Spy Island is an intriguing new historical novel that is perfect for Jewish book clubs. The novel explores the little-known Caribbean Sephardic Jews that colonized such places as Recife, Suriname, Curacao, St. Eustacius, Jamaica, St. Thomas, and Panama. The novel was painstakingly researched and focuses on the plight of a Sephardic girl from Panama whose life is in upheaval at the height of WWI.

The Story:

In 1916, after the death of her parents in a railway accident along the Panama Canal, Abigail Maduro, a Caribbean Sephardic girl, is forced to leave her home in Panama and travel to the Danish West Indies to live with her Aunt Esther, a melancholic spinster, and her household of eccentric West Indian servants.

When Abigail arrives in St. Thomas, she finds herself on the receiving end of her aunt's vicious tirades, but basks in the love and warmth of Nana Jane, her housekeeper. Unbeknownst to Abigail, the island of St. Thomas is a hotbed of German spies and saboteurs under the leadership of Lothar Langsdorff, the German consul, who is using his Hamburg-America Line steamers and secret wireless radio to aid the Kaiser's war effort.

While out running an errand in the synagogue, Abigail stumbles into Erich Seibold, a stranded sailor, and is unwittingly hurled to the center of the conflict. Erich claims to be a merchant sailor but Abigail discovers that he is really a deserter from a German U-boat. Abigail hides Erich in the basement of her house and soon, friendship blossoms between the unlikely pair. When the island's German consul, Lothar Langsdorff, also discovers Erich's identity, he blackmails him into committing sabotage and murder.

After a melee involving the Danish governor, Abigail risks everything to save Erich, but can she stop Langsdorff's spy ring before they succeed in launching a German invasion of her tranquil island? Action and adventure abound in this colorful historical novel that brings to life Sephardic Jews in a fading West Indian sugar colony in the last days of Danish rule.

Spy Island is available on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Spy-Island-ebook/dp/B00AZRLXV8/refsr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ieUTF8&qid 76841413&sr8-1&keywordsspy+island

A Book Club discussion guide is available upon request.

Best Regards,
Rachel Bodner

Thank you for sharing this sharp and funny piece with me.

- Arlene Kushner

A terrific story.

- Sandra Antoniani

Very funny article. I like it.

Would you like to write about the first ever aliyah ticket in the modiin municipal election being run by an ex-wpg shaliach?

- Jonny Cline, Modiin Israel

Dear Rhonda,  

I enjoyed reading this little story  of real people .....trapped pawns by their leaders. 

- Hillel Taylor

If the Arabic-speaking Christians of the Holy Land are descended from Jews, how come the run-of-the-mill Ashkenazic Jewish genome is closer to that of the Samaritans than to the genome of the Arabic-speaking Christians of the Holy Land? Whether Ashkenazim or Sephardim, the run-of-the mill Jewish genome is also closer to that of the Samaritans than is the genome of the Muslim Arabs of the Holy Land. The Samaritan genome is the obvious experimental "control," because today the few hundred surviving Samaritans are the only fanatically endogamous population, whose ancestors never left the Holy Land. Whether Muslim or Christian, the modern Palestinians have no genetic or historical evidence to substantiate claims that they are actually the descendants of ancient Jews or any other of the distinct Peoples that inhabited the Holy Land in biblical times.

- Alan Hertz

I really enjoyed reading this article. It sounds like quite an adventure. Kol- hakavod.

- Michelle Cohen, Israel

Sounds like quite an experience.

- Gilead Paritsky, Israel

Wow…

- Oren Basson

 Good!

- Eliyahu Richter, Jerusalem

Dear Rhonda;
I was deeply saddened but not shocked by your article about the Hitler figurine. The generation of perpetrators, bystanders, victims and liberators is inexorably leaving the stage of history. Those who seek to recast history to fit their bigoted world view have already been hard at work, from Germany and Austria to Iran and yes, even the US.
I do hope you will contact the German Ambassador to ask if authorities will incestigate if anti-Nazi laws are violated by such products.
As for the magen david in the Church? Tragically, European Jewish history is replete with such tales of Churban, including and especially Spain and the former Soviet Bloc where the outer shells of historic synaogues of buildings used as warehouses, churches, evn barns dotted the landscape. It is a painful but necessary reminder of what or ancestors went through and why a Jewish homeland is the only guarantee of a Jewish future.
All the best

Rabbi Abe Cooper

Associate Dean of the Simon Weisenthal Center

MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hello,

Your article Limmud Festival : Art therapy with Tzafi Weinberg, Family Legacy Videos with Shirland Productions mentions Shirith Pais, and Yolanda Papini-Pollack's video of Irma's Dream.

I was just on your website and noticed to my shock and dismay that Irma Penn's funeral was on August 2, 2013.  Irma was my Dad's (Syd Gurvey) cousin's (Marvin Penn) wife.

I don't find any obituary or anything, other than the funeral announcement - I don't live in Winnipeg, so I'm not circulating in the community.

I'm wondering if makers of the video would be willing to share it in some way with me.

Would you be able to put them in contact with me?

