Helping Dispersed and Emerging Jewish Communities 165 West End Ave., 3R, NY, NY 10023 KULANU TEL: 212-877-8082 FAX: 212-724-7929 http://www.kulanu.org “all of us” [email protected] Volume 16 Number 2 Summer 2009 Thousands of Books for Honor Anousim Zimbabwe Lemba On Tisha B’Av By Relly Coleman Next December Rabbi Stephen Leon will introduce a Resolution My family and I visit Zimbabwe often. Four years ago, in a per- at the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism biennial convention sonal quest in search of the Lemba, an African community with Jewish to honor the victims of the Spanish Inquisition on Tisha B’Av. (This is roots, we visited the Lemba village of Mapakomhere. It was for me a a solemn fast day that mourns the destruction of the First and Second transformative experience. Not only did we find a wonderful, welcom- Temples on the ninth day of the month of ing group of people, but we found a community struggling to educate Av.) Leon’s Resolution, which would its youth and in desperate need of books. For me, it was an “aha” mo- apply to Conservative congregations, ment of “I can do this.” The education of the children of Mapakom- would also honor Bnai Anousim who have here became my mission and the beginning of an incredible journey. returned to Judaism. On returning home, I sent a couple of boxes of books to the vil- The text of the Resolution reads as lage and Books-for-Zim was born. Four years and thousands of books follows: later, I can report that we have expanded and improved the quality of education for the children and youth of Mapakomhere. In the process, Resolution on the observance of Tisha I have discovered an extended family. B’av to be a day to commemorate the On our first visit, we found schools with a paucity of educational Spanish Inquistion and the return of the materials, no library, and a secondary school that ended in grade 10. Rabbi Stephen Leon Anousim to Judaism Without the upper grades, village children were unable to sit for A- Whereas the holiday of Tisha B’av recalls level exams--a prerequisite for university admission. Books were old, the very day that the expulsion of the Jews from Spain took place in scarce and often obsolete. We initially focused on sending books to the year 1492; and the secondary school, but it became apparent early on that the elemen- tary school needed help as well. It made sense to support both schools Whereas many Jews were forcibly converted to Christianity publicly, and thus en- but continued to practice Judaism in secret; and compass the Whereas many of the descendants of these Jews who are called B’nei complete edu- Anousim have returned formally to Judaism today, and many are in cation system the same process, of the village. What a Now, therefore be it resolved that the United Synagogue of Con- joy it is to see servative Judaism calls upon all of its affiliated congregations to the changes in formally observe Tisha B’av on an annual basis as an occasion to the village. In educate its members about the history and events of the Spanish March of this Inquisition regarding the Jewish people, and to inform its members of the return of the B’nei Anousim to Judaism today; and year, we re- turned for our Be it further resolved that the United Synagogue of Conserva- third visit to tive Judaism helps to provide programs, speakers, films, and other Mapakomhere. appropriate materials for such Spanish Inquisition and B’nai Our arrival was Anousim commemorations on Tisha B’av. greeted with Leon’s synagogue, Congregation B’nai Zion of El Paso, Texas, great joy and will be receiving an award at the December convention for its annual friendship. The Anousim conferences. For the past nine years the congregation has villagers put on A warm welcome by the kids of Tadzembwa school, who surrounded the author on her arrival brought in speakers, films and programs about the Bnai Anousim dur- a day long wel- ing the Tisha B'Av service. Congregants have listened to Yaffa come with all DaCosta, Sonya Loya, Art Benvenisti, Richard Santos, Rabbi Juan the students, teachers, elders and parents in attendance. The commu- Meji, and Trudy Alexy, z’’l, author of The Mezuzah in the Madonna’s nity slaughtered a goat and two chickens for the celebration, which Foot. They have also viewed such films as The Longing by Gloria they served with pumpkin and sadza (a local staple made of cornmeal). Bohm, about Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn’s work with Anousim in Latin There was singing, dancing, drumming and a six-part skit by the stu- America. dents of the elementary and secondary schools as well as speeches by “Tisha B'Av is the perfect time to mourn the expulsion of the the headmasters, elders and other tribal dignitaries. A