Jewish Cuba

The Patronato was remodeled about 15 years ago all financed by Jews from the U.S., Canada and other countries. The decor is modern, with an elaborate entrance marked by a giant arch and gold religious symbols etched in the front door. The ark is made of dark wood and marble and the seats are velour. The facilities do not reflect the economic standing of its members. Cuba’s Jewish community is one of the poorest in the world.

	Front doors of the Patronato
Front arch and doors of the Patronato

Ark and Bima of the Partonato	Rear wall of the Patronato
Me at the Patronato

During our meeting Adela (she prefers being called by her first name) also told us about her close relationship with Fidel Castro. She had the opportunity to meet Fidel in 1998, and asked him why he had never visited the Jewish community. He replied: “Because I was never invited.” She promptly invited him to an upcoming Chanukah celebration. When Fidel asked what Chanukah was, Adela explained that the holiday celebrates the “revolution” — a word Castro likes — the revolution of the Jewish people. Chanukah came and so did Fidel. He showed up at the party of 200 people, sat next to her in the front row and addressed the congregation in one of his famous lengthy speeches.

Adele and Fidel

Adela's close relationship with the Castro’s has also allowed her to be one of the very few people who are allowed to visit Alan Gross, an American Jew from Boca Raton who was prosecuted in 2011 after being accused of crimes against the Cuban state for bringing satellite phones and computer equipment to members of Cuba’s Jewish community without the permit required under Cuban law.

In December 2009 he was arrested while in Cuba working as a U.S. government subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He was convicted for “acts against the independence or the territorial integrity of the state" and is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence in Cuba. Several U.S. congress people as well as former Secretary of State Clinton have visited Cuba to try to convince the Cuban government to free Mr. Gross but these attempts have been unsuccessful. Adela visits him regularly to update him on what is being done to help him as well as to cheer him up.