B’nei Israel Congregation -   San Jose, Costa Rica

Liberal Synagogue affiliated with World Union for Progressive Judaism

and with Union of Jewish Congregations of Latin America and the Caribbean

 

Tel. 231-5243  /  Fax 257-3308  /  B’nei Israel Online:  http://www.bnei-israel.org  /  E-mail:  baumgut@racsa.co.cr

 

NEWSLETTER    -    NOVEMBER  2001

CHESHVAN – KISLEV  5762

 

 

Articles in Spanish without translation:  (see KOLEINU – Noviembre 2001)

 

 

 

 

MESSAGE FROM RABBI LINDA AND RABBI JONATHAN

 

We feel very fortunate that we were able to spend the High Holy Days with the B´nai Israel community, especially at a time when it was more difficult than we had expected to be away from home.  Not only did we find a warm and welcoming community, but we made some lasting friendships.

 

We had a wonderful experience building a sukkah in Monteverde - you can read about some of the activities and see some pictures at the website of the Monteverde Institute.  Go to www.mvinstitute.org and look under ¨what’s new.¨

 

We invite you to come visit us in Monteverde and spend a Shabbat in the cloud forest.

 

We will be coming to services on Friday, November 23, and we look forward to seeing many of you there.

 

Shalom,

 

Rabbi Linda, Rabbi Jonathan, Rachel, Ari, and Shira

 

 

 

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

 

Dear Friends,

 

In the last two months, a series of occurrences have led us to reflect on our position facing the current world situation.  After the terrorist attacks of the 11th of September in the United States, in which more than 6000 civilians perished, and where many of our members’ relations – children studying or working, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, friends – witnessed the tragedy first hand.   And with these occurrences, we have begun a new stage in our lives; the lack of tranquility in our everyday lives.

 

Despite everything, our lives must continue, and within the life of our community we have succeeded during this period, in celebrating the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, with overwhelming attendance.  The presence and the leading of services by Rabbis Jonathan and Linda was simply magnificent.  The emotion expressed in their prayers, the sermons, their warmth, succeeded in fulfilling the spiritual needs of each and every one of us.  We celebrated as well Sukkot and Simchat Torah.  As in the past our young people built the Sukkah and guaranteed a beautiful celebration for us.

 

As we have a new Board of Directors about to be designated at our General Assembly on the 29th of November, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all of my fellow members of this current Board.  Each one of you have given the best you could, demonstrating a strong belief in the importance of community service and giving up many hours of rest, time to be spent with the family, hours of work, hours of dreams, all in the struggle to guarantee that the gears of our community continue to move with the necessary force to continue.  This thanks is directed as well to all of those who have worked within the different committees and groups which help to enable our community to continue to grow.  The different ideas of each person, the various points of view, the differences in opinion, have done nothing more than stretch and enlarge our horizons.  I am confident that the new Board of Directors will be able to carry the Community feelings, and defend them with wisdom.

 

And finally, I would like to share with you, something written by Mrs. Eleonor Roosevelt:

 

“Many people will enter and leave  your life.  Friends will carry your mark on their heart.

To conduct yourself, use your head.  To conduct others, use your heart.

Anger is only a little note of danger.

If someone betrays you once, it is his fault.  If he betrays you twice, it is your fault.

Great minds discuss ideas; mediocre minds discuss occurrences, small minds talk about people.

He who looses money, looses much; he who looses a friend, looses much more.  He who looses faith, looses everything.

Let us learn from the errors of others, we can never live long enough to commit them all ourselves. 

Yesterday is history – tomorrow a mystery – today a gift.”

 

I wish you all the best.

 

Eduardo Keibel

 

 

 

 

 

To all the members of

Congregation B’nei Israel

 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

AND

ELECTIONS

 

DATE:  Thursday, November 29
PLACE:  at the sinagogue
TIME:
First call:    7:00 p.m.
Second call:  7:30 p.m.

 

·        Annual report of all B’nei Israel Committees
·        Elections of the new Board of Directors

 

Come and help us build the future of our Congregation.
Your participation is important.

