37.ª Conferencia de la Asociación Internacional de Sociedades Genealógicas Judías

Felicidades a los miembros Lyanne Lindo Wasserman y Robert Jacobvitz, fundadores del Proyecto y Archivos Historia Oral Judía, quienes han sido aceptados como presentadores de la 37.ª Conferencia de la Asociación Internacional de Sociedades Genealógicas Judías llevada a cabo desde Julio 23 – 28, 2017, en el Walt Disney Resort en Orlando, Florida. El taller se titula: Encontrando, Ensamblando y Digitalizando la Historia del Asentamiento Judío en la República de Panamá.

El Proyecto y Archivos Historia Oral Judía está alojado en el Museo Judío de Panamá, localizado en el campus de KSI, y cuyo propósito principal es registrar la historia de los descendientes de las familias fundadoras y de miembros más recientes de la Congregación Kol Shearith Israel y su rol en la historia de la República hasta hoy en día.

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Congratulations to members Lyanne Lindo Wassermann and Robert Jacobvitz, founders of the  Panama Jewish Oral History Project and Archives who have been accepted as presenters at the 37th International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societys International Conference being held from July 23 - 28, 2017 at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, FL. The workshop is titled: Finding, Assembling and Digitizing the History of Jewish Settlement in the Republic of Panama.

English Speaking Community Activites Report for October 14, 2016 Iton

KSI Jewish Liteature Book Club Members Assist Members of the Panama West Indian Community!

At its May 2016 meeting, Book Club members met with leaders of the Panama West Indian Museum (Society De Amigos del Museo Afroantillano De Panama) or SAMAAP to diccuss each community’s interests and efforts to contribute to the welfare of all Panamanians.

One conversation focused on the efforts of Alonso and Carmela  Gobern, whom in addition to their SAMAAP commitments have been publishing the Calendario Panama for the past 30 years.

At the meeting Carmela and Alonso shared with those present that all the proceeds from the sale of the calendars are donated to non-profit community based organizations. 

Alsonso and Carmela Gobern

English Speaking Community Activities Report

Doing Mitzvot between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; one KSI and Book Club Member Family’s Way 

The ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending on Yom Kippur are called the “Days of Awe” (Yamin Noraim). A time of introspection/self-reflection when Jews consider their sins of the previous year and repent on Yom Kippur.

It is a private activity and should have a significant effect in one’s future behavior towards others; being a better person.

English Speaking Community Activities Column

Shoshanna Levy Leads a powerful Presentation and Discussion on the Panama Pollera at Recent Book Club Meeting

Shoshanna Levy, Panamanian author and KSI Member led a powerful presentation and discussion at the most recent Book Club Meeting at the home of Sarah and Paul Stern home on Thursday, September 22, 2016.

More than twenty-five members and guests attended, including leaders of SAMAAP, (Friends of the West Indian Museum) and members of a group of enthusiasts organized to preserve the authenticity of the Panama Pollera.

Shoshanna Levy addressing captivated audience

English Speaking Community Activities Column!‏

Book Club Member and Literary writer Marlena Maduro Baraf Establishes her own Website titled Breathing in Spanish and Welcomes all interested to Explore and Read her Essays!

The KSI English speaking community sponsored Book Club has been involved in a number of readings and discussions since it's inception.

At the beginning of my effort in making the book club relevant to both Panamanians and ex-pats in our community I was always on the lookout for a commonality of interest for the programs.

English Speaking Members Activity Report

KSI Annual Members Assembly is a Worthwhile Event to Attend!

After being a member of KSI for three years and being in Panama at this time, I thought it would be a worthwhile experience attending the Congregation’s annual meeting which was held on the evening of September 1, 2016 in the Melhado Salon.

What I found out was while many members attend services and the various programs offered, when it comes to attending a synagogue business meeting for many it may not be the most important date on their calendar.

And all too often, the synagogue Annual Meeting is undervalued by many when in reality it may be the most important meeting in the life of a congregation. 

