OLD SAN JUAN page 67
Caribbean's most interesting
shopping areas, and the shops
carry a range of wares, from fine
handicrafts to Gucci handbags
to souvenirs.
One of the best collections of
native crafts is at Puerto Rican
Arts and Crafts at 204 Calle de
Fortaleza, where the varied se-
lections included handcrafted
jewelry, pottery, prints, ceram-
ic tiles and wood carved figures.
But my main shopping focus
was the Jewish-owned stores in
Old San Juan, where on an ear-
lier visit I had been surprised
to discover Judaica in this de-
cidedly Spanish setting.
First, I visited El Gallo de
Oro, also on Calle de Fortaleza,
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A main shopping
focus was
Jewish-owned
stores in
Old San Juan
Judaica in a
Spanish
setting.
a jewelry and gift shop where
the sign outside read, "Jewelry
and Gifts from All Over the
World."
Tnside, the shelves were in-
deed stocked with gifts from far-
flung places: India, Hong Kong,
Italy, Spain and Israel. A whole
shelf was filled with Israel-
made gifts, including a challah
plate, Shalom plaques of native
olive wood and brass, seder
plates and a sculpted Torah
scroll.
There were also mezzuzot,
Stars of David, menorat and
gold chai chains.
"We get many Jewish
tourists and they are surprised
and pleased to find so many
things from Israel here," said
the personable owner, Lilly
Neuman, who greeted me
warmly on my return visit.
A native of Tripoli, she moved
to Tel Aviv and later settled in
San Juan with her husband
San Neuman, who owns an-
other Old San Juan shop, Swiss
Imports on San Francisco
street.
Leaving Ms. Neuman's shop,
I went across the street to
Lindissima, a store that carries
elegant designer clothes for
women. It's owned and run by
Cuban-born Diana Berezdivan,
her daughter Vivian, and an-
other partner Esther Touch-
mann. All are active in San
Juan's Jewish community; and
they are also a strong business
presence: The women operate
a total of four stores throughout
the island.
Walking further along Fort-
aleza, past boutiques and crafts
stores, I next visited Joyeria
Demel at #261, a store I'd
missed on an earlier trip.
Inside, Solomon Demel had
a whole trayful of gleaming 14-
karat gold Stars of David and
mezzuzot to show me. Some
were made in Israel; others are
from Puerto Rico.
"Many Christians buy them,"
he said. "They believe it's good
luck."
Mr. Demel himself had the
good luck to settle on this sun-
ny Caribbean island, where he
and his brother Chaim started
their jewelry store 34 years ago.
Originally from Poland, they
later emigrated to Cuba and
then to Puerto Rico.
A longtime member of the
city's Conservative congrega-
tion, Solomon Semel enjoys life
in Puerto Rico — and, even af-
ter 30 years in the same loca-
tion, he still appreciates the
special ambiance of Old San
Juan. "It's a good place to meet
people from all over the world,"
said Mr. Demel, getting ready
to help some Canadian tourists.
"And it looks almost like
Jerusalem."
Whether it's compared to
Jerusalem or to Old Spain, the
charms of Old San Juan are be-
guiling to tourists, shopowners,
and anyone else who explores
this unique city within a city. ❑
Campaign Unit
Visits Museum
Members of the Allied Jewish
Campaign's Quarter Century
Club are invited to join a be-
hind-the-scenes tour of the U.S.
Holocaust Museum in Wash-
ington, D.C. June 29. Mark Tal-
isman, who oversaw the
successful opening of the facil-
ity, will guide the group during
the visit.
The one-day trip will leave
Detroit at 8 a.m. on a charter
flight, returning that evening.
A full day of activity will be
planned with sightseeing and
speakers.
Founding vice chairman of
the United States Holocaust
Memorial Council, Mr. Talis-
man also is the founding direc-
tor of the Washington Office of
the Council of Jewish Federa-
tions, which coordinated all
legislative activities relating to
the emigration of Soviet Jews
to Israel.
The Quarter Century Club
consists of nearly 1,800 people
who have supported the Allied
Jewish Campaign for a mini-
mum of 25 years.
Reservations must be re-
ceived by March 15. For
information, contact Sharon
Alterman, 642-4260.