 

Remember that in order to vote, you have to be up to date
in all your  payments to the Congregation and the School.

 

 

 

 

 

LETTERS FOR THE BULLETIN

 

Dear Jody and Ines:

 

The more I look at the calendar the more I love it.  It has to be so, because it portrays the lives of my children and of the children of my friends, the kids I saw growing up and the ones I'm watching growing up now.  Maybe one can think that my children, not having family here, do not have roots in Costa Rica.  Looking at your production, I'm happy to say that indeed in B'nei Israel my children have their roots.  And this is true for many of the children that have attended our Hebrew School and participated in the life of our Congregation.  With all my heart thank you for the work and the love you put into giving us this precious gift.

 

Hilda ten Brink

 

**********

 

Mami,

Acabo de recibir el calendario de la Congregación que me enviaste.  ¡Está increible!  Qué bonita idea, congratulations!  Esta noche creo que me voy a reunir con Daniel Losk y se lo voy a enseñar.  Lots of good memories.  Love,

Joshua

 

**********

 

 

September 27, 2001

 

Mr. Marvin Sossin

Jewish Community, Leader Congregation B’nei Israel

San José

 

Dear Mr. Sossin:

 

            I would like to thank you personally, and on behalf of the people and the Government of the United States, for your presence and participation in the memorial service last week for victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.

 

            Your words of wisdom and spirituality were much appreciated, and certainly helped bring a measure of comfort and unity to the American community in Costa Rica in the wake of the tragic and incomprehensible events of September 11.

 

Let us hope that in the weeks and months ahead we can maintain the unity of the entire civilized world and, with a spirit of justice but not vengeance, bring an end to the scourge of international terrorism and the incredible hatred that produces it.

 

            Again, my thanks for sharing your spiritual enlightenment and being with us at the American community memorial service.

 

            Sincerely,

 

            Linda Jewell

            Chargé d’Affaires a.i.

            Embassy of the United States of America

 

 

**********

 

Dear Friends,

        I have meant to write earlier to tell you how much I enjoyed worshipping once again with many of my old and new friends at B'nei Israel.  I am so glad to have met Eduardo Keibel and his wife.  It is great to learn first hand that our leadership continues to be strong and that new members (not part of the original seven or eight of us who originally met at the Kaufman's school, are now providing for our needs). 

 

I must tell everyone that I get outstanding comments from everyone who visits my home over the triligual Siddur.  I am very proud to have a copy autographed by Jody and Hilda.  I look forward to receiving the others I sent for; and, Jody, you promised a Congregation Directory.  Who ever keeps the records, my birthday is July 17th (not the 18th); Beth's is February 14th and Sara's is April 10th.

 

Unfortunately, just when I appeared that from a time sand point, I might be able to visit Costa Rica more, my health has turned.  I had a stroke on September 30th.  Thankfully, it was mild and I have begun therapy to recover my speaking ability and some of other motor skills, like typing.  Then, to add to my to my health problems, on the 12th I was in a car accident in a very serious car accident and received whiplash  to my neck .  So, for the next two months I will be receiving therapy and treatments everyday.

 

Never the less, when any of you come to South Florida be sure to call us at 561-391-9381 or fax at 561-391-6111 or e-mail clifgold@mindspring.com; and, visit us in Boca Raton.

 

Love and Shalom,

 

Clif Goldstein

 

 

 

GREETING THE NEW YEAR 5762

by Patricia Feigen

 

Maybe it was because our new building is now virtually complete and the new seats oh-so-cozy.  Maybe it was because the weather was uncharacteristically pleasant.  Maybe it was because there was a full house.  Maybe it was because the services were so well planned and inspirational.  Maybe it was because the guest rabbis fit so seamlessly into our community, harmoniously mixing Hebrew, Spanish and English prayers and sermons.

 

The New Year 5762 got off to a beautiful start at B’nei Israel.  Maybe all the reasons listed above contributed to the success, surely some more than others!  Rabbi Linda and Rabbi Jonathan seemed more like long-standing B’nei Israel family members than visitors.  They were warm, genuine and enthusiastic.  Their courageous leap over the language barrier was successful and very much appreciated.  May we see a lot more of them during their sabbatical in Costa Rica!

