13 December 2006 ORT joins Cuban Jewish communitys centenary celebrations Cubas Jewish community has used the occasion of its centenary celebrations to thank World ORT for its critical contribution to its continued existence. World ORTs Representative in Latin America, Isidoro Gorodischer, received a plaque recognising ORTs outstanding contribution in front of 300 dignitaries and special guests at the centennials gala event at the National Fine Arts Museum in Havana. Among those attending were representatives of Canadian Jewry, the JDC, Bnai Brith International and HIAS. It was a tremendous honour, said Mr Gorodischer. The Jewish community faces severe hardships and it was touching that they should seek to recognise our participation. The Jewish population, at 1,500, is only one-tenth its pre-revolutionary level but it is enjoying something of a resurgence thanks to the support of World ORT and other organisations, including the JDC. World ORT resumed activities in Cuba in 2000, since when it has been the leading provider of Jewish education and technological training for the community. All the programmes are funded through the generosity of Womens American ORT supporters. Thanks to ORT, young Cuban Jews have been able to visit Israel with the Taglit-Brithright Israel programme. In addition, children benefit from summer camps, community leaders learn vital skills through ORT leadership seminars and Jewish and non-Jewish students are able to pursue a variety of courses, from English, Hebrew and Jewish studies to ICT, computer programming, web design and drama. ORT Cuba Academic Director Irene Kleinedorf (front row, wearing a blue shirt) with (to her left) Isidoro Gorodischer and ORT Cuba National Director William Miller, and students and staff outside the Ana and Ben Dizik ORT Technology Centre. About 40 per cent of the students are not Jewish, which is very important because the political situation is such that we have to demonstrate that we are open to everyone, Mr Gorodischer said. While in Havana, Mr Gorodischer presented CD-ROMs about Zionism and the Shoah to the Cuban community. They were received with great enthusiasm as they have little educational material on these subjects, he said. The CD-ROMs were produced by ORT Argentinas Department of Jewish Education. The Cubans plan to write to ORT Argentina to thank them and to ask for seven sets of their History of the Jewish People one set for each of Cubas Jewish congregations. During his stay, Mr Gorodischer met Caridad Diego, Director of the Religious Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. Together they visited an outlying suburb of Havana and discussed the possibility of World ORT setting up a modern computer lab there under its non-sectarian International Cooperation wing.