amongthe Igbos During the

Festival of Lights, Transition: An International Review(105:35-45), published by Indiana University Press(2011).

Special note: Dr. Miles returned to Tikvat Israel iAugust, 2011 to attend the Bar Mitzvah of Hezekiah.

Young Igbo girl at Hanukkah Photo by WilliamF.S. Miles


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before we realized he was Jewish. He said he wasintrigued by our religious service and wanted to un-derstand why a group of Christians, who had no con-tact with Jewish people, observed many Jewish reli-gious practices.

Initially, he did not speak about his Jewish identity, but many of the younger members of the churchbegged him to teach us about Judaism. And so begana series of clandestine meetings. Every Saturday hejoined us in church and outside of church we learnedabout Judaism and the G-d of Israel. In time he be-came an important figure in our community.

As our interest in Judaism grew, so did our conflicts with the elders of the community. Eventually, theyounger members of the church, and those seeking amore direct relationship to G-d, chose to embraceJudaism and dropped all Christian practices and mes-sianic beliefs. It was a process that took several years.In the end, two Jewish congregations emerged out ofthe original 12 churches. One was in Armenia and onewas in San Salvador.

Left : Synagogue in Ar-menia, El Salvador

Upper right: VittorioEmanuel Gallery, locationof Beth Shlomo Syna-gogue, Milan

Bottom right: MachonMeir Yeshivah, Jerusalem

Photos by Meir Torres

It was from this man that I learned Torah (HebrewBible) andHalacha (Jewish law). It was this man whoencouraged my study of Hebrew so I could read thTorah and one day pray from theSiddur. But our relationship was time limited. When he completed hi

university studies, he returned home and I was on myown. After he left, I continued studying until I mastered Hebrew reading, although I still had no understanding of what I read. And each week I tried tostudy the Torah portion of the week and learn lawand their implementation.

Those among us who embraced Judaism looked fosupport from the Jewish community of El Salvadorfrom Jewish religious organizations and from rabbis

We found none. I donthink anyone took useriously. Even without support, we continued practicing anlearning. We all agreethat our goal was tconvert to Judaism an

become part ofAmIsrael (nation of Israel). Once we mad

this decision we decided that all me

should be circumcised, because it was commanded ithe Torah.

How would we do it? Almost no one had the money tpay for circumcision in a hospital. One of our mem

bers from San Salvador who had recently finished himedical studies agreed to perform the circumcisionfor men of both communities. And so each week, in a

El Salvador,Continued from page 1

Continued on page 7


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improvised operating room in the home of one of ourmembers from Armenia, the doctor performed severalcircumcisions. I went first so I could serve as the doc-tors assistant for the others. School was starting upagain, and we had to complete all the circumcisions

before the semester began, so in the end, I performedsome of the circumcisions myself. When I think aboutit now, I thank G-d no one was permanently damaged.

MILAN BECKONS

In 2006, at the age of 20. I decided to leave Armeniaand spend the year with our congregation in San Sal-

vador. At that time, I was having many personal diffi-

culties. While in San Salvador, I was fortunate to be-friend a young man through the Internet who lived inMilan, Italy. With the help of my family and his en-couragement, I decided to leave my studies at the uni-

versity and spend some time working in Milan. I hadno particular goals. But once I was settled into mynew life there, I decided to reach out to the local Jew-ish community. Again with the help of the Internet, Ilocated a synagogue close to where I lived and askedthem to allow me to pray among them on Shabbat. Iexplained that I was not a Jew but I had studied Juda-

ism in my country and wanted to continue on thispath. The congregations spiritual leader RabbShmuel Rodal agreed.

Never before had I felt so out of place while beinghappy at the same time. This was my feeling everytime I set foot inside the synagogue. I spoke no Ital-ian; I was a stranger and an outsider. And the syna-gogue, Beth Shlomo, was the first synagogue I hadever been in. And yet, I knew it was right. I attended

Shabbatservices every week. I read somewhere thatChachamim (wise men) say you can talk to Hashem(G-d) as you would speak with a friend or a parent, soin Italy, G-d became my best friend and companion.

One Shabbat, I was fortunate to meet a man whospoke a little Spanish and he introduced me to RabbShlomo Bekhar of the Beth HaLeviSynagogue. Bothmen became my close friends and recognized my sin-cerity in wanting to be a part of the Jewish people.

I decided to move near Rabbis Bekhars synagogueMy life was beginning to fall into place. I had found aplace to pray every day, a Rabbi who was willing toteach me and a good friend who supported me in myquest.

September, 2009. Meir at the Kotel (wall) the week of his arrival in Israel


Continued on page 8


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To support myself and pay for my rent and food, I worked several jobs but still it was insufficient.Friends helped, but I understood I had to be on myown. Rabbi Shlomo found me work at a factory owned

by a member of the local Jewish community so I could

improve my financial situation.

ISRAEL

One day Rabbi Shlomo called me into his office. Heexplained to me that in Milan the conversion proc-ess takes many years. He asked if I wanted to go toIsrael to study at a yeshiva and do my conversionthere. It was like a dream. Rabbi Shlomo contactedthe Machon Meir Yeshiva in Jerusalem and they

accepted me. By the time I left Milan, I had beenthere for one year and three months. I had seen andexperienced so many things. And here I was aboutto embark on a new adventure. Frankly, I wasfrightened. What if they didnt let me enter Israel?It was a risk, but I could not pass up this opportu-nity.

On September 4, 2008, after saying Arrivederci(goodbye) to all my friends in Milan, I left for

Israel. I was 22 years old. I remember that duringthe flight, I could not remove my face from the win-dow. I thought of the many good people who hadhelped me on my journey. I looked at the stars andthanked G-d for all His bounties and for taking care

of me until that moment. I even thought that if I were denied entrance, it would be enough just tostep on the soil of Israel.

