Cuba - 8 December 2011

The trip to the airport wasn’t too bad. After all the paper work was done, we went to the Dunkin Doughnuts and I got a cup of coffee and a muffin. The actual flight was not too bad. Most of the passengers on the plane were Cubans visiting family and they were bringing a lot of stuff with them. After we landed in Cuba, we were fortunate that there were no problems. We went though the immigration process, picked up our luggage and went through customs with no problems at all. I was informed that it is not always that smooth.

We went to the hotel, but couldn’t get our rooms immediately as they were not ready. We had lunch at the pool side restaurant. I had a salad, coffee and chocolate pie. I really shouldn’t have had the pie.

View from my hotel room in the Melia Cohiba

Another view from my hotel room

At 1:30 pm, we headed out and went to the Sephardic center. We went downstairs to where their senior citizens met. Today they were celebrating a lady’s birthday. Communication was a problem and we for the most part don’t speak Spanish and they don’t speak English, but things worked out! We were taken upstairs to where they are rebuilding what was the main entrance. B’Nai B’Rith gave them $50,000 to do the work and they appear to be doing a good job. It is supposed to be completed within the next few weeks. They are supposed to be getting a Shoah exhibit which is based upon the Cuban point of view.

Me in front of a typical American Car in Havana

Sephardic Center - heading down to meeting room

In meeting room, the seniors were celebrating the birthday of one of the group

In meeting room with Mike in the middle

Outside of Separdic Building, which is being renovated - B'nai B'rith gave $50,000 toward project

From the Sephardic center we went to the Patronato and the conservative Synagogue. The Patronato is the central Jewish body in Cuba, which coordinates the activities of all the Jewish groups. The Conservative Synagogue sanctuary is simple, but very nice. We were shown around. They have a Sunday school for their children. There is an Argentinean Rabbi who comes every few months. We were I introduced to an Argentinean couple who will be staying for two years to work with the community.

Conservative Synagogue and Patronato, which is supposed to be the Central Jewish organization in Cuba

Going into the offices of the Conservative Synagogue

Original donors who built the synagogue

Organizations that participated in the reconstruction

Conservative Synagogue

Bima and Ark

We returned to the Sephardic Center to meet a woman who is very active in fund raising to continue the activities of the Jewish community in Havana.

Chapel in Sephardic Center- Ark and Bima

Back of room

We then returned to the hotel for a rest before we went out to dinner at a restaurant that served chicken. Tomorrow we are scheduled to start at 9:30. The plan is to see the orthodox synagogue, walk around old Havana and attend evening services at the Sephardic enter.

Area around outside of hotel

Going into restaurant for dinner

Having dinner

Name of restaurant