public request Jews from Spain in 1492 and to celebrate the return of their descen- was made to the headman (village chief), who agreed to allocate land dants, the Bnai Anousim of today,” Leon notes. “The response to our (Continued on page 8) programs has been wonderful.” FROM THE PRESIDENT Come with Us to Ethiopia AND Uganda! By Harriet Bograd “Kechene” Jews. The long tour will conclude around January My husband Ken and I are avid travelers, and we were so 13, but participants may travel more on their own. Various tour tempted by two trips scheduled for next January, we plan to do ideas are presented at http://mogilee-lodge-and-tours- both, all on a single plane fare!! Here’s why: ethiopia.com. Uganda Several Kulanu leaders hope to be joining Ken and me on Laura Wetzler’s “Jewish Life in Uganda Mitzvah Tour” to the Ethiopia trip, including Jack and Diane Zeller and Karen visit the Abayudaya in eastern Uganda is almost legen- and Aron Primack. Please join us on one or both trips! Please dary. Where else can you combine a fabulous safari adventure email us at [email protected] to let us know of your interest as on the Nile, complete with crocs, hippos, lions and giraffes, soon as possible. with touring coffee lands with Oprah-famous “Delicious Peace” interfaith coffee farmers, visit two Kulanu supported Jewish schools educating and feeding 700 Muslim, Jewish and Chris- tian kids a day, meet inspiring women’s and youth groups, and learn about model Kulanu tikkun olam programs fighting pov- erty in Africa through small business and micro-credit? And where else can you meet new and beloved Abayudaya friends, join in a mitzvah day, enjoy exotic Ugandan cuisine, celebrate an Abayudaya Shabbat, and shepp nachas at an Abayudaya African Jewish Musical Festival organized especially in your honor? See for yourself. Come, and bring your friends and fam- ily on this extraordinary Jewish heritage trip. The Uganda trip is planned for January 10-23, 2010. Kulanu Needs a Ethiopia Volunteer Newsletter Editor A new trip to Ethiopia will probably begin around January Serving as the volunteer Editor of the popular 3, 2010. The main attraction will be a visit with the Beit Avra- Kulanu quarterly Newsletter, which is distributed in ham, the “Kechene” Jews you might have read about in our last hard copy to 1,500 people, and electronically to newsletter, who are also known as Moretes. These Jews mi- grated at different times, some as early as the 12th century, from thousands more, will allow you to communicate with Axum and Gondar to Shewa and the Addis Ababa area. Over fascinating Jewish personalities around the globe. the decades, some intermarried with Christians and were buried The position will enable you to make hundreds of with them. Others rejected Christianity (and the land owner- friends, hear amazing stories, and feel more con- ship that it promised) and observed Jewish rites secretly. There nected to the work Kulanu does and the people is now a new movement to return to the ancestral religion who make it happen. openly, so it is time for us to go to meet them and encourage Karen Primack, our volunteer Newsletter Editor them! of the past 15 years, is phasing this role out of her The short version of this trip, for those of us going on to multitude of Kulanu activities, but is happy to guide Uganda on January 9 or 10, will include visiting the Beit Avra- you in this rewarding mitzvah, which is crucial to ham and other sights in and near Addis Ababa, as well as Adadi Mariam, a Jewish construction of the 11th century that is now a Kulanu's success. The Kulanu Board will consider church, and the Melka Kontur prehistoric site, home of homo one editor, co-editors, or an editorial board of writ- erectus. (Fortunately, a direct, short flight goes from Addis to ers, editors, and layout designers. Writing experi- Entebbe, Uganda). ence is a must; editing and desk-top publishing ex- Those remaining in Ethiopia will continue on to the Am- perience is helpful. This position can be performed bover Jewish community and synagogue, Bahardar, and Gon- anywhere! Check out our present and past News- dar’s medieval castles (built with Jewish free manpower). We letters at www.kulanu.org. will visit Gondar’s Jewish compound, where thousands of “Falash Mura” are awaiting permission to immigrate to Israel. We will then visit Lalibela, whose famous rock-hewn structures were built by the Zagwe Jews who ruled Ethiopia for 200 years. KULANU (“ALL OF US”), a tax-exempt organization of We will conclude the tour in Axum, the cradle of the Jewish Jews of varied backgrounds and practices, networks Empire in Ethiopia and the place believed by some to house with dispersed and emerging remnants of the Jewish the Arc of the Covenant.