Cuba’s 600 or so Jews are mostly elderly and hungry. Getting adequate food in Cuba is challenging, especially when you live on a monthly pension of $15.
The US government allows Jewish Cuba Connection to send food packages. When it has the money, it uses a company in Miami.
Packages start at about $100 which is a month’s supply for a family and usually includes hard-to-get items like chicken or ground meat as well as oil, flour, hygiene products, etc. It also ships packages to the Senior Center for distribution to seniors.
However, it needs a more reliable source of funds to be able to feed the community. Twenty years ago B’nai Brith did it by having regular Mitzvah Missions to Cuba. Each traveler paid $500 additional that went towards providing food and other items on a continuous basis.
The non-profit, Jewish Cuba Connection, has the same goal. It has set up group trips with a $500 donation included in the cost of the trip so it can feed this community on a regular basis.
Its trips are scheduled for November 13-20, January 22-29, and February 11-18 and include airfare from Miami, 5-star hotels, meeting the Jewish community (and attending services) in Havana, Santa Clara and Cienfuegos, meeting with seniors at the Senior Center, visiting homebound seniors and bringing food.
Group size is limited to 20. Price per person $3,785 and includes the $500 donation to buy food packages. For more informmation please visit https://www.jewishcubaconnection.hfriman.com.