Sidebar Humanitarian missions

As Cuban President Fidel Castro cedes his position to his brother Raul, Cuba-watchers with ties to New Jersey say precious little will change for the few Jews remaining on the island.

While Cuba under Fidel – who has ruled the island nation since taking power in an armed revolution in 1959 – has been stridently anti-Israel, Cuba's Jews have enjoyed relative religious freedom in the country. The country's new leadership is not expected to make any immediate changes to the status quo on either of these two policies.

"I don't see any significant changes for the Jewish community," said Jay Levinson, a Newark native and graduate of Weequahic High School who wrote a book on Cuba's Jews.

Under normal circumstances that sentiment might seem heartening, but others can't forget the malaise affecting the Cubans who have lived under the repressive Castro regime and with the effects of the American embargo.

Carol Siegler, a former New Jersey resident who now lives in Longboat Key, Fla., grew up in Havana until she went to college at Cornell University.

Her father was born in Lithuania and settled in New York. In the early 1920s, he opened a textile factory in Havana and many years later owned a department store there.

Prerevolutionary Cuba, Siegler said, "was a wonderful environment for Americans. Over the years we had an American hospital; the Anglo-American Ruston Academy; a Mothers' Club, where we celebrated all the American holidays; and Beth Israel Temple," where English was spoken. "As Jews, we were included in every activity in the Cuban and American communities. It did not seem that religion was a factor. We had exchange visits between our friends in our temple and the churches. That is what I loved most, the inclusiveness."

Several years ago, Siegler returned to Cuba with her sister and brother. It was not a happy visit. "We cried the whole time," she said. "It was terrible to see my father's department store burned to the ground. Our home had been used as a prison for 1,500 prisoners at the beginning of the revolution. For us, returning to Cuba was a traumatic experience."

Siegler said she is pessimistic about the country's future. "I don't believe things will change in the near future. The people will not demand change." Although they may be living in "meager circumstances," often eight families in a single home once owned by Cubans who escaped to the United States, she said, "the average Cuban is in fear of losing what little he has…."

"Castro certainly did not keep his promise to his people," said Siegler. "It really saddens me to think of what a missed opportunity he had."

Levinson, who now lives in Jerusalem, is the author of The Jewish Community of Cuba: The Golden Years, 1906-1958, published in 2006 by Westview Publishing Company.

He visited Cuba twice, in 2001 and 2002.

"Over the last 20 years, the Jewish community has identified itself with the Cuban government," he said in a phone call from Israel. "A good part of that is the politics of survival. Castro has been adamantly opposed to anti-Semitism, even the smallest amount. He has protected the Jewish community."

On paper, the Cuban government's official position is one of "full support for the heroic struggle of the Arab peoples, in particular that of the Palestinians, against Israeli occupation and aggression," according to an official 2002 statement by Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

But Levinson said Fidel Castro "makes a very clear distinction between Jewish and being pro-Israel. The Jews are living in Cuba very nicely with a great understanding of Jewish values, such as the importation of kosher products from Canada before Pesach. There is respect for the community."

Open worship

"Very nicely" is a relative term, however, and groups like B'nai B'rith continue to travel to the island on relief and humanitarian missions.

Livingston resident Stuart Cooper has taken part in seven missions to Cuba during the past 12 years. Cooper, past president of the B'nai B'rith Tri-State Region, is active in the organization's Cuban Jewish Relief Project.

Such relief missions are licensed by the United States government to circumvent America's long-standing embargo. B'nai B'rith members are allowed to travel to Cuba, bringing with them Judaica and medical supplies.

"We take care of more than just the Jewish community," Cooper said. "If you are not Jewish and you need medicine, you can come to the Conservative synagogue and get the medicine, and we also supply medicine to hospitals."

Much of the distribution is done through the 85 members of B'nai B'rith's Cuba chapter. It works with the country's five synagogues – three in Havana and two on other parts of the island – as well as six other small Jewish communities that have no houses of worship.

Some put the Cuban-Jewish population at 1,300. However, estimating the number of Jews in Cuba is virtually impossible, experts say, because while large numbers of Jews have left the island in recent years, there also have been numerous conversions to Judaism.

In the early 1990s the Cuban government changed its policy of antagonism toward organized religion, Cooper explained.

"They allowed people to worship openly without any repercussions, even those who were members of the Communist Party. There is no discrimination permitted in Cuba of any sort," he said.

Although Cooper also doesn't see much change ahead for the Jewish community, he did say that there may be "some gradual changes in general. Everything you read indicates that Raul is more pragmatic than his brother. He has made overtures already to our government, and our government has rejected them out of hand. I suspect that once we have a new administration there will be an opportunity for some discussions. Whether that will lead to lifting the embargo I can't tell you for sure."

But Arline Hanfling of South Orange, who moved to Cuba when she was one year old and spent her adolescence in Havana, said she doesn't "look for anything positive."

Her family left the country during the revolution that overthrew Gerardo Machado, the dictator who ruled Cuba from 1925 to 1933.

She still clings to happy memories of her childhood in Havana.

"There was a wonderful small Jewish community, and I had Cuban friends as well as American friends. There was no problem at all being Jewish and no anti-Semitism. I belonged to a very Reform temple. I didn't come from a very religious family, but we were Jewish and we celebrated the holidays. No one made us feel not wanted."

Hanfling has returned to Cuba twice since Castro took power, the second time on a United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ mission in October 2003.

"It was not the same," she said. "The Cubans are very nice people, but they are afraid to say things against the government."

Despite her criticism, Hanfling said she would like to see relations improve between Washington and Havana.

"We've done it with China; we've done it with other countries. I don't know why we picked Cuba to be the one we're so much against," she said.

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Humanitarian missions

The Cuban Jewish Relief Project sponsored by B'nai B'rith offers a free slide presentation on its humanitarian missions to Cuba. Interested groups can contact the project's vice chair, or call 973-992-0077.

Local stories posted courtesy of the New Jersey Jewish News