B'NAI B'RITH CUBA MAIMONIDES LODGE
SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
MAY, 2003

The B'nai B'rith Maimonides Lodge in Cuba has recently celebrated its sixtieth anniversary. The celebration is considered one of the most important moments for Cuba's Jewish community in recent memory.

The celebration was an exciting, two-day event, beginning at 3:30 on Saturday, May 17, 2003 at the Patronato (a.k.a. Jewish Community Center). The facility had a near-full house of 125 people for speeches, award presentations and dinner. The event started with a review of the lodge's history by Lodge President Isaac Rousso. Five awards were presented: one to Stanley Cohen (International Chairman of the B'nai B'rith Cuban Jewish Relief Project) and one each to June Safran and Stanley Falkenstein (from California). Other awards were given to Dr. Jose Miller, president of the Jewish community and Isaac Gelen, past-president of B'nai B'rith Cuba.

A special highlight was the proclamation honoring the lodge's 60 years serving the community that Joel Kaplan (President, B'nai B'rith International) and Dan Mariaschin (Executive Vice President) had signed.

Stanley Cohen made a speech presenting the proclamation together with a plaque honoring the 60th anniversary, along with a special Humanitarian Award to Isaac Russo. During his speech, Cohen had asked for all of the members of B'nai B'rith to stand. Although not all in attendance were members, everyone stood anyway to applaud B'nai B'rith.

The guests included prominent non-Jews as well as members of the community, including scholars from the University Of Havana among other local dignitaries. This is part of the chapter's goal of being a part of the greater Cuban community by having such people speak at their meetings on a regular basis.

On Sunday, May 18, the lodge held a family-friendly picnic for the Jewish community at large. About 130 people traveled in three buses to a park in the mountains about 70 kilometers from Havana. Stu & Karen Cooper brought toys and games for the children such as Frisbees, badminton, jump-rope, and basketballs. These are items the kids would not otherwise have.

The anniversary celebration was applauded by all the leaders of the Jewish community. Cuban-Jewish leaders came from across the country, including Camaguey, Santiago de Cuba, Santa Clara and Cienfuegos.

Our Maimonides Lodge is probably the fastest growing lodge (percentage-wise) in the world. In early 2002, there were only about 20 largely inactive members. But since Isaac Rousso's election as president, along with our Tzedaka Fund Project and other programs, the membership has more than doubled to about 50 very active people. There is now so much interest in joining, that they have temporarily suspended new member admission until recent additions have been absorbed. (It will be reopened to new B'nai B'rith members in June 2003, when membership may double again). The members appreciate the lodge's decision-making power and valuable programs that our support has made possible.

At the June 1, 2003 B'nai B'rith Board Of Governors meeting in Baltimore, a report on the success of the lodge and the anniversary celebration was made by Stanley Cohen, International Chairman of the B'nai B'rith Cuban Jewish Relief Project. The board was extremely impressed with both the chapter and the relief project. Joel Kaplan, President of B'nai B'rith International, received a Certificate Of Appreciation for his support.