A few weeks ago our Jennifer Sossin School for Jewish Education celebrated the end of another school year. Learning in schools is, in essence, adding information and understanding to our memory banks. Learning in our Hebrew School is that and much more, because it requires a degree of emotional involvement from all those that participate in this special educational process. A school can be compared to a puzzle where the principal, the teachers, the students, and the parents form a square of perfectly interlocking pieces.
Except for a short period of time, Jody Bonilla has always been our School Director, and her clarity about the school's values, spirit, and mission has given it the self-confidence needed to become a true learning center for Judaism. Jody has selected curriculum, trained teachers, set up policies. Our children are not only names for her ; she knows what their particular abilities are, and she places them in the groups best suited for them. Because she has been flexible, she has been able to evolve with the times and always look for ways to improve our school. She has been our guiding strength.
The teachers are the main assets of our School To watch Elena Dybner, Pilar Elkin, Deborah Singer, Jody Bonilla, and Gonzalo Vega interact with the students, teaching them Hebrew, religion, or music is a heartwarming experience. Jody recruited me as a teacher about five years ago and I have to say that some of the most wonderful moments of my recent life have been sitting around a table with "my kids". While it is true that Hebrew School is an added load on the students' life; however, it is here in Hebrew School that many of our children find their group identity as Jews and it is the responsibility of our teachers to create the proper environment for the development of a positive attitude towards learning. We discussed Purim from questions inside balloons that the kids exploded, we held a model seder in which each child read a part, we defined a ghetto placing the students inside a pen. Deborah brings a little electronic keyboard and a guitar and teaches the kids songs that they will probably remember their entire lifetime. Our teachers make Hebrew School a "cool" place to be in.
This year we had over forty children from three to thirteen years enrolled in our School. This is a school where the graduation ceremony is when the student becomes Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Our graduating class this year had five top students: Eduardo Lev, Mischa Nachtigal, Leah Krangle, Debora Baum, and Maria Laura Podcaminsky. Since 1987 we have graduated thirty-three students. All of them have made us very proud when they assumed their responsibilities as Jews. All of them are linked together in the silver chain that hangs from our Torah. When we look at the little ones attending school now, we know that they will also make us proud when their time comes. And it was these little ones that presented our "sermon" in a short play led by Deborah Singer during our Shabbat ceremony.
The participation of the parents is essential for the teachings of the School to be successful. To the extent that parents are committed to their children's Jewish education, there will be no problems in scheduling activities; no ballet or judo lessons will be more important than Hebrew School. Parents who are interested in what the School does and who support our programs reinforce the work of the School and validate our mission. We were happy to see that even though this was a difficult year because we didn't have the Synagogue as a meeting place, invariably the parents brought their children to class and cooperated to overcome possible inconveniences.
I am reading a book called "A Congregation of Learners: Transforming the Synagogue into a Learning Community". In the introduction, Seymour Rossel and Sara Lee express that if Jewish education is to be successful it must not be confused with Jewish schooling, and that the total number of Jews that are candidates for Jewish education is, in truth, identical with the total number of Jews. They propose that if we must confuse Jewish education with any other aspect of Jewish existence, the only one we should endeavor to confuse it with is Jewish living. It is through the activities of Jewish living that we truly inculcate the values, feelings, and understandings that are Jewish learning.
We cannot assume that education is only for young people. Adult education is extremely important for B'nei Israel. It is through the Adult Education Program of our school that many Jews by choice have learned about the religion they have embraced and have begun building their Jewish memories. Gonzalo, Jody, and Pilar have been in charge of the Outreach program of our Congregation and we have gained some very special members by their efforts. We have also had programs of interest for all. Discussions on what is Liberal Judaism, on what Pesach means for us, the organization of Chanukah programs, and the celebration of other festivities are also part of the School activities.
Our School has done wonders in implementing its programs. The pulse of B'nei Israel is healthy in this respect. The responsibility of providing an environment conducive to Jewish living now belongs to all of us. As a Congregation we have to work to give meaning to what we teach and learn, to implement Jewish values, and to live Jewish lives. To the extent that we can do this, we will assure the continuity of Liberal Judaism in Costa Rica.