The plane landed at Ben Gurion International Airport. As I anticipated, Passport Control took me outof line and questioned me about my passport andmy plans in Israel. I had bought an extra planeticket to Germany so they would not think I wasgoing to stay in the country illegally. They allowedme to enter, but gave me only three weeks to stay in

the country, not the usual three months.

On Friday, September 5, I arrived at the entrance toMachon Meir Yeshiva located in the Kiryat Mosheneighborhood of Jerusalem I had two small suit-cases, a few euros in my pocket and fears and hopesin my heart....

THE YESHIVA BOY

So began a new phase in my life, a new goal toreach. With some angst, I waited for my acceptance

by theRabanut(rabbinic authorities), which fortu-nately arrived in a few weeks allowing me to remainin Israel. Studying at the Yeshiva was an enrichingexperience both spiritually and personally. And it

was a happy period of my life. I was preparing foconversion. I was learning about the culture andpeople of Israel. I was studying Torah. I mademany friends in the Yeshiva. They became part ofmy family and I of theirs. We have grown togetherand have known the feeling of brotherhood that

exists among the Jewish people.

CONVERSION

A year and two months after having started mstudies at the Yeshiva, I stood before a Beth Din(court) of three Dayanim (judges) of the Rabanu

CONGRATULATIONS

To Kulanu Board Member Barbara Vinick on

the publication of her new book, Today, I am a

Woman: Stories of "Bat Mitzvah" Around the

World, published by Indiana University Press.

Co-edited with Shulamit Reinharz, the book is

a fascinating compendium of stories from 78

countries on six continents from bat mitzvah

girls past and present, their parents and grand-parents, and community and religious leaders.

With help from Kulanu, Barbara spent a num-

ber of years gathering the stories that make up

this special book. Also included in the book are

biographical notes, descriptions of far-flung

Jewish communities and evocative family pho-

tographs.


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____________________________________________________________________________________________

Announcing :The First Kulanu Cameroon Speaking Tour

Serge Etele, the spiritual leader of the BethYeshourun community, practicing Judaism in

Cameroon, Central Africa, will be visiting the

United States this winter. Serge, an educator,

computer specialist and farmer, will share the

amazing history of his community, which began

practicing Judaism in 1998.

Using resources downloaded from the Internet,

and correspondence with various rabbis, commu-

nity leaders taught themselves and then their con-gregants to practice Judaism. Until the summer

of 2010, when Kulanu volunteer Rabbis Bonita

and Gerald Sussman of Staten Island, NY visited

them, they had not met a Jew face-to-face. The

communitys embrace of Judaism and their suc-

cess in learning and practicing Jewish rituals and

observance on their own will hearten and inspire

Jews everywhere.

The tour will run from February 23-March 21.

We are pleased to announce that Serge's calendar

is filling up quickly. For more information about

the community, the speaking tour and instructions

on how to request an event in your community

please go to http://www.kulanu.org/cameroon

Serge Etele and his daughter Aliyah - Photo

by Rabbi Bonita Sussman

of Jerusalem to testify how much I've learned aboutHalacha and Jewish tradition and practice, anddeclared my desire to become part of the Jewishpeople. On November 19, 2009 I received the 613

mitzvot (commandments) of our Holy Torah, theHalacha, and the merit and duty that comes withbeing part of the Jewish people.

After that emotional day only two things remainefor me to do: circumcision (the first was incorrectand the Mikvah (immersion). Once completed,

was ready to close the door on one cycle of life an

begin a new oneas a Jew. I have found my placin the world, among my people, and I cannot wanfor more.



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Spotlight on Hunuco, Peruby Daneel Schaechter

INTRODUCTION BY RABBI PETER TARLOW

The following article by Daneel Schaechter is awonderful look into the world of Klal-Yisrael(literally, the entire House of Israel, or meta-phorically, the love of Judaism and Jewish peo-ple). Daneel comes from a Yiddish speaking en-vironment and has chosen to live a modern Or-thodox lifestyle. He volunteered to teach in

Hunuco and had several lengthy conversationswith me regarding his role and the need to workwithin a reformative pseudo-Sephardic envi-ronment. As Daneels report indicates, he wasup to the task. He gave a great deal of himself inthe process and received a lifetime of memoriesand experiences. On a personal note, I feelthankful to have made his acquaintance and

hope that we shall remain friends across thmiles for many years to come.

_______________

This summer I volunteered for five weeks in a tinremote Jewish community in Hunuco, Peru, locatesome 10 hours by bus from Perus capital city of LimMy role, as explained to me by Rabbi Peter TarlowHillel director at Texas A & M University, would bteacher, tutor and cantor. The community, which contacted Rabbi Tarlow in 2007 for help in establishing

viable and knowledgeable Jewish community, has 4members, most of whom have converted in the lasfive years.

Three distinct groups make up this reformative congregation. One group is descended from AshkenaJews who settled in the Peruvian highland in the mid

Continued on page 11

Group Shabbat photo in Hunuco, Peru


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19th century and eventually assimilated into the gen-eral population. A second group is descended fromCrypto-Jews who went underground to avoid persecu-tion during the Spanish Inquisition. These peoplehave maintained emotional ties to Judaism althoughmost knew little of their ancestral faith. The thirdgroup is made up of Jews by choice, individuals who

were unhappy as Christians and have found joy andmeaning in Judaism. My experience meeting andteaching the men, women and children of this com-munity over my five weeks in Peru was more mean-ingful that I could have imagined.

RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE GROUND

Before I arrived in Peru, Rabbi Tarlow advised methat community members were illiterate in Hebrew.