 

Of course, the recent horror of the terrorist attacks in the United States focused our thoughts on what was lost and what survives as we prepared to face a new year.  The rabbis’ words regarding the events of September 11th, and the various prayers we said for the victims and survivors, crystallized some of the High Holidays’ most poignant themes: life, death, forgiveness.

 

Best of all, perhaps, was the unity observed among B’nei Israel members.  The complaint department was closed for the holidays, as it should be.  Our congregation has begun the new year on a very positive note, one we hope will keep us focused on the challenges ahead, such as finding a spiritual leader and increasing our membership.

 

Shanah Tovah!

 

A THANK YOU LETTER 

 

As the old year passes and the new year begins we give many thanks to everyone for all the help they have given over the year.  A special thanks to Howard Krangle and Bill Fischer for refurbishing our Tree of Life,  with work still in progress.  We also kindled our new Festive Menorah and give thanks to Dr. Carrillo and The Sisterhood for their time and effort.  It is a most beautiful addition to our Synagogue.

 

Thanks go out to David Feingold, Alice Familiar, the Sisterhood, the School, the Ritual Committee, Rabbi Linda and Rabbi Jonathan for making the High Holidays the best ever.

            A very special thanks once again to Alvin Moss for all his generosity in helping our community build a most beautiful Synagogue.

 

Now onto the new year with the Sisterhood's new Board in place we will be enjoying many more exciting activities in the year to come.

 

Finally, I would like to thank everyone in the Congregation for making the past two years as Sisterhood President a successful and enjoyable part of my life.

 

Thank You,

            Bonnie Fischer

 

 

 

FROM BONNIE FISCHER

 

Open invitation to all lady members of B’nei Israel

 

Please help make the Sisterhood a vital part of Congregation B’nei Israel.

The Sisterhood is looking for new members and new ideas to help fulfill

our dreams for the Congregation in the new year.

 

Please join us at a Hospitality Tea at my home in Rohrmoser.

 

Monday, November 12, 2001

4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

We will be getting to know each other and sharing ideas of what the Sisterhood

can be and what it can do to help the Congregation.  Please be a vital part

of the Sisterhood, a vital part of the Congregation.

 

R.S.V.P.:  tel. 296-3334

 

 

 

TAXES AND DEATH

By Bill Fischer

 

         It has been often said that there are only two things in life of which we can be certain: Taxes and death.  Yet we plan so carefully for the former and so seldom for the latter.  How many of us have had even a thought about our ultimate end?  We’re all mortal, are we not?

 

         Certainly each member of the Congregation will need a place to spend eternity.  Why not remain amongst the Congregants forever?  That’s right- amongst the Congregants.  Find eternal rest in a beautiful, peaceful setting in the Costa Rican countryside.  Those buried here were members of our Congregation, or family or friends of members.  There will be no strangers lying here, only family and friends are permitted eternal rest in our cemetery.

 

         Funds obtained from the sale of gravesites are used exclusively for the maintenance of the cemetery.  Visit the cemetery and see the changes being made.  The sprinkler system is currently being repaired. The grass has been freshly cut and weeded and will be done so twice monthly by professional ground keepers.  A chapel is being designed and will soon be built. Renovations will be made to the caretakers’ casita, and new brick pathways will be laid throughout the grounds.  Trees and shrubs will be planted and a security fence will be installed around the exterior perimeter of the property.

 

         In the finest tradition of Judaism we remember our dead every time we recite the Mourners Kaddish.  Our dead rest eternally in peaceful surroundings.

 

Why not plan a Sunday visit to the Cemetery in Santa Ana?  Look around.  See what we’ve done.  Is there something we’ve forgotten?  Let us know what you think. 

 

         There will never be a better time than now to purchase burial rights in our cemetery.  Through December 31, burial rights including preparation of the grave, a marble headstone and perpetual care are for sale at very attractive price – and there are no finance charges.

