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At least eleven unrelated Radzilover
families emigrated to Cuba and stayed there for decades, leaving in the
late 1950's or early 1960's. My family emigrated to Guantanamo in 1926, moving to Havana in 1944, before leaving in 1961. A
few other families stayed for only a few years in the 1920's-1940's in
transition on the way to America. There are still two Radzilover families
living in Havana.
At
its high point in the 1950's, there were about 15,000 Jewbans (short for
Cuban Jews) living in Cuba. It was a very close-knit community,
one that remains so to this day in South Florida, even more than 40 years
after leaving the island. While adhering to the traditions of their Jewish
Heritage, Jewbans definitely have a "Cuban flavor," displaying
a unique blend of cultures that is still evident in subsequent
generations, most of whom are fluent in Spanish and enjoy the
traditional sounds of Cuban music and the taste of Cuban food. |