One of my jobs, then, would be to teach Hebrew so thecommunity could pray together using the originaltext. During my visit, the community would also becelebrating its firstBar Mitzvah (coming of age ritualfor Jewish boys of 13 years) in over 100 years to wel-come a boy into the community of Israel as an adult.My job would be to prepare the Bar Mitzvah boy Ro-lando Holzmann for his big day. A third responsibil-ity would be to lead weekly services in my role as acantor. And lastly, I would teach an introductorycourse on Judaism (holidays, traditions, etc.), foreveryone in the community, but with the objective of

preparing several people in the community for con-version to Judaism.

MY SCHEDULE

In the mornings I often taught both Hebrew and Ju-daism for older, retired members of the community

who shmoozed and practiced Hebrew with me from 8-10 am. The reason I use the word often is becausein Peru, as Ive learned, things often do not get doneor people may not show up. Nonetheless, the active

members of the community tried to come as often ascommitments allowed. In the afternoon, from 3-4:30pm, I worked with Rolando to help him prepare forhis reading of the Torah. Evenings, between 7 and 10pm, I offered communal classes in Hebrew and Jew-ish traditions. I found teaching in Spanish all day

very tiring and a challenge. My Spanish languageskills, acquired in high school and college Spanishclasses, are serviceable, but I am not yet fluent. Thecommunity knew no English. Nevertheless, the ex-perience was rewarding.

AN INTERESTING ISSUE

Although the community has chosen to affiliate witthe Reform/Renewal movements, it does not coun

women in the minyan (ten men/women required focommunal prayer). In time, I realized that the community did not understand the differences among thdenominations. Instead, they picked and chose rituaand traditions they found appealing from reading ofrom the Internet and then incorporated them int

their practice. Choices often reflected their own cutural norms. I believe that was the case with thcounting of women. As a result, the communitycommunal practice appeared random and lacked certain cohesion.

Near the end of my stay in Peru, Rabbi Tarlow joineme in Hunuco, and together, we tried to explain thdifferences between orthodox, conservative, reform

Daneel and Rolo, the Bar Mitzvah boy, leadingprayer services together

Spotlight on Hunuco,Continued from page 10



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and reconstructionist Judaism. We talked about cus-toms, rituals and practices and which ones madesense to them and would help them to create a flour-ishing, self-sustainable community. The Rabbi and Ialso suggested that members of the communityshould focus less on practicing their Hebrew andmore on traditions, holidays, and Jewish philosophy.

We emphasized that while Hebrew is important, it ismore meaningful in the context of a more enlightened

practice and knowledge.

Another suggestion was to add more Spanish to theFriday night service so community members wouldfeel more connected and engaged while praying. They

would understand the words and meanings expressedin the service. And finally, Rabbi Tarlow suggestedthat the community encourage more members to in-

volve themselves in leadership issues to insure theperpetuation of the community. To put all the re-sponsibility into the hands of one individual would berisky, as the community might not be sustainable withhis demise.

The last few days of my sojourn in Hunuco were es-pecially significant and beautiful. Rabbi Tarlow and Iconverted two women, Yesenia Araujo Horna and

Yelitza Sanchez Ortiz, one man Miguel Bohrquezzand a two-year-old Angelita. Rabbi Tarlow conductedtheBeit Din (Jewish court) for the three adult conver-sionsone at a time. TheBeit Din consisted of RabbiTarlow, a community leader who had already con-

verted and me. In each case, the individual was

asked a series of quetions to ensure he/shhad studied and prepared for the convesion. Some questionfocused on particula

Jewish traditions anholidays to test theknowledge and commitment to their nefaith. Others looked tthe future and focuseon Jewish marriagraising Jewish childrena commitment to synagogue attendance and continued study of Judaism with the re

sources the communihas on hand. And stiothers were to ensur

that each person was sincere in giving up Catholicism As all three adults have parents and families whpractice Catholicism, Rabbi Tarlow emphasized thimportance of respecting their families and their famlies religious traditions.

TheBeth Dinwas conductedin an open-ended formto allow each convert to respond to questions and ttalk about his or her personal feelings about Judaism

and the conversion process. Each Beit Din lasted 3minutes. After all three individuals completed thprocess successfully and were accepted for convesion, it was time for the mikvah (ritual bath of flowin

water) to complete the conversion process throughimmersion and prayer.

The community uses a hidden freshwater river, tributary of the Huallaga River as a mikvah. Thspring is located in a remote gorge, a 40-minute drivfrom Hunuco. Community leaders claimed the spfor their mikvah five years ago in preparation for thconversions that would follow. They identified thespot by writing the Hebrew wordShalom (peace) onlarge stone just above the gorge. The two women werattended by a converted female member of the community. Rabbi Tarlow and I accompanied the maconvert. After the mikvah ceremonies, we returned tthe synagogue to sign the documents of conversioand to prepare for the Bar Mitzvah, which would bheld on Friday evening as severe weather condition

were predicted for the following day.

The three adults converting: From the left, Miguel Bohrquezz, Yesenia Araujo Hornaand Yelitza Sanchez Ortiz




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For the Bar Mitzvah, I led a CarlebachKabbalat Shabbat(a service welcomingthe Sabbath using Shlomo Carlebachsmusic) and Maariv (evening service)

and an abbreviated Torah service in which Rolando read eight verses froman original 1870 Lithuanian Torahscroll. After the reading, he gave a Bar

Mitzvah sermon and Rabbi Tarlowspoke to him about this significantevent in his life. Attendees included fivemembers of Rolandos non-Jewish fam-ily. (Rolando and his grandmother con-

verted by choice several years ago, buthis mother, stepfather and step-siblingsare practicing Catholics.)