Members socializing and waiting for the meeting to begin

English Speaking Community Members Report. September 2, 2106

KSI Book Club Members and Friend invited to the West Indian Museum of Panama for a book Presentation and Lunch.

On Wednesday, August 17, 2016 the KSI Jewish Literature Book Club: Living as a Jew in the Caribbean and Latin America members were privileged to be hosted by the members of the West Indian Museum of panama, Society De Amigos Museo Afroantillano De Panama (SAMAAP) at their delightful building at the intersection s of corner Calle 24 Esta and Avenida Justo Arosemena, directly across the street from the Cinco de Mayo Metro Station.

This meeting was the third of a series of meetings between two communities in Panama who want to share their stories with the younger members of their community and preserve their heritage so others will know and appreciate their history in this country.

KSI English Speaking Community Column

English Speaking Community Members are Active as Leaders of the Sisterhood.

On Tuesday, August 16, 2016 the Sisterhood held its Annual Meeting with the installation of the new Officers and Board Members with President Rita Sasso welcoming all guests to the meeting.

A review of the past years accomplishments was presented as well as plans for the coming year. It was evident by those presenting that membership in the Sisterhood is a very rewarding experience, since the Sisterhood has contributed significantly to the betterment of many communities and social service agencies throughout Panama by its honorable practice of Tzedaká.

 President Sasso presents the Sash of Office & Presidents Gavel to new President Dayra Bern

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.

English Speakers Activities Column

KSI English Speaking Community Celebrates the Bat Mitzvah of Book Club Member Gina Maduro and with Friends From the Panama West Indian Community as Gusets

This past Saturday, July 23, 2016 Book Club members and invited friends from the Sociedad de Amigos del Museo Afroantillano de Panana (SAMAAP) joined KSI congregants and Maduro family members in celebrating Gina Maduro's Bat Mitzvah as a part of the Sabbath service.

KSI Jewish Literature Book Club

KSI Jewish Literature Book Club: Living as a Jew in the Caribbean and Latin America hosts a discussion with author Melva Lowe de Goodin and members of the Panamanian Afro-Caribbean Community.

On the evening of May 12, 2016 twenty- five members of the Book Cub and Society of Friends of the West Indian Museum of Panama (SAMAAP) met for an evening of discussion, sharing and friendship at the home of Book Club members Arthur Tepfer and Michaelle Bauzille .

The author & community activist discussed her book: People of African Ancestry in Panama 1501-2012. 

Attending the evening’s program were Prof. Verónica D. Forte, President of SAMAAP and faculty member of the Universidad de Panamá - Panama TESOL , Carmela & Alonso Gobern, publishers of the CALENDARIO PANAMA. This is a calendar in both Spanish and English providing informative listings of events in Panama by community and social service organization activities yearly. And in 2016 and is celebrating its 30th year of publication. 

Celebrating Kol Shearith Israel's 140th Anniversary and the Opening of the Panama Jewish Archives Exhibit

This past Monday, May 9, 2016  Congregation Kol Shearith Israel celebrated its 140th anniversary. The evening's festivities were remarkable with there being an overflow of members, friends and well wishers from all over the world attending this celebratory event of worship, speeches and singing,  The congregation choir under the direction of Cantor Nurit Meresman-Azoulay provided a repertoire of devotional and celebratory melodies. Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik guided the religious service and program with his usual aplomb. 

Dignitaries from the Panamanian government attended including President Juan Carlos Varela and members of various religious groups in Panama. The President's speech was very well received by all in attendance.   The evenings events ended by a rousing rendition of the Panama national anthem followed by a lovely reception in Melhado Social Hall.

KSI English Speaking Community Iton Blog Column…..

