•■ •

family, settled here in 1941 and
bequeathed money to maintain the
graveyard.
Seligman, who arrived 40 years ago
on a professional case, said, "I liked
the climate so much I stayed." He has
served as honorary Consul General of
Israel to the Bahamas and has con-
ducted a few weddings and funerals.
Over the years, three ambassadors
posted to the Bahamas were Jewish.
And the current ambassador to Mexico
from Israel, Moishe Melamed, is also
the non-resident Ambassador to the
Bahamas.
Today the Jewish community of
about 50 or 60 is primarily composed
of retirees, business people and some
snowbirds. "We're getting some new
Jewish winter residents from England,
the U.S. and Canada," Seligman said.
The Jewish developer Sol Kerzner,
from South Africa, often arrives to
oversee his complex Atlantis on Par-
adise Island, which is undergoing an
expansion that will triple its property
and aquarium.
Seligman claims that the Bahamas
Jewish Congregation in Nassau, estab-
lished about a year ago, numbers
about 25 individuals; its president is
Harold Hoffer, of Hoffer's Depart-
ment Store on Bay Street.
Seligman and his wife, though,
belong to the Luis de Torres Syna-
gogue near Freeport, Grand Bahama
Island, the other Big Red Boat stop.
Built in 1974 and named after Colum-
bus's interpreter, it houses a congrega-
tion that began earlier. Its namesake,
Luis de Torres, was the first white per-
son to set foot on American soil in
October 1492 when Christopher
Columbus's crew spotted the Americas
thinking it was India. The Marrano
interpreter set foot on San Salvador,
one of the Bahamian islands — cur-
rently still a flat, sleepy island. It's
believed he was baptized or converted
before joining the expedition.
The modern, white stucco building
harbors a congregation of about 45
resident individuals plus 30 or 40 win-,
ter residents, Seligman said. The Jews
today are primarily U.S. and Canadian
retirees, although some on the island
were involved in construction projects.
The congregation's president is Geoff
Hurst and its vice president Don
Nyveen.
Debarking the ship brings passen-
gers to Port Lucaya, a large shopping
area, but other sights beckon out of
town. The Botanical Garden of the
Groves Museum boasts 12 acres of
lush gardens and man-made waterfalls.

In Honor of the
Triumph that is
Chanukah and
the Values that
the Holiday
represents

I I 1,1j 1 I

'4 1 J

THE DETROIT MEDICAL CENTER,
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS, MEDMAX

AND
JEWISH FEDERATION APARTMENTS, INC.
ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR...

The Fifth
Annual
Installation
into the

SENIOR
0 ADULT
JEWISH
HALL
OF FAME

The Celebration will take place on Sunday, April 26, 1998
at the Lillian and Samuel Hechtman Federation Apartments
in West Bloomfield

The annual "Eight Over Eighty" event recognizes metro Detroit seniors who are eighty years or older
for their contributions in the Jewish and/or community at large.

To request a nomination form:

Call (248) 661-0123, Ext. 231 or,
Fax your request along with your name, address and phone number to
"Eight Over Eighty" at (248) 661-4630.
Completed nomination forms must be postmarked by January 9, 1998.

Sponsors

/Th /Mr
• •

include:

dFA

Wayne State University

AuTOMATIC APARTMENT
LAUNDRIES.

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

.TN

The Detroit
Medical Center

SERVICES

Sace t967

MORRISON HEALTH CARE, INC.

Food and Nutrition Specialists

Jewish Federation Apartments also thanks all the other organizations who have contributed to the success of"Eigbt Over Eighty"

ARNOLD

Discount Prices and the Largest Selection Of

Top Designer Fragrances

LINCOLN-MERCURY-MAZDA

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GIL PRATT

Leasing Manager

Your West Side Specialist
(810) 445-6000

Gratiot Ave. at 12 Mile Road
Roseville, MI 48066
Fax (810) 771-7340

LEVIN BEAUTY

WEST BLOOMFIELD
6716 Orchard Lake Road
(248) 851-7323

OAK PARK
24695 Coolidge Highway
(248) 547-9669

1/2
1998

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