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Cynthia Erivo & the cast of The Color Purple on Broadway. Photos by Matthew Murphy, 2016

“A MIRACLE on Broadway.”

—The New York Times

continued from page 110

Fisher Theatre • Nov. 7–12

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112

September 14 • 2017

jn

Rabbis also come often from Miami
but both are thriving, nevertheless.
and New York. David estimates that
While a growing number of Jewish
there are 1,200 Jews in Cuba today,
families, especially young people,
mostly in Havana. Though the
make aliyah to Israel, the overall
ABOVE: The size of the community- in-flux
Cuban definition of Jewishness
is different, with supposedly only Holocaust stays somewhat the same: More
exhibit at
20-25 full-blooded Jews in the
and more people stop by the
the Centro
country (born from both Jewish
synagogue office to find out
Sefaradi.
parents), the rest are those who
what steps they need to take to
have some Jewish ancestry or,
become Jews by choice or to talk
like Marlen Prinstein, become Jews
about their Jewish ancestry.
by choice. Most came from a minimal
Are they attracted by a promise of a
knowledge of Judaism, but all are com- nice meal few times a week in a coun-
mitted to intense study and are dedi-
try of empty stores, access to medicine
cated to building a vibrant Jewish life.
when even an aspirin is a rarity, and
David suggested that we return
usage of computers in a city with few
to the lobby and look at the photo-
internet spots? Perhaps. But mostly
graphs of Fidel Castro at Beth Shalom. what brings people to Beth Shalom
There are numerous photographs
is probably an idea of belonging to
of the Cuban leader who visited the
something very important, something
Patronato after then-vice president of
bigger than separate individuals: a
the Jewish community, Adela Dworin,
robust community, which is more sec-
invited him.
ular than religious, with a proud sense
“Why you never visited our syna-
of identity and strong leaders.
gogue?” she once asked during a
By the first decade of the 21st centu-
meeting with government officials.
ry, the Jewish community of Cuba was
“You never asked me,” joked Fidel.
not only reborn but has completely
So in 1998, Castro communicated to
reinvented itself, turning strong, proud
the world his support of the religious
and vibrant. The Jews of Cuba, the
revival by attending Beth Shalom dur-
tiniest of the tiny minorities on that
ing what he called a “revolutionary
island, have become what they were
holiday” of Chanukah and lighting a
never before in the previous centuries
menorah.
— a single unified entity.
We also visited Centro Hebreo
They also unintentionally turned
Sefaradi that has a small exhibit dedi-
into a key attraction in Havana for
cated to the Holocaust. This spacious
numerous Jewish tours, a Caribbean
building also doubles as a cultural
celebrity. There is hardly a synagogue
and performing arts center. Centro
or a Jewish federation in the U.S. that
Hebreo is the only remaining institu-
does not organize Jewish heritage-
tion preserving the legacy of Cuban
themed travel to Cuba on an almost
Sephardim. Their old synagogue,
annual basis.
Chevet Ahim, has been closed for
The Jews of Cuba, having survived
years and is in ruins.
the Inquisition and Castro’s revolution,
The third synagogue of Havana is a
are now a powerful community, not in
small Orthodox shul, Adath Israel, that numbers, but in spirit, and optimistic
maintains the only mikvah in Cuba
about its future. •
and supervises the kosher butcher
Paperback and Kindle editions of Irene’s lat-
shop. Neither Centro Hebreo nor
est book The Dao of Being Jewish and Other
Adath Israel receives the same atten-
Stories are available at Amazon.
tion from the touring Jewish groups,