Hilda ten Brink
President
Hello from Las Vegas.
We enjoy receiving the Bulletin.
We miss the services and all of our wonderful
friends at the temple. We hope that all is going well with the building
venture.
Please give our love and best wishes to everybody.
We do miss the wonderful times which we had at the temple with our good
friends.
Love and good health to all.
Elly and Don Sherwood
Dear everybody,
Enclosed is our check for $100.
Feel free to provide us with a number, any number,
and should we win please send us only one half of the winner's sum.
Good luck. Hope the building will be everything
the community needs.
Fondest regards to all,
Lillian and Rabbi Roth
From the beginning of this case, it has been clear that the defendants were being used as a political football in an internal Iranian political power struggle that has nothing to do with Jews, Israel, or espionage. A state that uses political show trials as a means of conducting its internal affairs deserves to be condemned and shunned by the family of nations.
The World Union calls upon international and governmental agencies, private organizations and individuals to join in the world's denunciation of this revolting verdict and to exercise maximum efforts in every available forum to bring about its reversal and obtain the freedom of these wrongly convicted defendants. We express our concern and reach out a hand of friendship to the families and loved ones of the defendants and pray that God will give them strength in their cruel ordeal.
Rabbi Richard A. Block
President
Austin Beutel
Chairman
Such attacks do not occur in a vacuum. As Israel's recent past demonstrates, to our boundless sorrow, vile and violent language, whether directed at individuals or at groups, inevitably leads to vile and violent deeds. The World Union calls upon law enforcement authorities to bring those responsible for last night's arson speedily to justice. It expects the political leaders of Jerusalem and the State of Israel to condemn this and all similar actions, swiftly, publicly, and without equivocation. It calls upon the leaders of other streams and movements of Judaism, including those who do not accept the legitimacy of non-Orthodox expressions of Judaism, to do likewise.
Rabbi Richard A. Block
President
Austin Beutel
Chairman
PLURALIST - Israel Religious
Action Center monthly newsletter
NEWS UPDATE! - June 25, 2000 - Jerusalem,
Israel
Just a week ago, the windows of another Masorti synagogue in Beer Sheva were smashed. A little over a year ago, the kindergarten of a Reform congregation in Meveseret Zion was destroyed.
The fire at Kehillat Ya'ar Ramot was started when vandals threw burning rags through windows that they smashed. The fire destroyed several prayer books and Pentateuchs and caused extensive smoke and other damage. Fortunately however, the synagogue's three Torah scrolls were unharmed....
Rabbi Uri Regev, Director of the IRAC, condemned the outrageous assault on the Masorti synagogue, pointing out that while this time it was one non-Orthodox synagogue, all non-Orthodox institutions are in danger of being the next victim. He also said, "While we certainly decry incidents of violence, no one is addressing the root cause of the problem - that is the ideology that there is only one authentic Judaism. Not only do authorities need to speak out at times of violence, they also need to attack the mentality that refuses to recognize the non-Orthodox streams in all religious matters, including such basic matters as marriage ceremonies performed in Israel."
Among the first on the scene was Masorti Rabbi Andrew Sacks, Director of the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel. He described what he found: "I was on my way home from Ramot when I saw flashing red lights in the distance. As a member of Kehilat Yaar Ramot, I pulled over. We saw that the police, ambulances, and fire trucks had stopped right in front of the Masorti shul. Within seconds I was in the sanctuary. I saw a sight that I never hope to see again. The smoke was so thick that I went down onto my belly. I could see to my left a line of fire. My first thoughts were for the Sifrei Torah. But the fire was off to the side. Within seconds the firemen were in and within minutes the fire was extinguished. Only then were we able to see what had actually occurred. The synagogue building had been closed and locked around 9:00 p.m. About 15 minutes later, the windows to the sanctuary were smashed with large rocks. Rags, soaked in a flammable material, were thrown inside and a dozen chairs, the row closest to the windows, caught fire. I came in as they were ablaze. Had the fire department arrived only a few minutes later - I dread to think of what might have been."
