President Raul Castro Attends Hanukkah in Cuba

[El Presidente]

President Raul Castro Attends Hanukkah in Cuba by PL

http://www.escambray.cu/Eng/cuba/raulcastro101206857

President Raul Castro joined the Cuban Hebrew community to celebrate Hanukkah at Havana's main synagogue, and conveyed to the participants his best wishes. As part of the ceremony, the president was invited to kindle the first light of Hanukkah.

"We feel extremely happy and proud by participating in this festivity with you, and I hope to be back to know more about the Hebrew Community in Cuba and about the fabulous stories of the Hebrew people", Raul Castro told the congregation.

As part of the ceremony, the president was invited to kindle the first light of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE.

The festivity is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.

The Cuban president recalled that a day like today, December 5th, fifty four years ago, the expeditionaries of the Granma yacht fought their first clash with the enemy after landing on Las Coloradas beach, eastern Cuba.

Adela Dworin, chairwoman of the Cuban Hebrew Community, presented Raul Castro with a Jumash, a compendium of the five books of the Torah, the sacred book of Judaism, as a souvenir of his presence in the fifth day of Hanukkah of the year 5771.

During the celebration a short video was screened to remember the participation of the leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, in the Hebrew Festival of the Lights of December 20th, 1998.

Among other guests at this year's festivity were the historian of the city, Eusebio Leal; Episcopal reverend Pablo Oden Marichal, who is the executive secretary of the Council of Churches of Cuba, and Raul Suarez, director of the Martin Luther King Memorial Center.

Also representing the government was Caridad Diego, head of the Religious Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party.

[cigcars]

*Thanks for these regular news updates about Cuba's and other sometimes glossed over world events for us here on the forum, El Pres.

[Habanos2000]

Interesting... I may be a bit ignorant, or OK I am ignorant about this, but I always believed communist countries to be somewhat "religion adverse". I wonder if this is another sign of changes in the Cuban government. Will Raul be lighting the red star on top the state Christmas tree next?

[buster]

Very nice, but more importantly: does Raul prefer applesauce or sour cream with his latkes?

Rick

[El Presidente]

Interesting... I may be a bit ignorant, or OK I am ignorant about this, but I always believed communist countries to be somewhat "religion adverse". I wonder if this is another sign of changes in the Cuban government. Will Raul be lighting the red star on top the state Christmas tree next?

There are thriving religious communities throughout Cuba. The govt keeps a hands off policy as long as they don't interfere too much in political comment.

Of course...Fidel Castro once "Canceled Christmas" when the pope canceled his trip.

[cubanmule7]

Sadly, President Castro was injured while taking part in a traditional Hebrew dance called the Hora. witnesses testified that El Presidente was approaching the tightened circular end of the dance line when fellow reveler Zelda Greenberg Perez fell on top of him followed by Isadore Cohen Hernandez and abe Goldstein cabral. El Presidente is recouperating in an undisclosed Havanna Hospital where he was last heard uttering the words...Oy Vey!!

[El Presidente]

Sadly, President Castro was injured while taking part in a traditional Hebrew dance called the Hora. witnesses testified that El Presidente was approaching the tightened circular end of the dance line when fellow reveler Zelda Greenberg Perez fell on top of him followed by Isadore Cohen Hernandez and abe Goldstein cabral. El Presidente is recouperating in an undisclosed Havanna Hospital where he was last heard uttering the words...Oy Vey!!

I had stitches in my head last time in Havana....wouldn't be the first time I have been recuperating in a Havana hospital

[cubanmule7]

had stitches in my head last time in Havana....wouldn't be the first time I have been recuperating in a Havana hospital

If there's a funny story line to this, I'd love to hear it. What happened pray tell?

[anacostiakat]

Meyer Lansky is turning over in his grave.

[JohnnyO]

Raul must feel the Devil pulling on his ankles....John

[rdb6]

Very nice, but more importantly: does Raul prefer applesauce or sour cream with his latkes?

Rick

Applesauce

[frenchkiwi]

Of course...Fidel Castro once "Canceled Christmas" when the pope canceled his trip.

that was in 69 i think, then Fidel generously reinstated it in '97 a mere 28 years later, he is no Grinch ;-)