I was privileged to be sitting next to a neurosurgeon and his wife, who is a nurse in the hospital where the doctor practices. He told me that between him and his wife they make at $54 a week. The average salary in Cuba is about $30 per week. The person sweeping the street makes about the same money as a skilled surgeon. I asked the doctor why he would put himself through so many years of study to become a neurosurgeon when he could be making the same money doing something that would have required much less struggling. He took his hand to his heart and said to me “because I love people and want to help them.” At this point I knew that he really meant it. He certainly did not do this for the money!

The hospitals in Cuba are set up differently than in the U.S. In Cuba each hospital specializes in a specific ailment, in other words there is a cardiac hospital, a neurology hospital, an orthopedic hospital etc. My doctor friend told me that the hospitals are very well equipped, the doctors and the care are excellent however, what they do not have are drugs to treat their patients. He expressed how frustrating it was to him to see his patients suffering and not being able to give them medication. This is all the more reason that I felt so good about bringing so many prescription drugs with me. The Patronato houses a Jewish drug dispensary where we dropped many many bags of drugs. Every person in my group sincerely brought suitcases full of supplies, including clothing as well.

Adela Dworkin President of the Partonato Synagogue	Pharmacy Supplies at the Patronato Synagogue

The Shabbat service was not our first visit to the Patronato. Soon after we arrived in Cuba, even before we went to our hotel, we were taken there to meet with probably the most prominent and influential Jew in Cuba, president of the Patronato Synagogue, and liaison to the Castro government, Adela Dworkin. She sat and talked to us for about a half hour and graciously answered all of the many questions we were throwing at her. We asked her about the future of the Jewish community and she told us that she was optimistic.  In 1992, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba changed its constitution, allowing for religious freedom. When that occurred the Canadian Jewish community began sending kosher for Passover foods to the congregation (which it is still doing). When word got around about the distribution of the food and people came for their allotment the congregation encouraged them to come back for Shabbat and various holiday celebrations. Within 10 years, a growing number of activities were established, including a Sunday school where children ages 6 through 14 learn Jewish culture and tradition. This Sunday school has been very successful. Many of the children sang and participated in our Shabbat service and they give hope, at least in part, for the future of the Jewish community. The service was also very well attended by members of the congregation.