 

         Pre-need planning makes sense for everyone involved.  If you plan to remain in Costa Rica you know that eventually your family or loved ones will be faced with the crisis of:  What will we do?  Whom shall we call?  Why subject anyone you love to this?  Remember, your purchase commitment now will supply the needed funds to refurbish the cemetery so that it will be ready when you are.

 

         Contact Bill Fischer by telephone at 296-3334, or by e-mail to thebees@racsa.co.cr for more information.

 

 

 

MEMORIAL TREE OF LIFE

By Bill Fischer

 

         During the High Holidays you probably noticed that we have refurbished the Memorial Tree of Life and prominently mounted it in the sanctuary where all can easily see it now.  What a wonderful way to memorialize our family members and loved ones forever in the hearts and minds of the Congregation.  Each Yiskor, all of the names from the Tree are read aloud in the synagogue.

 

         I apologize for the lights not working properly – the system was damaged during the moving of the Tree of Life from the old synagogue to Torneca and back again.  Howard Krangle, who originally engineered and built the Tree, will be repairing the lighting system as soon as a new power supply box can be received from the States.

 

         Any member of the Congregation may purchase a leaf with the name and dates of a family member or loved one whom they wish to be remembered.  The new leaves are gold-plated solid brass with deeply engraved and epoxy-painted letters that will last ‘till the end of time’.  Please make a contribution to the Congregation of at least $100 and a leaf can be added to the Memorial Tree of life before the next Yiskor service.

 

         Contact Bill Fischer by telephone at 296-3334, or by e-mail to thebees@racsa.co.cr for more information.

 

 

 

THE WORLD HAS NOT CHANGED

By Marvin Sossin

 

            The tragedy of Sept. 11th has led to an absurd media blitz, initiated by well meaning but misled officials of the U.S. government, aimed at uniting the American people.  The most apparent of these efforts are three fold.  First, the misleading idea that the world has changed, a rather childish and Orwellian reminder on a “24-7” basis that “I am an American”, and an “understanding” among all the visual media television and newspaper, that images of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, not be shown.

 

            I think at the very least, this is a mistaken endeavor, and at worst, an effort to control the population.  I submit the advice of the experts psychologists advising the President and his associates, are underestimating the psyche of main street America, and it is a dangerous path to undertake in a democratic republic.

 

            I do not pretend to expertise in Psychology, nor the principles of Marketing to capture a single response of 300 million people.  I leave that area to Coca Cola and the Supreme Shrinks of the Nation.  Besides, I’m a Canadian, and although we share similar points of view to our neighbors South the 49th parallel, and many of us have national identity problems, I can assure you that nothing and no one could convince our diverse population of the necessity to publicly assert that “I am a Canadian.”

 

            The world has not changed.  I have lived through World War II, the Holocaust, the Cold War, the assassination of arguably the most popular President of the twentieth century and a disbelieving nation as to who did it, the emergence of Israel as a nation an its rapid ascent to a powerful economic and military entity, the loss of the British empire, which controlled such a large part of the planet and its population that it was said that “the sun never set on its empire,” the emergence of democracy in Latin America from a hegemony of cruel dictatorships, man’s landing on the moon, the explosion of the atomic bomb, the age of the computer, the short lived age of the Internet (don’t count it out), to name just a few mind bending events that have occurred in my lifetime.

 

            All these episodes in history spasmodically affected the world.  There were always those that said as a result “The world would never be the same.”

 

            But in truth, the world has not changed.  In spite of all the prognoses to the contrary; we have increased the population of the world 300% in the course of one century; the average life expectancy in the developed countries has doubled; and man’s knowledge of his environment and beyond; understanding how his body works; has increased exponentially.

 

            Globalization, despite its critics, is permitting millions of poverty stricken, illiterate souls who were without hope, to work, provide for a family, become educated and participate in an economic miracle without parallel in history.

 

            This is Progress.  It is a process.  And it is continuing every day.  It took many thousands of years from the beginning of humankind to acquire the knowledge we had up to the year 1950.  Since then, in just 50 years we have multiplied that knowledge 10 fold.  And the future glows just beyond the horizon.