As Rolando read from the Torah, RabbiTarlow and I helped him with a few

words here and there. He did a wonder-ful job and made me proud. As he re-cited his Torah portion, I looked at theaudience and saw some people tearingup. They were so proud. For every single Peruvian inthat room, this was the first Bar Mitzvah they hadever attended. And it was the first Bar Mitzvah inHunuco in over 100 years. Rabbi Tarlow gave aspeech about continuity of tradition and the beauty ofreading the Torah and what it meant for the commu-nity to be continuing in the footsteps of their ances-tors. Throughout the speech, Rolando was beaming ina way Id never seen before.

We moved to the dining room and went around thetable, where everyone said something special to our

Bar Mitzvah. One older man, Shanti, broke into tearswhile talking about how Rolando is the future of Ju-daism in Hunuco. Im still not sure what exactly hesaid that made me bawl but he spoke with such emo-tion. It was like a chain reaction and I couldnt hold

back my tears.

Back home, I was filled with pride with what the Jew-ish community in Hunuco was able to achieve thissummer, and filled with joy that I was able to helpthem on their journey. I hope and pray that they con-tinue to practice Judaism and that the communitygrows in knowledge and practice.

_________________________

Rabbi Peter Tarlow is Hillel Director at Texas A & M Un versity. He has visited Hunuco five times in the last fi years. He also has brought student groups on a regulbasis to the community. Rabbi Tarlow is fluent in Spaniand writes a weekly Torah column that is read and studie

weekly not only by the Jews of Hunuco but also by othsmall Jewish communities in both Peru and Bolivia. Talow conducts a regular Skype meeting with the communitys president.)

Daneel Schaechter is a 20-year-old student at the Univesity of Pennsylvania with a double major in Latin AmericStudies and Linguistics. He grew up in a conservative Jewish home in New York City. After graduating from HuntCollege High School, he spent a year studying in an orthdox yeshiva in Jerusalem where he honed his Jewisknowledge and skills.

Daneel volunteered with Kulanu as a senior in high schowhen he became interested in Jewish communities in Lat America and has continued to volunteer periodically astranslator with Kulanus Spanish-speaking communities.

For additional information on the founding and growth othe Jewish community of Hunuco, please go to the Kulan

web site atwww.kulanu.org and search for Hunuco.


Signing the conversion documents.


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LETTER FROM THEPRESIDENT

The stories in this issue of Kulanu News demon-strate once again the universal desire and need forspiritual connection and fellowship that character-

izes people the world over. In this case, the seekersare reaching out to Jews and Judaism to find theirplace. Throughout the history of Kulanu, we have

been blessed to witness and help individuals andcommunities who identify with the people of Israeland embrace Judaism. Once they have made thecommitment to be Jews, they then embark on a

journey of self-discovery and Jewish knowledge andpractice. Whether they are from Central or South

America, Asia, Europe, Africa or the United States,their stories demonstrate many commonalities.They yearn for Jewish knowledge; they take pride

in their identification with Jews everywhere and theState of Israel, and they embrace their commitmentto Judaism.

In many cases, the resident Jews in their countriesof origin are not supportive or encouraging. On thecontrary, they are often rejecting. But when the de-sire is real and the heart is strong, the individualsand communities press on and continue on their

journey more determined than ever to be Jewish.

A case in point is the Abayudaya Jewish communityin Uganda, which originally faced a lack of interestfrom mainstream Jewish organizations and reli-gious leaders. But the community persisted andtoday, they are a source of pride and interestthroughout the Jewish world for their strong com-mitment to Judaism and the enrichment they offerto us all. They have an ordained rabbi and a com-munity of 1450 individuals converted and practic-ing Judaism in their seven synagogues. Kulanu wasthe one organization that listened and responded in1995, and we are proud of our vital connection to

the community forged over the past 16 years.

Today, the light of the Abayudaya has found its wayto Kenya where Rabbi Gershom Sizomu and his

brother JJ Keki have reached out to help a small,fledgling community that wants to be Jews. In thisissue, Ari Witkin, a young man from Baltimore,

visits this community and is overwhelmed by thespirituality he finds in this small Jewish enclave.

They have no Torah and few prayer books, yetthcreate a deeply movingKabbalat Shabbat.

In Nigeria, Bill Miles discovers Nigerian Jews whare concerned with the same issues as we are in thUnited States.assimilation, the importance of Jewish education and a thirst for Jewish knowedge. His interaction with a young boy who shyinvites him to attend his upcoming Bar Mitzvtouches the heart.

In a remote village in Peru, 10 hours from the captal of Lima, a community embraces its Jewish pathat was lost after years of isolation and even perscution for theSephardic remnant. Daneel Schaectfrom the University of Pennsylvania visits thsummer and helps the community reconnect wiits Jewish heritage. He also helps train the firstBa

Mitzvah in the community in over 100 years.

And finally, our front-page story is the emotionand inspiring journey of one young man, Meir Yhoshua Torres, from Armenia, El Salvador to Isra

via Italy. Today, as a converted orthodox Jew, he serving in the Israeli army. Meir tells his wonderfstory of perseverance and heart, which took man

years but culminates in a sense of pride and beloning in his adopted faith and country.

I think it is important here not only to applaud th

courage and commitment of these people, but salute several individuals who answered the call these particular communities: Rabbi Howard Gorof Maryland, who has worked for so many years o

behalf of the Nigerian Jewish communities; Rab Aaron Rehberg, who is working on behalf of Klanu, with the Jewish community of El SalvadoRabbi Peter Tarlow who mentors the Jewish community in Peru and Rabbi Gershom Sizomu whreached out to the small community in Kenya assist them on their journey. And we should aknowledge the rabbis in Milan who encouraged an

assisted Meir.

