Catharsis in Cuba
I went to Cuba for two months in 1996 when I was in high school. The experience changed my life.
Being Sephardic and growing up in Northern California left me feeling disconnected to who exactly I was in relation to our tribe.
At a time when I had just confirmed my Judaism, after years of study, with a bat mitzvah at 16, I was excited to travel. Beyond the feeling of such a warm, wonderful country, I also had this overwhelming feeling that I was “home” as soon as I arrived in Havana. I couldn’t figure out why that was until I visited a shul in Santiago de Cuba. Upon entering, I saw photos of people that looked like me and my family. My people!
Not only that, but our last name was on all the founding and participating members of the shul. Visiting Cuba informed my world view not only as a citizen of the world, but as a Jew. Thanks for your perspective.
Loved the article (“Viva Judaism,” Dec. 24).
Amelia Nahman | San Francisco
‘Dishonest’ ads in Seattle — and here, too
In Seattle, the backers of the inflammatory and dishonest anti-Israel bus ads have been stopped, thanks to a community effort led by StandWithUs.
Unfortunately, the BART ads that have been placed by anti-Israel groups are still up. These are insidious rather than overtly vile, but no less dishonest. They claim to support “peace and justice,” but the website to which they refer viewers is filled with the typical misinformation used by anti-Israel groups, including promotion of the fictional “right” of return for great grandchildren of Arab refugees from the 1947-48 war. It refers to al-Awda as a “peace and justice” organization, and links to multiple sites promoting the BDS movement.
There will be a counter-advertising campaign in BART provided by StandWithUs. And as we move forward, don’t forget who is behind the anti-Israel ads — the anti-Semitic Sabeel and their local allies, Jewish Voice for Peace. Yet JVP continues to demand to be part of the organized Jewish community.
As long as JVP continues to support the BDS movement, and to work with anti-Israel and anti-Semitic hate groups such as Sabeel and ANSWER, they are the ones choosing to remain outside the community dialogue.
Michael Harris | San Rafael
Listen to one another
I give tremendous credit to those who are organizing and participating in the Year of Civil Discourse. We can’t move forward as a community until we can listen to one another.
At the same time, I can’t help but be reminded of the old Tom Lehrer song, “National Brotherhood Week.” Time will tell whether this effort will yield something more meaningful than “let’s-all-be-kind-to-one-another-hood week.”
Michael Sarid | Santa Monica