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, Monogram presents the first 36" trimless, built-in, cabinet-friendly refrigerator Our new refrigerator can accept a 3/4" decorative panel on the door with no trim or overlapping edges. Custom door handles can be mounted on the panel for a totally integrated appearance. The shallow case makes the entire unit flush and cabinet friendly. Call the GE Answer Center® service at 800.626.2000 for a brochure. Monogram. SPECIALTIES SHOWROOM Kitchen & Bath - Appliances and Plumbing Fixtures 2800 West Eleven Mile, Berkley, MI (Between Greenfield/Coolidge) (81 Division of Management Specialties Corp. 0) 548-5656 us "oot Crown Travel 968-8600 CID Lu AMOY .111111111•41•1•11111i SCHECHTER'S U) rh KOSHER HOTEL G LATT cD CC L1.1 CD w 68 YOUR HOME IN MIAMI BEA CH ON THE BOARDWALK, ENTIRE OCEANFRONT BLOCK MARCH SPECIAL LLJ I— Department of Transportation INCLUDES: * DAILY ACTIVITIES * NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT * DAILY SHIURIM * COLOR TV * AIR CONDITIONING * FREE PARKING * HEATED POOL * CATER TO ALL DIETS * HEATED WHIRL POOL * GOURMET KOSHER MEALS STAY 7 NIGHTS PAY FOR 6 1 DAY FREE DRUNK DRIVING DOESN'T JUST KILL DRUNK DRIVERS. BEG. FEB. 23 Nicholas Esposito, killed Oct. 18, 1989 at 8:95pm. RESERVE NOW FOR PASSOVER Next time your friend insists on driving drunk, do whatever it takes to stop him. Because if he kills innocent people, how will you live with yourself? Phone Toll Free 1-800-327-8165 WHY SETTLE FOR AN IMITATION? SCHECHTER'S CARIBBEAN - THE ORIGINAL, THE BEST FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS DRIVE DRUNK. 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.