I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I did whenread it. I thank our editor Judy Manelis for her extraordinary leadership in pulling it together.



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_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Two Worlds Meet in Ugandaby Judy Manelis

Before I go, I would like to acknowledge a specialperson in this issue. Serge Etele from Cameroon.Our wonderful and artistic layout and photographyeditor Enid Bloch has gone on to other projects af-ter working with us for four issues and redesigning

our newsletter. We have chosen Serge, the spiritualleader of the Cameroon Jewish community, to take

her place. He also has assumed responsibility forthe designing and updating of Kulanus web site

We are excited that Serge can take on these respon-sibilities and work with us from his home in one ofKulanus cherished communities. We look forward

to meeting him when he comes to the US for hisfirst speaking tour this winter. (See page 9)

In January, 2009, I traveled with several Kulanuleaders and volunteers to visit the Kechene Jewishcommunity in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (see Spring,2011 issue of Kulanu News) and the Abayudaya

Jewish community in Uganda. The weeks in Africawere life changing for me as a person and as a Jew.However, at the same time, I was experiencing somuch excitement and joy, I was also feeling sad, asI had left for Africa at a difficult time in my life. Mygood friend Ruth Horak, a Holocaust survivor, wasdying. Before the trip, I had traveled to NYC fromBoston twice, each time for several days, to sit withher, comfort her and hold her hand.

Although I had met and worked with many Holocaust survivors during my career in Jewish com-munal service, Ruth was my friend. I had never

been so close. In our conversations, she sharemany of her experiences. The family, which lived inPrague, had been wealthy, assimilated and cul-tured. But, as in many Holocaust stories, their lifechanged overnight. Her father was taken in anearly round up of Jewish men and disappeared. Sheand her mother were sent to Terezinstadt and thenon to Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen. They had

barely survived a death march, bombs dropped bythe allies when they were slave laborers in Germanyand starvation, humiliation and deprivation on a

daily basis. Ruth was 11 years oldwhen she enteredthe camps. The miracle was that they survived, bothof them.

On liberation, the two were sent to Sweden to recu-perate as they were malnourished and their healthfragile. Ruth would spend three months in a hospi-tal. She liked to repeat the words of the Swedishdoctor who told her she would be dead by the age of50 as her body was damaged beyond repair. Ruthdied two days before I returned home from UgandaShe was 86 years old.

Throughout her life, Ruth refused to succumb todepression and sadness. Instead, she was feisty andfull of energy, living every minute of her life to thefullest. She loved medicine and science; she lovedart and music; she was politically aware and de-

voured the newspapers and news shows. She lovedto dance.


Letter from the President,Continued from page 14

Rabbi Eric & Yoash arrange the mill bags in the newgrain mill store


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Accidental Tourist in Kenyaby Ari Witkin

Sometimes we search for things in the most mysterious

of places, things that may be close at hand or right in

front of our eyes.

As someone who has spent a lot of time trying to fig-ure out the place Judaism should have in my life andhow best to tap into it, it was no surprise to family or

friends that I decided to take my search to sub-Saharan Africa. As with any open-ended trip, how-ever, the unfolding of events was anything but pre-dictable.

My adventures began with four wonderful monthsliving and learning with the Abayudaya Jewish com-munity in Uganda. Most of my time was spent learn-ing Tanach (Hebrew Bible) with Rabbi Gershom

Community members outside the synagogue - Photo by Ari Witkin

Sizomu, the spiritual leader of the Abayudaya, and hyeshiva students, as well as assisting the administrative staff at the Tobin Medical Center, a facilitopened two years ago by the community. However,also spent a lot of time immersing myself in the life othis beautiful and welcoming Jewish communit

which taught me something new about Judaism an

myself every day I was there.

One of the many friends I made during my stay iUganda was an incredible young man named SamsoNderitu, a student at the Smei Kakungulu JewisHigh School. Samson grew up in an emerging Jewiscommunity in Kenya. The story of his community not unfamiliar in Africa, though it may not be s



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common in the United States. It was my relationshipwith Samson that led me to the next stop in my jour-ney of exploration.

KASUKU JEWISH COMMUNITY

Deep in the rolling hills of Kenyas rift valley, there isa tiny Jewish community where some 20 familieshave embraced Judaism as their own religious tradi-tion. About ten years ago, the men and women of thecommunity became disenchanted with the Messianictradition they had been following, and, after a briefinteraction with Western Jews in Nairobi, decidedthey wanted to be Jewish. Although the Nairobicommunity made it clear they werent interested insupporting or fostering new Jewish communities in

Africa, the members of the Kasuku communitypushed on nonetheless. Though they faced obstacles with the ex-pat community in Nairobi, Rabbi Ger-shom and his brother JJ Keki of the Abayudayareached out to them and have been helping the Ken-

yans build a dedicated community with knowledge ofritual and practice. It is through this relationshipthat my friend Samson came to study in the UgandanJewish high school.

After four months in Uganda, and feeling that it wastime to move on, Samson and I headed out on aThursday afternoon in order to reach his home out-side of Okalau, Kenya in time for Shabbat(Sabbath).The first 12 hours of our trip was spent on an over-night bus from Mbale, Uganda to Nairobi, the capitalof Kenya. From there, Samson and I rode for the nextfour hours crammed into a minibus overflowing with

bodies and baggage to reach a tiny trading centerabout two miles from his home. Unfortunately, wearrived in the middle of a heavy down pour, whichfilled the road with ankle deep mud and made it al-most impassable. After a considerable wait and mul-tiple negotiations, we were able to beg our way into aride with two motorcyclists who would take us up the

hill.