A story in the June 25th Jerusalem Post, by Aryeh Dean Cohen, quoted Rabbi David Bateman, the rabbi of the synagogue: "Our heart is torn. It's hard to imagine that any other Jew could perpetrate this kind of act of vandalism and destruction against a synagogue. Even if, according to their opinion, it doesn't have the sanctity of a synagogue, it certainly houses kosher Torah scrolls and is at the very least the physical property of other people."
The Jerusalem Post story continued: "'After the last attack we had responses from [Science, Sport and Culture Minister] Vilna'i, [Foreign Minister] Levy, [Communications Minister] Ben-Eliezer, [Tourism Minister] Lipkin-Shahak - not a word from the Religious Affairs Ministry, not from [Minister] Melchior, not from [Jerusalem Mayor] Olmert. And maybe had they reacted, things would have been different. If the Chief Rabbi had come out against such behavior, maybe it could have been prevented," said synagogue president Hilary Herzberger.
Masorti Movement President Rabbi Ehud Bandel said both he and the Movement are "very angry" about the attack. "I think that the lack of a strong response by the authorities the last time sent a message of encouragement to those radical groups," he said. Bandel said he expects the police and the other responsible authorities to provide better protection for the synagogue. "The problem is the lack of proper response from the authorities," he said, adding that when such an incident occurs, he would have expected Olmert to be one of the first at the scene.
On Israel Radio today, for the first time in this incident, Chief Rabbi Meir Yisrael Lau condemned the attack on the synagogue, saying that violence against the streams is not the way to conduct debate. Later, Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert joined in the condemnation of the attack.
The Anti-Defamation League office in Jerusalem last night issued a statement saying: "We call upon law enforcement authorities to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of this heinous crime to the full extent of the law. Equally important, we call upon religious leaders of all streams of Judaism and other religions in the city to come together and denounce the desecration of any house of worship."
Emails expressing your outrage can be sent to meyer@irac.org and we will forward them on to the appropriate authorities and to the Masorti Movement in Israel.
To subscribe e-mail listproc@shamash.org with : "subscribe pluralist <first name> <last name>"
To sign, please go to : http
://www.ou.org/public/actionalerts/2000/iran061600.htm
| TO: Ayatolah Seyed
Ali Khameini, Leader of the Revolution
President Mohamed Khatami As the trial of the thirteen Jews in Shiraz comes
to a close, we the undersigned, urge their immediate release. After
an extended trial, it is clear that there is no substance for the charges
against them. It is long overdue that the suffering of the defendants,
their families and the entire Jewish community in Iran be ended.
The world is watching and will judge Iran's commitment to the rule of law
by its conduct in this case.
|
OU/IPA 11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 U.S.A.Thank you.
GARAGE SALE
We are now moving on to our next event....There
will be a "Cachivache Sale" on Aug. 6, 2000. Start cleaning out your closets
and garages, once again your continued help is always appreciated. Things
can be dropped off at Alice Familier's home or at the Synagogue.
BABY SHOWER
Come and join us in the celebration of a Baby
Shower for Eunice Berman, on Monday, July 17, at 3 :30 p.m., at the house
of Sarit Waltersdorfer (tel. 232-7077). Please bring something to eat and
a present for a baby boy.
See you all there ! !
This year, for the first time, we extended some very special awards at the end of the school year.
For those who weren't there, you will be receiving student assignments for next year's classes, as well as a written evaluation of work for the older students.
Classes will not begin again until the new building is ready at the end of August.
Archbishop of San Jose, Monsignor Roman Arrieta Villalobos, defended yesterday the innocence of the Ukrainian Bhodan Koziy, whose expulsion was ordered by the Government last February.
"I am absolutely positive that he is innocent. There is a big confusion. He was an Ukrainian Nationalist, not a member of the Gestapo (Nazi Intelligence Police). This is a regrettable identity mix-up case," said the Archbishop shortly before entering the audience room at the Tribunal de Casacion Penal (Penal Court).
The foreigner is accused for alleged linkage with the Nazi movement and for supposedly having ordered the death of Jews during World War II.
