FEBRUARY 1 • 2024 | 21

ment policies and now a lack
of agricultural supplies. The
Communist regime, which
discourages political dissent,
allows limited private enterprise
— mainly small family-owned
businesses.
On the positive side,
Levinson says, “The people of
Cuba are very respectful of the
Jewish community. There is
no discrimination or antisem-
itism.
”
According to Steve Boudin of
West Bloomfield, members of
the Cuban Jewish community
were “nervous about talking to
us,
” and he thought an official
talk to the group was a “pro-
paganda speech.
” Forman said
that some Cubans had “some
animosity toward Americans
and the embargo.
”
Havana’s Ashkenazi and
Sephardic Jews hold joint ser-
vices at Beth Shalom, adjacent
to the Patronato, the Jewish
community center which
has a social hall, library and
other facilities. According to

Levinson, Adath Israel, the
Orthodox congregation, has
separate services. Visiting rab-
bis come from Costa Rica and
Venezuela, says Levinson.
Prior to the American group’s
arrival, the synagogue asked
for decorations and candy for
Chanukah. The group brought
these items as well as some
clothes, over-the-counter med-
ications for the synagogue’s free
pharmacy and donated funds.
Levinson says that medication
is in short supply.
The community has men’s,
women’s and seniors’ clubs and
celebrates all Jewish holidays.
Free Shabbat dinners are held
twice a month since the end
of the pandemic, funded by
a Detroit couple who want to
remain anonymous.
Levinson said that four other
cities in the interior have small
Jewish communities, which she
visited prior to the pandemic.
The Detroit-Chicago group vis-
ited her family’s former Havana
home where the current resi-
dents still have one of her fami-
ly photos on the wall.
While some Cuban Jews
seek to emigrate for economic
reasons, others are content to
remain. Boudin said that many
Cuban Jews are old and, for
them, “it’s home.
”
“It’s really a beautiful com-
munity — very caring for each
other. They were very touched
by our visit,
” Levinson says.

continued from page 19
Ashkenazi synagogue

RICK STOLER

RICK STOLER

Sephardic synagogue

5829 Maple Rd. Ste. 129
West Bloomf
eld, MI 48322

248.757.2503

www.maplepharmacyrx.com

FREE
DELIVERY

MAKE MAPLE PHARMACY… YOUR PHARMACY!
MAKE MAPLE PHARMACY… YOUR PHARMACY!

OUR MISSION IS TO BRING SERVICE BACK TO
PHARMACY FOR A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER YOU!!

10%
SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT
Not Valid on Prescriptions

Maple Pharmacy offers:

• Low Price Medications

• 90 Day Supplies

• Durable Medical Equipment

• Diabetic Supplies

• Natural Supplements, Vitamins
and Nutraceuticals

• Compounding bio-identical hormones,
pain creams & other medications

• Blister Packaging Available

MAPLE
MAPLE PHARMACY
PHARMACY

IMMUNIZATIONS
AND SHINGLES
SHOTS AVAILABLE

www.maplepharmacyrx.com

Now offering
the COVID
Vaccine!

Contact Raymond Jenkins
33700 Woodward Ave. • Between 14 Mile & Adams • Birmingham, MI

If you are not wearing it… sell it!...
or BORROW on it!

You can’t enjoy jewelry if it’s sitting in your safe
deposit box. Sell or borrow on it for immediate cash.
We deal in jewelry, watches, diamonds and coins.

A Service to
Private Owners,
Banks & Estates

33700 Woodward Ave. • Between 14 Mile & Adams • Birmingham, MI

248-644-8565

Coins & Jewelry

If you are not wearing it… sell it!...

We deal in jewelry, watches, diamonds and coins.