 

            But – we still die of cancer, and unnecessary heart attacks.  Unbelievably in a time when we have vaccines to cure it, 5 million children die each year from measles. Millions starve despite our ability to feed the world.  And – millions die for their country and their cause – because they were brought up to hate and to fantasize.  Ignorance, illiteracy, and intolerance still pervade the people of this planet.

 

            No, the world has not changed.

 

            Terrorism has been a fact of life throughout history, it is not new.  Were not the Crusades acts of terrorism?  The Inquisition?  Sometimes the difference between terrorism and a defiant protest against an unpopular and cruel regime is a fine line.  It depends on whether you’re a “have or have not.”  Have we not seen revered leaders of nations who were once considered terrorists and punished as such?  Have we forgotten such names as Gandhi, Mandela, Begin, and uncountable others?  Was not the American dream forged from acts of terrorism on the part of rebels against British dominance?  There are always those who will justify acts of terrorism as a means of correcting injustice.  Do the ends justify the means?  An eternal question.

 

            I suggest that we are not fighting a War against terrorism.  And certainly, to say we are fighting a war against Afghanistan is a travesty of the truth.  Or that Osama bin Laden is the archenemy we seek and that with his capture or death, we conquer terrorism.  Yet that is what many people believe thanks to the daily diatribe we are exposed to by the press and T.V.

 

            What has changed is that the integrity of the American homeland has been violated by a diabolically clever act committed by criminals who use terror as a weapon.  They succeeded in killing thousands of innocent people.  Who are they?  What is their cause?  What can we do to stop them?

 

            There have been many of these groups committing outrages throughout the world in my lifetime and before.  The Munich massacre by a Palestinian group in 1972 in which the entire Olympic team of Israel was killed, was an example.  The Red Brigades acting in Europe, especially Germany and Italy.  We have Colombia, Iran, Syria, Macedonia, Bosnia, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Indonesia – even in America; countries where groups of people will resort to any means, any atrocity to bring attention to their cause and havoc to the institutions they hate.

 

            We are not at war with Muslims.  God forbid!  We are talking about our first cousins in many respects;  a religion very similar to ours; a belief in one God, a people that traces its roots to Abraham; a religion that forbids any graven images of the Deity.  Our practices may differ, but the teachings of the Koran and the Torah are strikingly similar.  Yet many people believe that our war is with Islam.

 

            I don’t know the names or the faces of these people who plot our destruction.  Frankly, the thought of what they have done and what they may do next, scares the hell out of me.  But we are not going to overcome this evil poison in our midst by deceiving citizens into calling criminals by any other names, or that we are at war with a country who lives as they lived on medieval times.

 

            As Jews, we can feel some degree of optimism that by striking at the heart of the U.S.A., they have incurred the wrath and awakened the most powerful force on the face of the earth in a struggle to free the world from fear and subdue or eliminate the many sources of these abominable acts against humanity.  It is a struggle that I believe will result in a better, a more peaceful and prosperous world.

 

            The cause of freedom, as enunciated so articulately by the late President Roosevelt 60 years ago, can forge no greater partner than the United States of America.  These criminals have ignited the fire that will ultimately consume them.  I have no doubt about it.  Many years will pass, and there is more harm to come.  But we will prevail.

 

            We can afford to see images of the W.T.C.  Like the Holocaust, people need to be reminded of the most horrendous calamities in their history.  To forget history is to repeat it.  The art of vigilance is to keep the picture in front of us of the fragility of the experiment of a humanity reaching for the realization of their dreams in a free society in which man supports man.

 

            We don’t need to be coerced or brainwashed into seeing the face of one man, or the intemperateness and brutality of one nation as our single enemy.

 

            We deserve more respect from our leaders.  Just the facts, Mr. President.  Have no fear.  Man is in motion.  Neither the crazies from within or without will prevail.  From Oklahoma City to Jerusalem to Pretoria and Tokyo, the people of every color and ethnicity and religion will join together and support you in a cause for justice from which they will not turn.