These charges served as arguments for the Direccion de Migracion y Extranjeria (Immigration Services) to rule the banishment of the Ukrainian. This measurement was appealed by Koziy's attorneys before the said Tribunal, which in cases such as these acts like an administrative and not a jurisdictional entity.
Judges Fernando Cruz, Javier Llobet, and Daniel Obando received to monsignor Arrieta's testimony in private.
Attorneys Max Corrales and Ademar Alfaro represented the foreigner.
Solid Base
When inquired on the subject, Public Secretary of Security, Rogelio Ramos, said it is unlikely that charges against Koziy can be grounded on confusion.
"The decision to expel him is based on judicial information both from the United States and from Costa Rica. He (Koziy) has not proved the opposite. He has not brought up anything definite. I think the matter is clear, has true and clear documentation that this man is the man", said Ramos.
Bodhan Koziy, 78, was a policeman in Poland during World War II. He acquired the American citizenship, but 26 years later the US Government canceled it after a trial where his suspected crimes were known.
He arrived to Costa Rica in 1984, and currently resides in Alajuela. Two years after his entrance, the former Soviet Union asked for his extradition.
Back then, though, that country did not offer warranties that the foreigner would not be condemned to death sentence.
Nevertheless, last January it transcended that the World Jewish Congress was threatening with denouncing Costa Rica before the UN's Commission for Human Rights for allowing Koziy's permanence here.
One month after that, the Government announced its decision to banish him, but the Tribunal de Casacion Penal has the last word.
La Nación, June 12, 2000
To Monsignor Arrieta, with all due respect, and also for truth and justice's sake.
The Costa Rican Government ordered, last February, the banishment of the Ukrainian Bhodan Koziy, Costa Rican resident since 1984. His presence here, due to the abundance of proofs, constitutes an incoherent act of our country with the cause of Human Rights.
San Jose Archbishop, Monsignor Roman Arrieta Villalobos, stood up for him, last May 31, in a secret session of the Tribunal de Casacion Penal (Penal Court). Before entering the audience hall, the Archbishop said: "I am absolutely convinced of the fact that he is innocent. There is a big confusion. He was an Ukrainian Nationalist, not a member of the Gestapo (Nazi Intelligence Police). This is a regrettable identity mix-up case".
In short, monsignor Arrieta brings up one only argument: it is an identity mix-up case, that is, another one is the criminal, not Koziy. From this, the Archbishop of San Jose derives his "absolute conviction on his (Koziy's) innocence". The building of this argument collapses, however, if monsignor Arrieta does not provide truthful evidence. An innocence plea without this empirical foundation is weak and refutes other national and international entities that have expressed the opposite. Because of these judicial background, because of the nature of the matter at hand Human Rights and for the elevated position of the Archbishop, that necessarily involves the Catholic Church itself in such a delicate matter, monsignor Arrieta should provide the corresponding proof. In other words, such a weighty archbishop declaration must not just lie there, like a simple expression of intimate conscience, friendship, or compassion. In the field of Human Rights, these criteria are not valid.
On top of that, there is yet another special dimension to this matter: the attitude, born at Second Vatican Council, of Pope John Paul II and of the Vatican facing the Holocaust and Nazi Criminals. Is Koziy a nazi criminal and guilty of crimes against humankind? The most detailed investigations so verify. Against him weighs the following charges: lying when applying for a visa to the United States, whose justice he evaded by fleeing to Costa Rica, where he showed counterfeit documents ; implicit acceptance of his current identity in front of Costa Rican tribunals; and even worse according to US Tribunals participation in the physical beating and murder of Soviet citizens. Also, in the fall of 1942, in the killing of Liusa Rosiner, a 13 year old girl ; in 1943, in the bestial treatment and killing of the Singer girl, only three years old. Also in the extermination, that same year, along with the Gestapo, of the Kandler family; and other crimes of similar nature, which their sole mention brings forth nausea and an unspeakable pain. That is why the Governments of United States and Costa Rica asked for his extradition.