When we finally reached Samsons house, I knew in-stantly the long trip was worth it. We were met by hisparents. His father Joseph had dawned a beautifulhand-made kippah, (skull cap) and his mother Ruthgreeted us with the words Baruch Hashem (Blessed

be G-d), thankfully rejoicing in our safe arrival.

Because of the wet and muddy roads we were unableto go to the synagogue that night. And so we made

KabbalatShabbat(welcoming the Sabbath) at hom

as a family. In addition to Joseph and Ruth, therwere 13 children plus me in their small country housLike many of the homes I have become familiar witin Africa, Samson's house was more than modest, asembled like a quilt of sheet metal held together onframe of 2 x 4's. But this tiny carcass of a home he

within it a spiritual energy that left a smile on my facand an imprint on my soul that I can't fully describe.

KABBALAT SHABBAT: MY DESCRIPTION

In the dim light of one kerosene lantern I can see thelegant silhouette of Ruth, dressed in her very be

Shabbatclothes, lighting ourShabbatcandles. We arall gathered now in the small sitting room, huddlearound a charcoal stove for warmth. There are ontwo siddurim (prayer books) for us to share. The texis illuminated by our Shabbat lights. As our servicunfolds I feel as though I am in the midst of a trulheartfelt devotion not only to prayer but to being Jew

Accidental Tourist in Kenya, Continued from page16


Samson with his father - Photo by Ari Witkin


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ish. As I sing the Kabbalat Shab-bat, surrounded by this huge familyabsolutely full of love, my smile isuncontrollable. Then, in the most

wonderful moment of human in-

teraction, my eyes meet Joseph'sand together we acknowledge howgrateful we are for each otherspresence here, right now, and thetrue wonder ofShabbat.

I can see that much of the liturgicalstructure has been brought here bythe Kenyan high school students

who are studying in the Abayudayaschools in Uganda. Although theproficiency of ritual practice I have

become accustomed to in Ugandahas not fully come to fruition hereonly ten years after this commu-nitys inception, nevertheless, thekavanah (spiritual intention) is aspalpable as anywhere I have ever

been.

THE SYNAGOGUE

The next morning we head to the synagogue. Thestructure looks more like a sukkah (temporary dwell-ing used during the holiday ofSukkot) then a build-ing. It is made of tree limbs, scraps of tarp and athatched roof, with the words synagogue, Beit

Midrash (House of prayer) and drawings of Jewish

stars and menorahs (candelabras) on the outsidWhat I didn't realize until now is that I am only thsecond white person to ever visit this community. Thservice is all in Hebrew, and it is led by Samson's 17

year-old brother with the assistance of his fatheThere are only about 15 of us this morning, becaus

the roads are still impassable for many in the congregation. According to Joseph, there are usually abou25 additional congregants onShabbatmorning.

Though the community is certainly still in its infancyI am touched by their devotion and commitmenMany of the things we take for granted are not presenhere. The congregation does not have a Torah (han

written scroll containing the five books of Moses), yethe reverence and affection they show for the singlchumash (Pentateuch) they do have is overwhelmin

After the service, we sit and talk for hours as eacmember asks more and more in-depth question

about liturgy, theology and the basics of Jewish practice.

Though some members of the community have offcially converted before a Beit Din (Jewish Court) iUganda, most of the community has not. And yet thknowledge and commitment to learning by memberof this community is deep and sincere. What I finmost striking and wonderful is the three requests the

Inside the synagogue - Photo by Ari Witkin



A woman outside the synagogue - Photo by Ari Witkin


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1

ask of me. Not one is formoney. Can you leave us

your copy of the tanach? (Ofcourse, I did). Can you sendus a Jewish calendar? (I will.)

And, most importantly, can you help us find a teacherwho will come here and teachus to learn Hebrew and im-prove our Jewish literacy? (I

will try.)

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A JEW IN KENYA?

Though I know many in the broader Jewish community would not consider thesepeople part of Klal Yisrael(literally the entire house ofIsrael), I do. Two small en-counters affirm my beliefthat they are. The commu-nitys founder is an elderlyman named Avraham whosaid to me, "Ten years ago Ihad a dream that one day we

would be members of the


Ari with Joseph, Ruth and some of their children

children of Israel and today there is a Jew in my housecelebrating the Shabbatwith me and this is the most

wonderful thing I could ever imagine." As I benched(said the blessing after meal) with this man at thecompletion of our meal, I couldnt help but be awareof my own expanding sense ofKlal Yisraeland all thatit means for me as an individual, and for us as acommunity, to be apart of such an special covenant.

And then there is Ruth, Samson's mother, who dis-played not only her devotion to, but her knowledge of

Judaism when she said "I chose the name Ruth be-cause of her story. I was not born a Jew, but I love thispeople and this Torah. Quoting from MegilatRuth(scroll of Ruth), she said, where you go I will go,

where you die I will die, your people shall be my peo-ple, and your God my God?

For those who don't know the story of Ruth, she is forme the most central figure in understanding thepower and importance of building bridges with our

African communities. Ruth is a Moabite, a widow,

who fights for her place in the community of Israemuch like the Jews in Kenya are doing. And througher perseverance and her love she becomes the matrarch of the Messianic lineage through King DaviFor the Kasuku Jews in Kenya, her story is their storand in just two short days I discover what the poweof faith and love really look like.

________________

Ari Witkin is a 24-year-old graduate of Goucher CollegClass of 2009. He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesot

When Ari is not off exploring, he lives in Baltimore, Marland, where he is an interfaith organizer who works witreligious communities through social engagement.