In Celebration of Kol Shearith Israel’s 140th Anniversary:

Searching for Important Family Trees, Documents, Photos and Artifacts

In a previous column I wrote of members and friends of KSI working together in establishing the KSI Jewish Oral History and Archival Projects

Given the excitement generated by the upcoming 140th Anniversary of Congregation Kol Shearith Israel on May 9, 2016, there are many requests being made for KSI archival information.

March 2016 KSI Jewish Book Club Meeting: Living as a Jew in the Caribbean and Latin América

A Delightful Evening with Panamanian-American Jewish Author Marlena Maduro Baraf

On Tuesday night, March 28, 2016 the KSI Book Club held a fully attended discussion with KSI community daughter Marlena Mauro Baraf at the impressive home of Arthur Tepfer and his gracious wife Michaelle Beauzile. 

Twenty seven club members, guests and relatives who attended the meeting were delighted by the night’s proceedings. Marlena, visiting Panama for her aunt Adelaide Fidanque’s 100th birthday, took time out of her busy schedule to engage numbers in a discussion of her previous works as well as reading excerpts from her just completed memoir on growing up in Panama coupled with her Jewish identity. Accompanying her was husband Donald, whom was observed is her greatest fan.

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.

Kol Shearith Israel…Welcoming Community

As a member of Kol Shearith Israel I have attempted to be involved in program offerings as much as I can in support of the congregation and have witnessed steady growth in activities along with an increase of visitors on Shabbos who seem to be mostly English speaking. 

Two Shabbats ago we had a group of 23 college students and staff from Vanderbilt University, Hillel and the Be’chol Lashon Institute visiting us for the purpose of experiencing Jewish life in Latin America.

Since returning to the United States the following communication was received on behalf of the students and staff:

The Panama Jewish Oral History Project Establishes a Permanent Home

For the last two years the Panama Jewish Oral History Project has had articles published in the KSI Annual Boletin, and this report is being written to make more congregants and friends of KSI better informed of the Project’s activities and to give an update of the recent establishment of the it’s work space within the KSI library.

By the way, this activity is an excellent example of many English and Spanish speaking congregation members partnering to preserve the history of Jewish settlement in Panama, of our congregation and the memories and stories of our members. And we are looking for more members and friends to join us as we grow the Project.

KSI English Speaking Group activities highlighted at a recent Jewish community meeting in Boquete!

KSI Jewish Literature Book Club long distance member Barbara Rabkin, a transplant from Cincinnati, Ohio, living in Boquete, decided that it was time to reach out to Jews living in Chiriqui province for the purpose of seeing if there was intersect in organizing Jewish programs.  To this effect she crafted the name JCC (Jewish Community of Chriqui) to identify her effort and then invited interested residents to attend an introductory meeting.  This would be the first major gathering of Jews since the closing of Magen David Synagogue in David in the 1980’s. Little did she know that 100 individuals responded and would eventually attend.

English Speakers Activities Column

English Speakers Activities Column: Welcoming Bechol Lashon: (In Every Tongue) visitors to KSI, Erev Shabbat, March 4, 2016

In my introductory column last week I wrote about this synagogue being the "big tent" in Jewish life here in Panama. As I look at my fellow Jews at services I can proudly say that we are truly a diverse community. We are inclusive and show it. We are descendants of those who escaped the Inquisition, to those who survived the Holocaust, to transplants from other countries, to those reclaiming their Jewish heritage after generations of being Anusim (unwillingly converted) or better known as conversos, to those choosing Judaism for personal reasons.  

And by writing the above, I am reminded that our congregation is the only one that offers conversion classes! 

Inaugural KSI English Speakers Activities Column

Dear KSI Members,

KSI is graced with many members from all over the Jewish world in addition to members of our founding families who are fluent in English. This column is being created to inform you of the many activities we are involved in and opportunities for you to be active with us in enriching Jewish life as a member of the congregation, and in outreach to our fellow Jews and Jewish community friends.

For the last few years now, a number of English speaking members have come together developing enjoyable relationships as participants in the congregational activities and have indeed developed caring friendships.