In early January, 2009 Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, Senior Rabbi at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, (Elkins Park) led a congregational trip, a Religious Mission, to visit Jewish communities in Cuba. The trip was organized with the assistance of Miami-based, Jewish Solidarity, the leading charitable organization providing support to Cuba’s Jews. Approval of the US Treasury Department had to be secured in order for the trip to happen.

The purpose of the Mission was to deliver humanitarian aid to members of specific Jewish synagogues in Havana and outlying communities. In addition, it was important to connect personally with their members in order to encourage their attempts to rebuild Jewish life in Cuba. While organized Judaism is tolerated, there are severe limitations, imposed by the government on the free expression of religious and cultural Judaism.

We visited four synagogues, one prayer center, and two Jewish cemeteries. We also attended a Friday eve Shabbat service and dinner. This small exhibition is a visual memoir of that mission. The photographs were taken by the participants, primarily, Stan Singer. Shelly Rosen, Irv Matusow, Dick Weiss and others also contributed. Thanks also to Ruth Singer, Mike and Caryl Levin and Elaine Abel for their written reminiscences. Over the course of the next three months certain photos will be changed to help you, the viewers, understand the rich, visual tapestry that is life in Cuba today. While many of the photos show our first hand experiences of Jewish life in Cuba, we also experienced Cuba as tourists would in any country anywhere including shopping, museums, restaurants, tourist sights, street life, and even Cuba’s famous, historic nightclub, the Tropicana.

Ola!

Rita Rosen Poley

Temple Judea Museum

Curator/Director