Casa Hillel, Guatemala City

On the streets of Guatemala City

They are gentle, energetic and sincere. They are eager to learn, thrilled to be together and grateful for our presence. They range in age from 2 months to somewhere in their late 50’s. They are men and women, boys and girls, families and single people who want to be accepted as Jews by other Jews.

Casa Hillel is what they are called… approximately 30 Guatemalans who joyfully and enthusiastically converted to Judaism. A Reform Rabbi, Jacques Cukierkorn, dedicated to assisting people in Latin America who wish to celebrate Jewish life, took them under his wing in about 2005. Assisting in the conversion of the first members of Casa Hillel early on he continued to represent them (and other such communities in Central America) from his home in Kansas City, Missouri.

Their material resources are few. Their greatest resource is the enthusiasm and love that they have for Judaism: the interaction amongst the members of the group, the regular hugs and kisses, the confirmations of mutual respect and support from each other, the plans for holidays, for weekly Shabbatot, the help in day to day events, the love for one another that is evident when they gather together and when they are separate, is strong. They know that their love is supported by Torah and by their commitment to Judaic practise.

They have some friends who recognize and appreciate the difficulties of their struggles and the sincerity of their intentions. But for the most part they are rejected from Jewish organizations as non-Jews, berated for not really being Jewish enough, and excluded from Jewish activities and functions throughout Guatemala and the world. And all they want is to be Jewish.

They want to be Jewish and they want to be Jewish right now in Guatemala City, amidst the Latin American people with whom they feel at home. They want to be accepted as Jews completely and be included in the worldwide community of Jews with whom they feel connected. Up until now, they haven’t been.  In the last few months things have started to change.

About 7 years ago Alvaro and Jeannette Orantes began a search for what they considered to be a way to fill emptiness in their spiritual lives. Both Guatemalans were born to Catholic families and were encouraged to practice Catholicism, which they did obediently throughout their youth. But it was not sufficient for either of them.

Jeannette- One of the founders
of Casa Hillel

Jeannette tells about how she went to school with nuns. She was very aware of the meaningless of the prayer practise. “I was forced to pray out loud.” She tells me. “And there were no prayer books. I had to pray by heart. I couldn’t find a place in my heart to remember the prayer. It wasn’t there in my heart.”

When their children were born, Alvaro and Jeannette knew that they wanted to provide a spiritual life for them. Their search began when Ishmael was 6 and Rivka was 4 years old. Years of learning about different religions followed. Google, multiple conversations (virtually and in person), books, Bibles and many religious documents, led them to their strong interest in Judaism. “It just felt so right.” explains Alvaro. “ It makes so much sense.”

Alvaros continues to relay his story. It is one of intuitive awareness and joy.  He told us that one-day he ran away from his family in church. He ran until he found himself in a cemetery. Around him were hundreds of gravestones with big crosses. He kept running and ran deeper and deeper into the cemetery. Eventually he stopped. He noticed around him a different kind of symbol on the gravestones. He felt calm. His body settled. He closed his eyes. It felt good.  Later, Alvaro discovered that the symbol that appeared to him that day was the Magen David. That began a pursuit to connect to his heart space.

 

The Internet provided a forum for reaching out to others who might be seeking a similar direction. Building community was critical, as Alvaro saw it. Judaism is a religion of community. There were several people seeking something similar. Alvaro and Jeannette connected with them.

 

Today Casa Hillel is the spiritual home to about 30 people. Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, from Toronto is their revered Rabbi. She comes to be with them often (every couple of months) and she is working diligently to make a formal connection between them and the International Reform movement.  Casa Hillel feels a sense of renewed optimism with Elyse and a deep reverence for her commitment to reform Judaism and to them.

In the meantime, the community continues to gather together every Shabbat morning for prayer. At least once a month they meet for Kabbalat Shabbat and Friday night dinner. For holidays and special visits members come to Casa Hillel and stay all day, waiting for the celebration of Havdalah and Saturday night activity.

They love being together. They love each other. Most of all, though, they love being Jewish. It is evident as they walk into the Casa Hillel house and reach up to kiss the mezuzah on the doorpost, even the teenagers. It is evident as they immerse themselves in prayer. It is evident through the smiles of the youth as they sing, in Hebrew, songs and prayers that identify their Jewish soul. 

 

And I feel so blessed to have met them and to be able to share time with them. As we continue to meet our relationship deepens. We all have so much to share!