Leaving Cuba, and a return

a report by Stan Cohen

Mark and Gerald Noznisky left Cuba in 1957 prior to the revolution because of problems that their family had with the Batista regime.  They came with their mother and another brother and settled in Buffalo, New York. 

Their father had passed away several years before and was buried in the Jewish cemetery.  During the revolution, some of the gravesites in the Jewish cemetery had been desecrated.  

The two brothers returned with me and the B'nai B'rith Cuban Jewish Relief Project.  When they were taken to the Jewish Cemetery to visit their father's grave they found that because many stones had been destroyed, the gravesite could not be identified.  We investigated all of the papers of the people that were buried in the cemetery and finally identified their father's grave. 

They asked me to please make arrangements for another head stone and although it could not be done while they were there, plans were made and they returned two years later for the dedication. 

The B'nai B'rith Cuban Relief Project has accomplished many things in Cuba but helping the Noznisky family to put their father to rest was an accomplishment beyond description.   The Noznisky's say that they will be eternally grateful for the help that they were given by myself and the B'nai B'rith Cuban Relief Project.  
  
Dr. Pedro Ramirez left Cuba in 1961 during the Pedro Pan airlift.  There was a strong belief by the Cubans at that time that the Soviets who had settled in Cuba with the sanction of Fidel Castro were going to send the children of Cuba to Russia to train them as communists. 

Left to right: Mark Noznisky, Dr. Pedro Ramirez, Stan Cohen, Gerald Noznisky

The reaction by Cuban families was to send their children to the United States so that this would not happen.  Over 15,000 children were sent out of Cuba without their parents.  Dr. Ramirez was sent at age 14 with three of his young siblings.  They were sent to Miami by themselves and when they arrived they were considered orphans and sent to an orphanage in Cincinnati, Ohio.  It was three years before they saw their parents again. 

Dr. Ramirez called me and told him of his experience and asked that the next time that he traveled to Cuba would he bring some soil and a photograph of the home he lived in to see if it was still there.

I brought the soil, found that his home was intact and in good shape because it was a paladar (a restaurant).   Pedro asked if he and his wife could go on a mission to Cuba with the Cuban Relief Project.  When Pedro arrived on the plane at Jose Marti airport he kissed the ground and cried "I am home."

Pedro had never brought closure to his experience and for years after he left would not discuss the experience.  Pedro has told me that the trip "home" was the highlight of his life and he thanks myself and the B'nai B'rith Cuban Jewish Relief Project for making it possible to do this.

Pedro, Jerry and Mark Noznisky and myself have become fast friends and speak to each other regularly.

This occurrence was a wonderful mitzvah for all of us.