What are your proofs, Monsignor Arrieta Villalobos,
to differ from these investigations? As a Costa Rican, as a Catholic, as
a human being, I urge you, with all due respect, to provide them. Facing
crimes against humankind, the love to the neighbor or the compassion towards
the criminal as a human being cannot cover the justice or stand up for
impunity. This is not a private issue. It is the most universal of all
issues human dignity and the very essence of our homeland and
our Judeo-Christian civilization.
How lucky you are in having an advocate like Monsignor Arrieta! Please explain, to me as a Jew, and to all those who believe in justice, how did you convince the Archbishop and could not do the same with the US authorities ? Big mistake, monsignor. Lucky you, Mr. Koziy (former Gestapo member). How do I explain this to my children? It embarrasses me.
Abraham Baum L.
Diario Extra, June 13, 2000
Among Koziy's alleged victims is Monica Zinger, a 4 year old girl, daughter of the physician at Lysiec. Presumably, Koziy fired against her in cold blood, in the center of the city, and in broad daylight. Bogdan Koziy does not deserve the privilege of living in a truly democratic country such as Costa Rica.
Time has come for him to be returned to his homeland, where he will have to face and take responsibility for his crimes. There can be no more excuses. Ukraine has abolished the death penalty and deporting him to the place where he committed his crimes is the best thing that can be done from a moral point of view.
We urge you to send this message to your government and to the rest of the world. Justice must prevail in Costa Rica.
Simon Wiesenthal Center
Jerusalem, Israel
Dr. Efraim Zuroff, Director
Telephone : 972 2 563-1273
Fax : 972 2 563-1276
E-mail : swcjerus@netvision.net.il
Approximately since then, and only for the reason that the shepherd cannot postpone the defense of those who feel themselves unfairly hunted, whatever race or religion they may belong to, I found myself involved in Mr. Bohdan's affair. There, I have expressed my personal conviction that he is innocent, and that any government would commit a most grave injustice by expelling him without facing the sentence of a Tribunal, whether in Costa Rica or in any other place on earth, condemning him for at least one of the crimes he is accused of.
Personal Conviction.
I have expressed, in 'Al Dia' newspaper (June 4) and 'Eco Catolico' newspaper (June 11), the many reasons why I have the personal conviction that Mr Bohdan is innocent. If Mr Julio Rodriguez or anyone else wants to know them, there they are, in full detail. So at the time being I won't refer to them. Please note I've said: 'my personal conviction'. If Mr Rodriguez or anyone else disagrees with them and with the arguments I rely upon, they are entitled to do so, and neither I nor anybody has the right to censor that.
Using the same arguments as Mr Rodriguez, may I ask: What weighty proofs do you have of all the charges against Mr Koziy that you mention in your column? Could you tell us when and where was he condemned for this or that crime in a Court of Justice? Many Costa Ricans and myself would really thank you for that since, to the best of my knowledge, no civil nor penal tribunal, at Costa Rica or any place else, has condemned him. So, if they have not, how could I, as a bishop and a shepherd, do so without betraying my mission and committing a terrible injustice?
Burden of proof.
One thing is when a person is accused, even of the most horrible crimes, but to prove them before a Court is a whole different matter. Mr Rodriguez certainly knows that the Pharisees once said of Jesus himself: "This one does not expel demons but by works of Beelzebub, who is their chief" (Matthew 12, 24). Would Mr Rodriguez condemn Jesus just because somebody said such terrible things about him, or would he demand that a Court of Justice give its verdict?
It hurts me that Mr Rodriguez is trying to put me in bad terms with the Jewish community of Costa Rica amongst which I have dear friends by bringing up the theme of the Holocaust, which has nothing to do with this matter. I condemn the Holocaust and will condemn it with all the strength of my spirit. It was one of the most despicable crimes committed against our Jewish brethren. I deeply appreciate the Jewish people because, amongst other reasons, Christianity is deeply rooted in it. Mixing one thing with the other is something I won't take from Mr Rodriguez or from anybody else.
I end this obliged answer by clearly stating that
if the Costa Rican Government or any other institution or person should
present us the sentence of a Tribunal condemning Mr Koziy for any of the
crimes he is accused of, I would surrender to the evidence. I am convinced
that impunity is a contemptible act of corruption, since every one should
face his acts, before God and before society.
