TEACHING HEBREW IN CUBA and learning lessons of Jewish survival
Ana Turkienicz
June-July 2016
“To those to whom much is given, much is expected.” John F. Kennedy
I have been given quite a lot in this world. Much is expected from me.
Finding my calling
Seeking to learn lessons of survival overseas How has this community maintained their Judaism against all odds?
Maybe in Cuba I can find some answers to challenges we face in Jewish Education here in the US?
“It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task,
And neither are you free to absolve yourself from it.”
My grant goals: ● To volunteer my knowledge & skills
● To empower others with access to Hebrew ● To learn about Jewish survival
(Pirkei Avot - Ethics of the Fathers, 2:16.)
I once had a dream...
Creating bridges between RSS and the Jews in Cuba
RSS Students write letters to the Jewish students in Cuba.
“Hola, Hella, habla Ana, soy maestra de Hebreo en la Escuela Rodeph Sholom en Nueva York…”
“Seguimos planeando…”
Get a room! Plan your trip!
I got my ticket!
“Mitzvah goreret mitzvah” one good deed makes another one happen... Two suitcases full with donations of medical supplies….
One suitcase with: 100 Hebrew books and Hebrew learning supplies!
And one carry-on with some clothing and my prayer shawl!
Welcome to Cuba...
...much was given‌ Haleluya!!!!
The view... Is my dream coming true ?!?
Feeling “like” a local… and learning the stories behind each detail…
Finally! I am here!
First Shabbat in Havana
First lesson: Comm - unity
“Oneg Shabbat” (The Enjoyment of Shabbat)
“La Escuela Dominical”
Bienvenida! Feeling very welcome!
“La escuela dominical”- Sundays, 10 am -12 pm Three children groups: for ages 4 -6, 7 -9 & 10 -12 Two Youth groups: ages 13 - 17 and 17 -25 Three adult groups: over 25 years old. Enrollment: 178 students total Three Disciplines: 1. HEBREW 2. HISTORY 3. JUDAISM
Hella Esquenazi Education Director
“If there’s no flour, there’s no Torah!” Food is rationed in Cuba. Each Cuban gets a monthly quota of:
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
10kg (22lb) of rice, 6kg (12 lb) of white sugar, 2kg (4 lb) of brown sugar, 250 mil(1 cup) of cooking oil 5 eggs 2kg of meat (usually chicken) every 10 days 1 packet of coffee 1 bun per day 1 bag of salt every three months.
Milk: only pregnant women & children under 7
During Sunday School at Beth Shalom Synagogue, each participant (child or adult) gets:
â—? One cup of chocolate milk â—? One cracker sandwich . Provided by one anonymous donor who pledged to provide the community with a weekly dose of milk.
The “Jubano”: Judio Cubano
Anthems
Building bridges between RSS and the Cuban Jewish Community
Cuban students reply to RSS’ students’ letters.
The Druzinsky Fund’s gifts: - 80 copies of Sara Rosen’s books: “PHD”(Phonetic Hebrew Decoding)
- 20 kits for teachers: RSS folder, RSS pen & RSS USB key with Hebrew Teaching materials
- PHD Teacher's’ Guide translated into Spanish
Teaching teachers
Mon-Thurs, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM & 6:00-8:00 PM
Teaching teens
Mon-Thurs, 2:00 PM- 4:00 PM
Teaching children & parents
Mon-Thurs, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Jewish Communities in Cuba
Bringing Jewish educators from the Provinces
Sancti Spiritu to Havana: 300 miles 7 hours w/public transportation
Santiago de Cuba to Havana: 540 miles 16 hours w/ public transportation Daisy Bernal de Barlia & Claudia Bernal Comunidad Hebrea de Sancti Spiritu- “Javaia�
Magali Fernandez Comunidad Santiago de Cuba
An email from Daisy , from the community of Sancti Spiritu, one month ago...
The JDC: Joint Distribution Committee
Medicine Donations: From NY to Guantanamo
Ram Tapia Adler JDC Representative for Cuba.
And… of course, I enjoyed some sightseeing and good food too!
I tried to be immersed in Cuban culture and reality. Cuba is painfully beautiful and complex. Much art, music, nature, beauty amidst poverty: a daily struggle to survive.
Thank you Cuba you for teaching me many lifelong lessons!
I got the teachers’ t-shirt!!!!
“Ani Yode’a she hakol yihie beseder…” (I KNOW EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT...!)
Ani iode'a she hakol yihie beseder
Thank you RSS’s Druzinsky Fund for making my dream into reality!