Abraham and Eugenia: Stories from Jewish Cuba
Encyclopedia
Abraham and Eugenia: Stories From Jewish Cuba is a 1994 documentary directed by Bonnie Burt.
. Abraham and Eugenia: Stories From Jewish Cuba tells the story of two people living on the communist island nation
that have held onto their faith despite an environment that was anything but supportive. Amazingly, each has been carrying out the rituals of their beliefs for the duration of a thirty-year government repression on faith based organized services.
Abraham a Jewish-Cuban conveys to viewers that the inclination to integrate
into the society is very intense on the island of Cuba. He acknowledges that there is a lack of anti-Semitism
in the nation, which makes it easier to blend in with the general population. However, Abraham sees it as a struggle because living, as an average Cuban is fine; nevertheless he wants the younger generation to carry on Jewish traditions.
Accomplishing such duration requires dedication. When Castro
took power in 1959 up until the early 1990s, 90% of the Jewish population, which had totaled 15,000, left Cuba. Documentarian, Bonnie Burt traveled to Cuba in 1994; upon arrival she discovers a lack of medication, that power outages are an everyday occurrence and groceries per-household are extensively limited throughout the island. Shortly after the fall of the USSR, the communist party of Cuba proclaimed theological demonstration to once again be tolerable. It is within this environment that Burt films a duo that is symbolic of the revival of Judaism in Cuba.
The capital city of Havana
has a lone kosher butcher: Abraham. Bonnie Burt catches up with Abraham they day before his son Yacob's bar-mitzvah. It is the first occasion of its kind in Havana in over 15 years. At the service Abraham announces that their Jewish community has not had a rabbi
in about 30 years, but they have been able to persevere.
In the rural, undeveloped area of Cuba's inland viewers are introduced to Eugenia, a lady who has taken an unselfish attitude to sustaining her beliefs. She was raised in the same countryside that developed the radical leaders of the Cuban Revolution
. Eugenia and her sister spent much of the adult life attempting to respect their religious father's desire that they only wed men of the Jewish faith. Unfortunately, for the two women it was hopeless to find a Jewish mate in a country with only 1,500 Jews total. Eventually when the women arrived at their 30s they realized they had two options: to remain single for the rest of their lives or marry a gentile
. Eugenia and her sibling decided to adjust to their environment and wed non-Jewish Cuban men.
The Jewish population is at a significantly low level, resulting from periodic mass departure, which meant that the pious societies of Camagüey
, Cienfuegos
and Santiago
stand at fewer than 100 Jews per town. They also lack synagogues to congregate and worship in. To strengthen Jewish living and retain a quorum
of men from the Jewish faith, more people are considered necessary.
The documentary provides a peek into Cuba's surprisingly multi-ethnic but, statistically low population of Jewish settlers who trace their origins to Mediterranean countries, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and various other regions of the world. These migrants have replaced a void created by Jews that have set off to new locations. On the subject of spikes and falls of the Jewish population in Cuba, Abraham sees it as regrouping after losing members of the congregation. Finding new associates is a fact of life for Abraham.
Summary
Embracing religion within a nation that looks down upon religious affiliations is challenging. One group that knows this first hand is the Jewish population of CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Abraham and Eugenia: Stories From Jewish Cuba tells the story of two people living on the communist island nation
Island nation
An island country is a state whose primary territory consists of one or more islands or parts of islands. As of 2011, 47 of the 193 UN member states are island countries.-Politics:...
that have held onto their faith despite an environment that was anything but supportive. Amazingly, each has been carrying out the rituals of their beliefs for the duration of a thirty-year government repression on faith based organized services.
Abraham a Jewish-Cuban conveys to viewers that the inclination to integrate
Social integration
Social integration, in sociology and other social sciences, is the movement of minority groups such as ethnic minorities, refugees and underprivileged sections of a society into the mainstream of societies...
into the society is very intense on the island of Cuba. He acknowledges that there is a lack of anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
in the nation, which makes it easier to blend in with the general population. However, Abraham sees it as a struggle because living, as an average Cuban is fine; nevertheless he wants the younger generation to carry on Jewish traditions.
Accomplishing such duration requires dedication. When Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
took power in 1959 up until the early 1990s, 90% of the Jewish population, which had totaled 15,000, left Cuba. Documentarian, Bonnie Burt traveled to Cuba in 1994; upon arrival she discovers a lack of medication, that power outages are an everyday occurrence and groceries per-household are extensively limited throughout the island. Shortly after the fall of the USSR, the communist party of Cuba proclaimed theological demonstration to once again be tolerable. It is within this environment that Burt films a duo that is symbolic of the revival of Judaism in Cuba.
The capital city of Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
has a lone kosher butcher: Abraham. Bonnie Burt catches up with Abraham they day before his son Yacob's bar-mitzvah. It is the first occasion of its kind in Havana in over 15 years. At the service Abraham announces that their Jewish community has not had a rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
in about 30 years, but they have been able to persevere.
In the rural, undeveloped area of Cuba's inland viewers are introduced to Eugenia, a lady who has taken an unselfish attitude to sustaining her beliefs. She was raised in the same countryside that developed the radical leaders of the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
. Eugenia and her sister spent much of the adult life attempting to respect their religious father's desire that they only wed men of the Jewish faith. Unfortunately, for the two women it was hopeless to find a Jewish mate in a country with only 1,500 Jews total. Eventually when the women arrived at their 30s they realized they had two options: to remain single for the rest of their lives or marry a gentile
Gentile
The term Gentile refers to non-Israelite peoples or nations in English translations of the Bible....
. Eugenia and her sibling decided to adjust to their environment and wed non-Jewish Cuban men.
The Jewish population is at a significantly low level, resulting from periodic mass departure, which meant that the pious societies of Camagüey
Camagüey
Camagüey is a city and municipality in central Cuba and is the nation's third largest city. It is the capital of the Camagüey Province.After almost continuous attacks from pirates the original city was moved inland in 1528.The new city was built with a confusing lay-out of winding alleys that made...
, Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos is a city on the southern coast of Cuba, capital of Cienfuegos Province. It is located about from Havana, and has a population of 150,000. The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur...
and Santiago
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
stand at fewer than 100 Jews per town. They also lack synagogues to congregate and worship in. To strengthen Jewish living and retain a quorum
Minyan
A minyan in Judaism refers to the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations. According to many non-Orthodox streams of Judaism adult females count in the minyan....
of men from the Jewish faith, more people are considered necessary.
The documentary provides a peek into Cuba's surprisingly multi-ethnic but, statistically low population of Jewish settlers who trace their origins to Mediterranean countries, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and various other regions of the world. These migrants have replaced a void created by Jews that have set off to new locations. On the subject of spikes and falls of the Jewish population in Cuba, Abraham sees it as regrouping after losing members of the congregation. Finding new associates is a fact of life for Abraham.