 

 

 

WHAT TO DO AFTER NEW YORK CITY “LOSES ITS TWO FRONT TEETH” *

By Laurie Bonilla

*  Quote from a 9 year old New Yorker

 

I live in New York City, and go to school at Barnard College, part  of Columbia University.  Thankfully, for all of us, our campus is all the  way uptown, far away enough from the terrible incidents of September 11th.   And yet the somber faces, the smoke filled air, the tear streaked faces are a  bitter reminder of that which has occurred.

 

Many, many students here have come together  to voice their thoughts, opinions, and confusions.  There is no escaping what has  happened.  No matter whom one runs  into, there are always the concerned questions about the health of family,  friends and themselves; the inquiries as to what the latest news from the media  is; and inevitably, the discussions, which often lead to arguments, as to what  has been done, what will be done, and what should be done.  This last part is probably the hardest  to handle right now.  We are all  allies, not enemies on the same side.   Yet friends, families and colleagues are torn when it comes to the  "next  step."  Now, we are being bombarded  with words: Revenge, Retaliation, Peace, Acts of War, Cowardice and  Innocence.

 

Should there be a  war?

 

It seems the only possible solution.  Somehow these evils must be  stopped.  It is apparent that the  perpetrators care little about the value of human life.  The use of words seems practically  useless at this point in time.  If  just declaring peace were possible, don't you think it would have been done  already?  If the use of common  sense, logic, and brainpower were strong enough to bring an end to terrorism,  don't you think they would have already been implemented?  Can it be that the only solution left is  the use of force?

 

But, who to declare war on?  No one knows for sure (although we are  all positive that the CIA, FBI, government, etc. already know those  responsible).  Should the United  States military just send the air force over Kabul and "bomb the shit out of  it?"   Will retaliating by killing  10,000 of their people because they have killed 10,000 of ours make any  sense?  Should one keep in mind all  the innocent lives that would be lost over there?  Should one take revenge for all the  innocent lives that have been lost over here?  I just don't know. 

 

Perhaps it is not important that I know the  response to any of those questions.   That is why there are politicians, right?  Wrong!  One of the most important concepts that  have come about from these incidents is the knowledge that a change is what is  needed.  Student after student come  forward stating that we are the ones who have to make the  "change," and change  cannot come about without first putting into practice what we preach.  Therefore, we must all come together to  decide what it is we want that change to be. 

 

            Wednesday night was perhaps one of the most  confusing moments of my life.  I  have always been very opposed to war, conflict and violence, but it was the  first time I felt there was no other path to take.  It seems a forceful attack is what has  to be put into effect.  Fear sunk  in.  The other girls in the room and  I for the first time perhaps, really realized the implications in a very  personal way. We, a generation who has never really been part of war, was  destined to hear about friends and family being shipped away to battle.  We have no idea if that is what the  future brings but we know that it is a strong  possibility.

 

            The next morning, I returned from class and  walked by a sign that read:

 

"The MOST AWESOME fight is one with NO  BLOODSHED. It is called PEACE."

 

I was reassured.  We can do something.  We can make a change.  We can put into effect that which we  strongly believe in.  I know there  will be peace one day.  There has to  be.  I remind myself of a quote  mentioned at Tuesday night's vigil,  "Courage is that which displaces fear once  faith has been rekindled."  I hope  all who believe in peace are able to have faith in its power and beauty, even  after this horrible attack on humanity has taken place.  Let us all join together for peace, and  in that way, hold the most astounding stand against  terrorism.

 

 

 

NEWS FROM THE UJCL

 

Dear Friends:

 

We are all shocked and deeply saddened by the terrorist attack on the people of the U.S.A. on Sept. 11, an attack on all that peace and freedom loving people hold dear.  We join our voices to repudiate this barbaric act, and pray for the victims and their families.

 

B O A R D   M E E TI N G

 

On Thursday, Sept. 6, we got together in Miami for our yearly meeting.  It was a very productive and positive encounter, in which Costa Rica, Jamaica, Panama, El Salvador Puerto Rico and Aruba were represented.  The representative of the Jewish Community of Honduras, who was unable to attend, Phil Gelman, sent his apologies.

After words of welc