Ariel Goldstein invites us to examine, with an analytical and descriptive eye, the reality of the Cuban Jewish community in the 21st century. Following the path of history, he takes us on journeys with a Jewish identity, connecting the past with the present in a bridge that continues the story of the Jewish people.
In this interview, we share, as a preamble, a glimpse of what will be an exciting exhibition that he will present next Thursday, March 6th, at Maimónides, regarding the genesis of the Jewish community in Cuba and the current state of a community that is rising from the ashes.
The composition and characteristics of the Cuban Jewish community changed with different waves of migration and the unfolding of political events following the 1959 revolution.
The origins of the Jewish presence in Cuba date back to the 19th century with the Sephardic immigration and the subsequent arrival of the Ashkenazi Jews, who initially settled in Havana and later spread to the south, central, and eastern regions of the island, in the provinces of Santiago, Guantánamo, Camaguey, and Santa Clara.
Ariel, is it possible to know how many Jews were in Cuba before the revolution?
Until 1959, there were estimates indicating that the Jewish community had around 15,000 members. However, with the outbreak of the revolution, within two years, 90% of the Jewish community found it necessary to emigrate in search of new horizons. From that point on, the social and religious reality, which had previously been open and free, became restricted, and naturally, the process of religious and cultural assimilation began to occur gradually.
What happened to the Jewish community that remained in Cuba after the revolution?
The Jews who remained were mostly elderly individuals, with limited resources or without family abroad to turn to. Cuban Jews did not experience anti-Semitism in the way we unfortunately have suffered and continue to endure, but all forms of religious expression were not well received.
According to the information you have, since when has there been a resurgence of Jewish life in Cuba, and in what way?
Starting in 1992, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was a certain opening. The later visits of Pope John Paul II and King Juan Carlos of Spain further accelerated this process. The support from the Canadian Jewish Congress and the American Joint Distribution Committee (Joint) was crucial for this to happen.
Although assimilation was significant, today some people want to connect with Judaism, either because they had a grandfather who was Jewish or through marriage to Jews. Being Jewish is convenient because the community receives support from abroad.
Are there any rabbis in some of the provinces?
Not on a permanent basis. There are rabbis affiliated with the Latin American Conservative movement who travel several times a year to perform conversions, bar mitzvahs, and weddings. On the island, there is no access to kosher food, and conversions – both for men and women – are done in open water because there is no mikveh. The synagogue in Havana offers religious services every Friday, and for Passover seders, they have kosher products sent by the World Jewish Congress every year.
And concerning Jewish education, what resources are available and how is it present among the community members?
The Joint sends a couple of "shlichim" (emissaries) from Argentina every two years. In Havana, there is a Sunday Jewish school for children. They also take care of sending books and study materials because general Internet access is restricted for the population.
If I were to ask you about how you see the future of the Jewish community in Cuba; what would you tell us?
In Havana and the province of Guantánamo, the community is strong because there are many young people, but in the other provinces, the communities are getting older, and it is more challenging to envision a future. What I do see everywhere is a great tenacity to keep the flame of Judaism alive.
You had an incredible story during one of your recent trips to Cuba about the rediscovery of the grave of one of the founders of the Jewish community in Guantánamo. What can you tell us about this life story?
I have a lot to tell, and words would fall short to describe everything I experienced with that story. What I can tell you is that it felt like bringing the memory of a man who spent more than 80 years forgotten back to life. The rest I will share with the film I will present at the conference because, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Ariel Goldstein along with Roberto Mizrahi - President of the Jewish Community of Gutánamo.
Years later, Roberto made aliá to Israel.
Published for: Uruguayan Hebrew Weekly
Date: 2016
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