La Nación, July 3, 2000
Translated by Inés Baum
When I read that monsignor Arrieta had shown before the Tribunal de Casacion Penal to support the Nazi war criminal Bogdan Koziy, I felt a great sadness and disillusionment.
Later, in spite of a letter from Mr. Abraham Baum and a petition from Mr. Julio Rodriguez I still didn't intervene, since I no longer have anything to do with the unpleasant affair that has sullied the good image of our country for almost 15 years.
However, on June 14, when the "Archbishop asks for evidence" about Koziy in a public manner (Foro, La Nación), I can no longer remain silent.
I was the prosecutor that presented Koziy's extradition request before Costa Rica's Court of Justice.
Since then, as now, the Archbishop Arrieta publicly and vehemently defended this person, I called him for an appointment to speak to him not as the lawyer representing the Soviet Union but as a member of the Catholic community.
Testimony.
The Archbishop kindly received me and I showed him the evidence from the extradition judicial file covering the war crimes and crimes against humankind in which Koziy presumably participated :
I remember how impressed you were with those documents and testimonies, which are in the judicial file.
More documents.
Then, if by chance you could still have any doubts, I offered you seven microfilms, with proofs and all the trial and investigation parts done in the United States, which were given to me by Eli M. Rosenbaum, director at the time of the Special Investigations Office of the Criminal Division of the Ministry of Justice in the United States.
You told me you had seen enough, so I deposited the microfilms, for public consultation, in the Procuraduria Penal of Costa Rica.
As a finishing touch, I showed you, in the "Act interview with Koziy Bohdan," drawn up by the Juzgado 1° Penal in Alajuela (the First Penal Court of Justice) on the 3/12/1986, which served as the basis for the judge Nicomedes Madriz to say in his sentence on December 11, 1986, that he as judge :
"... has reached the personal conviction that Mr Koziy is the person to whom the events that happened in the Soviet Union, between the years 1942 and 1943 and which have been accussed, refers to. This is so since Mr. Koziy himself, in his declarations on folios 129 and following, diffusedly lets it show and does not even dare to deny it categorically, being as he is for that purpose vindicating himself to the judge."
I also told you how I had been threatened to death for having presented the extradition suit, of how my wife and my son, just one year old back then, were also threatened to death.
Cardinal pressure.
In front of such evidences, you answered that you had acted at the request and pressure of Rome, from cardinal Myroslav Ivan Lubachivsky but, in view of the overwhelming proof I showed you, you told me you could not retract from what you had said, but you promised you would never defend him publicly, because you had reached the conviction of the gravity of the events.
I tell you all of the above, monsignor, in case you forgot with the course of time.
Koziy has never been condemned in a court of justice because he has never accepted to be submitted until the end to any tribunal : he escaped from Ukraine, he left Europe, he abandoned the United States while a trial against him was in course, and then he found refuge here, where he alleged age reasons, health reasons, and legal subtilties so as to not face justice.
Then, you could commit yourself now to convince
Koziy to accept and submit himself to the United States tribunals, so to
finish the trial that he left pending with his absence, and then we would
see in courts of justice the truth that you are asking for.
VERACRUZ, Mexico -- To one Texas rabbi, the conquistadors who landed here centuries ago left behind a treasure more precious than the gold they sought ; hidden behind this city's sun-blistered walls, and throughout the country, he says, is a lost tribe of Israel.
"Hernan Cortes had secret Jews among his conquerors," Rabbi Samuel Lerer tells a rapt Mexican audience at a Seder in this steamy Caribbean port. Fleeing the Spanish Inquisition, many Jews traveled among their Roman Catholic tormentors to Spain's colonies, concealing their religion. "But many still practiced their faith for years," he says.
Today, says the 85-year-old rabbi, the offspring of those Jews populate a hemisphere. And while most eventually converted to Christianity, their descendants are potential converts to Judaism.