Thanks,
- Ariel

 

Dear Editor,

I'm writing to you from London in case you might be able to help. I'm researching a relative of mine,Michael Posner, who I believe emigrated from England to Canada via Australia & I came across a photograph of a Michael Posner from your newspaper. I'm unable to access any information about him & wonder if you might be able to provide any information or article about him. I would be most grateful if you can shed light as I'm keen to contact my uncle. I hope to hear from you.

Kind regards,
- Lorraine Molins

Yesterday in the Legislature I made a comment that was offensive, which I regret.

It was a poor choice of words on my part, especially given that they were directed at a colleague of mine for whom I have the greatest respect. I have
since apologized to that member and conveyed this regret in person.

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my constituents, to my colleagues on both sides of the House, and to the Premier.

Unfortunately, homophobia is far too common and accepted in today's society. Sometimes we even stop noticing it, until it comes out of our own mouths.  I am proud to be part of a government that is committed to fighting homophobia and bullying.  All my working life, I have fought hard for a society in which everyone is treated equally and with respect. Yesterday I fell short of this standard, and I know I need to take responsibility for my actions.

Once again, I offer my apologies to all Manitobans.


 

Rhonda,

Interesting article about Israel urging Canada not to cut its subsidy of the P.A..  The controversial part is, "But former Canadian ambassador Mike Molloy said the notes and the Conservative government’s subsequent decision to continue providing support to the Palestinians demonstrates what happens when its pro-Israel rhetoric runs up against Israel’s actual desires.  I think this is another example of the government acting or contemplating action in support of Israel without taking the trouble to determine where Israel’s real interests lie.”

Mr. Malloy's comment assumes that Israel's policies foster Israel's national interests.  Such an assumption is not warranted.  Many politicians, American, Russian, Israeli, put ideological, political, or personal interests above national interests.  For example, U.S. policy has favored the Arabs over Israel, though Israel is an ally against international jihad.

The P.A. is a mortal enemy of Israel.  The Israeli national interest is to bring that enemy down and to advance a Zionist grip on the Territories.
Western countries should not give foreign aid to the P.A. or to Egypt's huge military, if they should give any foreign aid at all.

PM Netanyahu's policy of shoring up the P.A. is a never ending drain of resources and a foreclosing of the Zionist claim to Judea-Samaria.  The P.A.
itself is not stable.  And if Israel followed its national interest, it would not have allowed Hamas to survive and pose the menace Netanyahu fears.  Nor
would it have allowed Hezbollah to build up an existential danger to Israel.

- Richard H. Shulman




 

For Immediate Release
August 12, 2013

 

                                                                                                        Statement on the Death of Laszlo Csatary

Ottawa, ON – Today, it was reported that Laszlo Csatary has died in Hungary. Csatary was convicted in absentia by a Czech court in 1948 for his involvement in Nazi war crimes. This past June, he was further indicted in Hungary for assisting in the deportation of thousands of Jews in World War Two – including many he had personally abused. 

Csatary lived in Canada from 1949 to 1997, when he fled the country in anticipation of deportation orders. Although stripped of his citizenship by the Federal Cabinet, Csatary is in many ways emblematic of the failure of Canadian authorities to prevent our country from being a safe haven for war criminals in the post-war years.

In response to today’s reports, Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, issued the following statement:

“Justice delayed is ultimately justice denied – and it’s deeply saddening that Csatary's thousands of victims were denied any measure of justice. It calls for Canada’s redoubled efforts to extradite those Nazi-era war criminals who continue to evade justice to this day, such as Helmut Oberlander, as well as those from other conflicts who have likewise abused Canada's hospitality.”

-30-

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is a non-partisan organization that serves as the advocacy arm of the Jewish Federations of Canada.

For more information, or to arrange an interview with Shimon Fogel or a Canadian Holocaust survivor, please contact:

Martin Sampson
Director of Communications and Marketing
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)
[email protected]
613-219-3500

Dear Rhonda Spivak

August 1, 2013

NEWS RELEASE

VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE MANITOBA LIBERAL PARTY

ENDORSES RANA BOKHARI FOR LEADER

WINNIPEG, Manitoba        Robert Young, the vice-president of the Manitoba Liberal Party, today announced his official endorsement of Rana Bokhari for the leadership of the Manitoba Liberal Party.  This endorsement marks the first executive member of the Manitoba Liberal Party to throw their support behind a candidate.

In announcing his support of Bokhari, Young highlighted her leadership qualities as one of the key reasons he decided to support her campaign. "I have met a lot of people who think they can lead, but Rana is the only leader I have met who brings the passion, credibility and energy this party needs," Young said.  

Young, who had considered entering the contest himself, added, "Rana is stepping up for Manitobans. It is an honour to walk through this process with someone like her.”

Bokhari, a Winnipeg lawyer who recently officially entered the Manitoba Liberal Party leadership contest, has acknowledged the depth of experience that Young will bring to her team.  She says she looks forward to having Young's support as she continues to travel across Manitoba, reaching out to people and communities who feel left out by the province’s political process.

"Robert has contributed to the Manitoba Liberal Party in so many ways over the years.  Today I am very proud to have him join our team," said Bokhari.   "Mr. Young is a passionate Liberal and I look forward to working with him as we build a strong Manitoba Liberal Party to offer Manitobans  a real alternative to the status quo,” says Bokhari.

 The Manitoba Liberal Party will hold its leadership convention on October 26, 2013.