For additional information on the Kenya Jewish commnity, see http://kulanu.org/kenya and "Kenyan Branch" bJacob Silverman, 2011 (from tabletmag.com)


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She was also a beautiful woman petite, with a delicate buildand high check bones. She still could turn heads into her80s. She loved to dress up. She loved to wear hats and

boasted of the bargains she found in local thrift shops. Sheloved nature and the trees that she saw from the window ofher apartment. She said she never missed the monied life ofher childhood. She was just happy to be alive.

As I sat by her bedside during the last weeks of her life, wespoke about many things. She told me that she felt she hadlived a positive life in response to the tragic circumstances ofher early years. She had no regrets. However, during thelast year or so, the positive mind-set that she had nurturedduring her post Holocaust life, became a bit shaky. She ad-

Two Worlds Meet in Uganda Continued from page 15

mitted to experiencingdark thoughts and recur-ring memories. She re-

peated the story of afriend who returned to her village and waited at thetrain station every dayhoping someone in herfamily would returnhome. No one ever did.Like many Holocaust sur-

vivors, Ruth had pushedthe painful experience ofher past into the deepestrecesses of her mind, onlyto see them resurface to-

ward the end of her life.

When Ruth died, herdaughter Nina and I spokeabout a fitting memorialfor her mother. Nina de-cided that the Abayudayacommunity, persecuted asJews by dictator Idi Amin,seemed a perfect fit. Thechoice of gift was for the

village of Namutumba, the poorest of the Abayudayasseven villages. Its extreme poverty was due to theconfiscation of their land by Amin during his dictator-ship and anti-Jewish policy.

When Kulanu Ugandan coordinator Laura Wetzlerdeveloped a grain mill project with leaders of the Na-mutumba community in hopes of helping them riseout of poverty, Kulanu reached out to donors to payfor this development project. The South PeninsulaJewish Community Teen Foundation of the Jewish

Community Endowment Fund and Ruths daughteNina Horak, answered the call.

So this January, 2012, almost two years to the daywill be traveling to Uganda again. This time one of thhighlights of my visit will be the dedication of thgrain mill in Namutumba and the affixing of a plaquin honor of the California teen philanthropic projeand in memory of my friend Ruth Horak.

Abayudaya children -Photos by Judy Manelis


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Congregation Ahavas Torah de Puerto Rico,founded by Rabbi Larry Goldstein in 2010, nowhas a home of its own. Rabbi Goldstein, originallyfrom New York City, has lived in Puerto Rico since

2008 and has made it his personal mission toreach out to members of Puerto Ricos Jewishcommunity (2,000) as well as to hidden Jews,descendants of Crypto-Jews forcibly convertedduring the Spanish Inquisition. The synagoguealso provides a home base for those who are seri-ously contemplating conversion.

Rabbi Goldstein offers an ongoing Mishnah classand has plans to offer a Hebrew class beginning onSunday, November 20, at 5:00 P.M. Services areheld on major holidays and every Sabbath. Friday

services begin at candle-lighting time; Saturdayservices at 9:00 am and 30 minutes prior to can-dle-lighting. The address of the congregation isCalle 15 B-7, Jardines de Caparra, Bayamon,Puerto Rico 00959. The building is only a few

blocks from Carretera (Highway) 2 and the Jardi-nes station on the train. The site is in suburbanSan Juan.

________________________

For more information, please contact Rabbi Goldsteinat (347) 583-7183. Drop-ins are welcome.

Growing Community inPuerto Rico

Gi f t s and Bu l k Or d e r s

from kulanuboutique.com

Buy Kulanu products from around the world:

As gifts for friends and family

To add diversity to your Judaica shop,

synagogue craft fair or school market night

For Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrations and other

special occasions For your school or social action committee fund

raising projects

You can re-sell these special products and

donate the profits to Kulanu, or keep the profits

to support your organization.

The Kulanu Boutique now has bulk rates availableonline! Visit www.kulanuboutique.com for these

great deals and more!

From Ethiopia: check out our beautifully wovenmulticolored baskets and scarves.

Proceeds from the sale of these unique products benefit the communities that made them and Kulanus work with isolated and emerging Jewishcommunities around the world.

Rabbi Lawrence Goldstein with hisgranddaughter Chaya


22/24

22

THANK YOU, DONORS

The donations below were entered between May andOctober, 2011. Please let us know if we have missedany donations, and well list them in the next news-letter.

$10,000-14,999 Anonymous, South Peninsula Jewish CommunityTeen Foundation of the Jewish Community Endow-ment Fund

$7,500-$9,999Estelle Friedman Gervis Charitable Foundation, Nina

C. Horak

$5,000-$7,500L Weider, The Good People Fund

$2,000-$4,999Marie-Chantal Klausner, Karen & Andrew Thorburn

$1,000-$1,999Congregation Shaarai Shomayim (Lancaster, PA),Judy Featherman & Lionel M. Lieberman, Dr. EvelynHutt, Howard Metzenberg, Aron & Karen Primack,

Temple Beth-El (Ithaca, NY)

$500-$599Robin & Victor Capsuoto, David & Jane Cohen, Hope& Matthew Feldman, Jewish Community Federation(San Francisco), National Center to Encourage Juda-ism, Alice Rosenthal, The Associated: Jewish Com-munity Federation of Baltimore, Temple Emanu-El(Birmingham, AL)

$125-$499Joyce L. Alpiner, Aspen Jewish Congregation (Aspen,

CO), Faith Avner, Gloria B Berman, CongregationRodef Shalom (Denver, CO), Aspen Jewish Congrega-tion (Aspen, CO), Sharon R & Rabbi Scott L Glass,

