JANUARY 6 • 2022 | 25

C

ongregation Beth 
Ahm in West 
Bloomfield will host 
a Zoom series highlighting 
global Jewish communities 
on four Sundays in February 
from 7-8:15 p.m. Jewish travel 
guide specialists will present 
the history, cultural back-
ground and status of import-
ant sites central to Jewish 
communities in China, India, 
Spain and the Netherlands. 
On Sunday, Feb. 6, Israeli 
Eliaz Reuben-Dandeker, a 
descendant of leaders of the 
Bene-Israel community in 
India, will outline his com-
munity’s ancient story as 
well as Jewish involvement 
in 20th- century politics 
and culture like Bollywood. 
The evening also features 
American artist Siona 
Benjamin, originally from 
Mumbai, who identifies as a 
Bene Israel Jew. 
Jewish life in China, on Feb. 

13, will explore three historic 
communities: Kaifeng, Harbin 
and Shanghai. Argentinian 
Pablo Faivel Levinton is 
studying in China and runs 
the YouTube channel “
A Mole 
Around the World,” dedicated 
to showcasing faraway Jewish 
communities. Also, Hebrew 
Union College’s archivist 
Jordan Finkin will speak about 
a recovered Kaifeng Haggadah 
and other ancient manuscripts 
in the college’s collection.
On Feb. 20, visit the Spanish 
island of Majorca, known for 
its beach resorts. However, for 
centuries, few discussed one of 
its biggest secrets: The Chuetas 
or Crypto-Jews, in response 
to the Inquisition, publicly 
professed Catholicism while 
privately practicing Judaism. 
Speaker Dani Rot-stein 
moved to Majorca in 2014 and 
became fascinated with their 
legacy. Participants will also 
learn about Ladino music and 

the songs transmitted from 
mothers to daughters through 
music by Israeli musician/
singer Noam Vazanaon. 
The series will end with 
a presentation on Jewish 
Netherlands on Feb. 27. When 
people think of Amsterdam, 
they think about Ann Frank, 
but there is so much more. 
Nachshon Rodrigues Pereira 
is a community leader, cantor 
of the Bendigamos commu-
nity and works for the Jewish 
Seminary of Amsterdam. 
Participants are urged to read 
House on Endless Waters, a novel 
by Israeli Emuna Elon. A brief 
book discussion will conclude 
the program. 
Registration for this series is 
free and open to the commu-
nity at www.cbahm.org/event/
jewishcommunitiesaroundthe-
world. This series is under-
written by Congregation Beth 
Ahm’s Sisterhood. 

Beth Ahm to host free virtual program.

JN STAFF

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