Group Conversions in Cuba Held in Accordance with Jewish Law

Beit Din convened to offically certify members of the community

In early 2003, the Jews of Cuba grew stronger as a community with the halachic (according to Jewish law) conversion of dozens of community members from the island’s interior provinces. The groups of currently-practicing Jews traveled to the Cuban capitol of Havana, where a Beit Din (Rabbinic tribunal) was held to officiate over their conversions. There is no resident rabbi in Cuba, so JDC arranged for three rabbis to be flown in for the occasion.

At the request of the Cuban Jewish community, JDC entered Cuba in 1992. In the following decade, JDC has helped restore and invigorate Jewish life for the estimated 1,800 Jews living in Cuba.

On the appointed date, Rabbis Szteinhendler and Rittner from Mexico, and Rabbi Nussbaum, from Argentina, all arrived in Cuba excited to participate in this unprecedented event. After the male converts in each group had been circumcised, they joined with the women in the mikvah (ritual bath) portion of the conversion process. To accommodate the large number of converts, the rabbis witnessed the immersion of each group in the ocean waters off Havana’s Tarara Marina.

Before the mikvah, however, each individual had to appear before the Beit Din to prove their knowledge of and devotion to a Jewish way of life. The rabbis, who were visibly moved by the experience, stated that each convert demonstrated an appropriate level of Jewish knowledge. The Beit Din concluded the conversions with a ceremony at Havana’s refurbished Patronato synagogue where the new converts stood under a chupah (traditional canopy) made of prayer shawls, and recited the Sh’ma prayer.

Rabbi Szteinhendler, Rabbi Nussbaum, and Rabbi Ritner then joined with community President Dr. Miller in paying an emotional tribute to the converts and the entire Cuban Jewish community.

"Your devotion and love of God and of each other are the essence of our peoplehood," said Rabbi Szteinhendler. "You are the reason why Judaism has always and will always survive."