Rabbi Lerer has built a career on his theory, and it has earned him a place in the record books. Since he was ordained in Palestine in 1938, Rabbi Lerer has converted nearly 3,000 people -- more than any rabbi in at least two centuries, says the American Rabbinical Assembly in New York. Most of his converts are Mexican and live in communities he has established since he first came here in 1968...
Of course, many of the New World's first settlers were Jews fleeing the Inquisition, including the 52 Jewish families Christopher Columbus left in Costa Rica on his last voyage to America in 1502. Indeed, Costa Rica's first flag featured the six-pointed Star of David. And many experts believe that early settlements such as Monterrey, Mexico, and Medellin, Colombia, emerged as commercial centers, despite their remote locations, precisely because Jews fleeing the Inquisition sought them out as havens...
Mexico's Jews number fewer than 50,000, according to the Jewish Committee in Mexico City, the organization that keeps the tally. But that doesn't include Rabbi Lerer's converts, with whom the committee hasn't had any contact, according to one of its members. Some in Mexico's traditional Jewish community, in fact, think Mr. Lerer is a little too liberal with his admissions policy.
Though he retired to San Antonio last fall, Rabbi Lerer still travels to Mexico every month or so. He plans to return to Veracruz in August to complete five more conversions. As part of the ceremony, he says, the three women who will become Jews will take their mikvah, or ritual bath, in the sea. Since Jewish law requires males to be circumcised, the two already-circumcised boys among the soon-to-be converts will ceremonially repeat the ritual with a superficial cut to symbolize their new covenant with God.
First assigned to a congregation in Mexico City, Rabbi Lerer began his quest when he heard a rumor about a Jewish sect in Venta Prieta, about 100 miles to the North. It was said they looked and dressed like Indians, spoke no Hebrew, and didn't circumcise their men.
The truth turned out to be even more intriguing. Venta Prieta elders told the Rabbi that the village had been a refuge from the Inquisition, which lasted here until Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821. Many families had since assimilated, but those who kept the faith still guarded a Torah, the scroll containing the first five books of the Bible, though none of them knew its origin. Their rustic sanctuary also included an "eternal lamp," fueled, as in biblical times, with olive oil. "I'd never seen anything like it," Rabbi Lerer recalls.
And they had never seen anyone like him. Convinced their pedigree was genuine, the rabbi converted more than 100 people in a mass ceremony. For the next three decades, he commuted regularly from Mexico City to perform marriages, bar mitzvahs, and circumcisions.
He also opened his doors to any Jew seeking to be "recovered." As word spread, pilgrims came to Mexico City from all over the country for conversion classes. Soon, new congregations sprang up in Puebla and Veracruz.
As their numbers grew, the converted Jews began sending their children to Israel. Under the Law of Return, any Jew can claim Israeli citizenship, including those converted by a recognized rabbi. Rabbi Lerer certainly is recognized. He was ordained even before there was a Jewish state. Before that, he fought as a real Zionist in the militant Ir Gun independence movement.
In all, about 500 Mexican conversos have made it to the Promised Land, which, not incidentally, faces a chronic shortage of low-wage workers. Israeli officials are thrilled with Rabbi Lerer's work : not only will his charges wash dishes and sweep floors, but they are also practicing Jews...
The emigration has caused a bit of a backlash in Mexico, where more entrenched Jewish communities complain that Rabbi Lerer's open-admissions policy makes him as much a labor recruiter as a religious leader. "Israelis need workers," says Abraham Jasqui, a former president of the local Jewish community group in Mexico City. "They will recognize anyone as a Jew as long as they're not Arabs."
Some established congregations complain that Rabbi Lerer is converting without regard to tradition, for instance, by circumcising the sons of non-Jewish mothers, who under Jewish law aren't considered Jews unless they convert, regardless of their father's religions. They also say he is cutting corners to run up for conversion numbers, and that Israel, by recognizing his converts, is putting labor needs ahead of religious standards
Not so, Rabbi Lerer says. "My Jews must pass an
exam of 220 questions" before they can be converted, he says. "Most U.S.
Jews couldn't pass that test"...
(because
in English it sounds as "Hi"and for its meaning)