English Speakers Activity Column

KSI Book Club and Congregation Members invited to attend Book Reading and Discussion at The Museo Afroantillano de Panama on August 17, 2016

For the last three months Book Club members have had the privilege of not only meeting with leaders of the organized West Indian community in Panama but developing personal relationships as well.

We read and discussed PEOPLE OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY IN PANAMA 1501-2012 with noted historian and author Melva Lowe De Goodin, then continued a dialogue with Professor Veronica D. Forte, president of SAMAAP (Society of Friends of the West Indian Museum of Panama, Carmela Gobern, publisher of CALENDARIO PANAMA (The Panama Calendar) and Melva. We shared both West Indian and Jewish communal concerns of wanting to maintain group identity and the importance of educating successive generations of the richness of each community’s history and traditions. And  at last month’s meeting Book Club Member Gina Maduro invited all to her July 23, 2016 Bat Mitzvah at KSI.

Six members of SAMAAP attended both the Sabbath service and Bat Mitzvah. They were warmly welcomed by congregation members and Rabbi Kraselnik and all expressed appreciation for being able for what was for the majority their first opportunity to visit a synagogue.

  

SAMAAP guests being greeted by Ruthy Kraselnik and congregant Nessin Harrouche at synagogue

Now book club and congregation members have been extended an invitation by our friends from SAMAAP to attend a private program at the museum in conjunction with the annual Panama Book Fair taking place at ATLAPA during the month of August.

On Wednesday, August 17, 2016 we will hear a presentation by visiting Jamaica scholar and author, Olive Senior who will discuss her book: DYING TO BETTER THEMSELVES: West Indians and the Building of the Panama Canal.  Below is a link to the author’s biography:

http://www.olivesenior.com/author/index.html

The book is available from Amazon and is published by The University of the West Indies Press. Copies will be available for purchase at the museum and I am told the cost will be +/- $40.00.

I have read the book and it is extremely well written and with 416 pages provides a very thorough account of the West Indian experience in the building of the Panama Canal especially from the West Indian perspective!

Date and Time:

The program again is on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 and the author’s presentation begins at 10:00 am with questions and answers to follow with refreshments at 12 noon. A Museum tour will be available with a docent.

Place and Directions:

Museum Afroantillano, Esquina de Calle 24 Este y Aveneda Justo Arosemena (also across the street from the Cinco de Mayo METRO station) There is limited parking on the Museum grounds.

No reservation is needed and I hope to see you there.

Questions; email me at robert.jacobvitz@sbcglobal.net

  

Note:

Jews of Jamaican origin are mentioned in the book with references to: Isaac Brandon and Company, S.B. Delvalle and Company and there is even a Yom Kippur notice one year in the Star and Herald noting the celebration of  the holiday in Colon, announcing the presence of well-known Jamaican Jews: Charles Alberga, Mr. Martinez, Michael Delevante, David Lindo and Isaac Symons.  Additionally, the Clement and Henriques family are mentioned in the book and in particular Jamaican brothers Rudolph, Emanuel, Horace, Owen and Fabian and what would eventually become the Henriques Brothers Construction Company back in Jamaica.

Robert Jacobvitz