Allen J. Greenberger, Lee Hendler, Hillel Foundation,Ithaca College (Ithaca, NY), United Synagogue of Ho-

boken (Hoboken, NJ), Jack & Pauline Freeman Foun-dation, Melvin Jacobson, Krieger Schechter DaySchool(Baltimore, MD), Adam Laver, Gerald M.Lazar, David Lurch, Betsey W. Roberts, Roberta &Lloyd Roos, Rabbi Seymour J Rosenbloom, Richard G

Rosenthal, Edward & Rae Samiljan, The Sarick Fam

ily, Mitchell L. Schwartz, Patti Sheinman, Bat-ShevaSlavin, Tiffany Steinwert, Temple Aliyah(Woodland Hills, CA), Temple Isaiah (LexingtonMA), Ruth Mason & Robert Trachtenberg, Jack &Diane Zeller,

$100-$124Beth Israel Congregation Religious School (OwingMills, Md), Lynda S Brodsky, Hillcrest Jewish Cente(Flushing, NY), Lois & Harvey Gelb, Donna LeHalper, Laurence Holzman, Vivian Lieber, Clare Morris, Dr. Zev Nathan, Irene & Joshua Orleansky, Hasha

Musha Perman, Diane Brenner & Jan Roby, Woodstock Area Jewish Community - Congregation ShiShalom (Woodstock, VT), Shomrei Torah Synagogue(West Hills, CA)

___________________________________

DONATIONS IN HONOR OF(Donors names in italics)

Carole & Yehouda Goldhar on their birthdays-MyraSchiff

Catherine Skidmore Dennis H. WilenDrs. Linda & Alan Lippett Gloria Frisch

Yafa Neshama Daniel on her Bat Mitzvah BarbaraH. Vinick

Helga Wong Dennis H. WilenDrs. Diane & Jack Zeller David Lurch

Judy Manelis Sheree BolokerMarilyn Barron Wellesley College Hillel

David Uhlfelders on his Bar Mitzvah Anonymousdonors from Aspen Jewish Congregation, Dr.

Rebecca Faunce, Lacy Fyrwald, Faith & JonathanLeibell, Georgina Levey, Michele Lueck, Susan MaagMichael Sailor, The Sarick Family, Janice Schwarz,

Karen Ann Sherriff , Karen & Andrew ThorburnKaren Shih Patti Sheinman

Neill Silverman Patti Sheinman



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2

DONATIONS IN MEMORY OF(Donors names in italics)

Ruth Fredman Cernea Fredman-Philipson Family

Dora Bloch and Danny Bloch Lois & Harvey GelbJerome M. Ginsberg Carol E. GinsbergBen & Rose Ackerman & Joe & Renee Bigio Ronald

Ackerman & Cleo A. GormanNecha Blaustein, Auschwitz Rolf & Mira Grayson

Bea & Sam Halper -Donna Lee HalperWendy Jacobson Melvin Jacobson

Myra Kraft Patti Sheinman & Daniel KrentzmanLoretta Yassinger, Archie Vine, Harold Levy

Francine LevyNeill Silvermans father-in-law-Patti Sheinman

Sumner Z. Kaplan Patti SheinmanFather of Karen Shih -Patti Sheinman

Gloria Berman-Jean Martens, Tom Berman & RabbiMarjorie Berman

KULANU BOARD OF DIRECTORSAND OFFICERS

President

Harriet Bograd

Vice PresidentJudith Manelis

SecretaryBarbara Vinick

TreasurerHarriet Bograd

President EmeritusJack Zeller

Other Board MembersMatthew Feldman, Rabbi Stephen Leon

Peter Persoff, Andria SpindelJacob Steinberg, Rabbi Bonita Sussman

Honorary Board MembersAron Primack, Karen Primack

Kulanu (All of Us) is a tax-exempt organizationof Jews of varied backgrounds and practices which works with isolated and emerging Jewiscommunities around the globe, supporting themthrough networking, education, economic development projects, volunteer assignments, research, and publications about their histories andtraditions.

This newsletter is published by :Kulanu 165 West End Avenue, 3R New York, NY

10023

Report changes of address to:[email protected]

For further information, see:http://www.kulanu.org/about-kulanu

Newsletter Editor: Judith ManelisLayout and Photography Editor: Serge Etele

Donors,Continued from page 22

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

All text, photographs and layout designs appearingin this newsletter are 2011 by Kulanu and/or itsparticipating writers and photographers, and maynot be reproduced, either electronically or in print,for any commercial purposes, without written per-mission from Kulanu or participating copyrightholders. Readers are welcome to forward the elec-tronic version of the newsletter to other interestedindividuals or organizations for personal, non-profitcharitable or educational purposes only, providedall photo credits, authorship of articles and Kulanuidentifications are preserved.


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US Postage Paid

Buffalo NY

Permit No. 558

Kulanu

Supporting Isolated andEmerging Jewish

Communities around theGlobe

165 West End Avenue, 3R

New York, NY 10023

(212) 877-8082

Address Service

Requested

Kulanu volunteers Jack Zeller and Sandy Leeder of Israel recently returned from a ten-day visit to Zimbabwe, October 31-Novmeber 10, where they visited the Lemba commu-nity of Mapakomhere to launch the building of a synagogue. This photo was taken at a

Shabbatservice on November 5 at the Mapakomhere high school.

From the left,Jack Zeller; Daniel Zifungo, Chairman of the Great Zimbabwe Syna-gogue (GZS); William Mhuka, Treasurer, GZS; Dr. Rabson Wuriga, President. stand-

ing, and Chief Tadzembwa, seated to the right by the windows wearing a tallit.An arti-cle about the visit will appear in the Winter, 2011 issue of the Kulanu News.

Zimbabwe

Documents

Ahavas Torah