English Speaking Community Column

Celebrating Two Special Women……

We are privileged to celebrate two exceptional Panamanian Jewish women in our midst next week!

On Monday, March 28, 2016 our Jewish Literature Book Club will be hosting Panama born, KSI daughter and published author Marlena Maduro Baraf who will be our program guest. She will engage us in discussions relating to her two writings about growing up Jewish in Panama and her recent “blog” posting in the Huffington Post. Also, she has promised to read an additional part of her memoir not before read in public.

Over the course of the two years the book club has been in existence, Marlena has graciously shared her writings with us and on one occasion we were able to skype with her at home in New York, and now we have the real treat of having a discussion with her in person!

 As an introduction, Marlena writes of her family and Jewish community in Panama when growing up: “We were a tiny minority living in a small nation with a capital city next to the Pacific Ocean…”

Marlena Maduro Baraf is a double Maduro (!), daughter of Julita Cardoze Maduro and Edwardo Delvalle Maduro. Marlena was born and raised in Panama but completed her higher education in the United States. She married an American boy from Brooklyn and established herself in New York, where she and her husband Donald raised two boys and now enjoy the blessings of four grandchildren. An accomplished author, she’s written a coming of age story set in Panama in the l950’s, 60s and 70s. 

If you are interested in attending the discussion, it is mandatory that you read the articles being discussed that night. I will gladly send you this material with the formal announcement including needed meeting information, etc. Seating is limited.  Email me at: robert.jacobvitz@sbcglobal.net.

  

Marlena is travelling to Panama from the United States to be with family to celebrate her aunt Adelaide Fidanque’s 100th birthday!  Marlena is also the sister of Carlos, Patricia and Roberto Maduro, all book club members!

Adelaide Goldfein de Fidanque in addition to being an active participant in the book club and past president and active member of the sisterhood graciously allowed the Panama Jewish Oral History Project to videotape her life’s story, so future generations of Jews will know of her grace, intellect and lasting beauty.

Accompanying this article is a photo of Adelaide with Oral History associate manager Shayna Blum-Hodes who holds Adelaide as her personal hero.

מאה ועשרים שנה‎; "Ad Mayah Ve-essrim Shana"

Adelaide: "May You Live Until 120..."

“Every second of life, from the moment of conception until the completion of one's years in this world, is a gift from G‑d. It is a gift that must not be squandered. Indeed every single day, Jews ask G‑d in prayer that one's life be filled with days that are meaningful, healthy, and truly complete in the 

eyes of G‑d.

It is common among Jews to wish another to live "until 120." This is because the Torah tells us that "Moses was 120 years old when he died" (Deuteronomy 34:7), and his life was deemed perfect and complete. Other leaders, who lived until the age of 120, include Hillel, Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakai, Rabbi Akivah, and Rabbi Yehudah Hanassi. Each were giants in their time.”  

By Zalman Goldstein

I can safely say those of us of the KSI community who know you, both admire and love you, Adelaide.