BAVAJADAS FOR PURIM 2010
What do you know about the Alliance Israelite Universelle? Here is what Wikipedia tells us about this important
organization that has fostered and supported Jewish life over the decades:
Alliance Israélite Universelle (Hebrew: כל ישראל חברים ) is a Paris-based international Jewish organization founded in
1860 by the French statesman Adolphe Crémieux to safeguard the human rights of Jews around the world. The
organization promotes the ideals of Jewish self-defense and self-sufficiency through education and professional
development. The motto of the organization is the Jewish rabbinic injunction Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh,
translated into French as Tous les israelietes sont solidaires les un des autres ("All Jews bear responsibility for one
another").
In 1860, Alliance Israelite Universelle embarked on a "mission civilisatrice" to advance the Jews of the Middle East
through French education and culture. It opened its first school in Tetouan, Morocco in 1862. In 1870, Charles
Netter, a founding member of Alliance Israelite Universelle, received a tract of land from the Ottoman Empire as a
gift and opened the Mikveh Israel agricultural school, the first of a network of Jewish schools in Palestine before the
establishment of the State of Israel.
By 1900, Alliance Israelite Universelle was operating 100 schools with a combined student population of 26,000. Its
greatest efforts were concentrated in Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey.
How did the Alliance touch the lives of our family members from Rhodes? This excerpt from a 1985 Bavajadas
article gives us a hint:
Imagine yourself in Rhodes during the early 20th century, sitting in a small classroom that is subsidized by the
Alliance Israelite Universelle. The teacher's voice rings out, "Mademoiselle Rachel Benveniste (my mother), don't
forget us when you go to America!" "Oui, Madame Graziani, I will never forget you all," answered my mother as a
young student. What brings this story to mind? The last issue of the Clarion featured an article, 'Search for Alliance
Alumni'. A directory is being compiled to gather the names of former students and teachers of the Alliance Israelite
Universelle network of Jewish school experience. This organization has subsidized tuition for more than 125 years.
It financially assisted my grandparents with the tuition for their nine children. My grandmother, Ermana Lunar
Benveniste, worked outside her home, enabling her to afford uniforms, shoes and school supplies for her children.
The names of some of the teachers in Rhodes were Rica Peha Israel (Jeff Israel's mother), Victoria Taranto Peha (Joe
Peha's mother) and Mathilda Taranto Behar, of blessed memory. Do you know any others?
A quote from the Alliance Review states, "Dr. Irving Benveniste, a past honoree, received a plaque containing a
world clock in recognition of his many travels around the world. No expression of praise can compare with his
untiring efforts and the dedication he has contributed to the Alliance since its establishment." Dr. Benveniste has
nurtured the California chapter from a loosely-knit group of supporters into a very active chapter in the United
States. He served as president from 1980-1987. My Uncle Irving recalls with a chuckle this experience at the age of
ten from his childhood in Rhodes. With pencil and paper in hand, he scribbled the names of his young friends who
gave orders for gold that supposedly gathered in the streets of America. A set of goldware for one, a solid gold ball
for another. "I gathered a long list of names", he recalled. And so the stories went.
I remember the delightful stories of Mr. Henry Benezra and Mr. Jack Azose (of blessed memory) that added more
spice and substance to their educational experience at the Alliance. Not long ago, Seniora Alhadeff Katz (of blessed
memory) approached one of her teachers from Rhodes living in Seattle, saying, "YA SAVEES, YO NO ME
ESPANTO DE TI AGORA!" (You know, I'm not afraid of you now!) As you can see, the Alliance played an
important role in the lives of our SEPHARDIC Jewish families and their descendents.
*******************************************
Check out these magic words:
LA FULANA with a CASHA of SHIFTELEES in one hand and a SAKSEE DE ROSAS with PARAS in the other
hand. What a KUJA MENTIROSA, TEMBELA and HARAGANA. She's trying to bribe me, the LONSA. It's
YEESURIN EN VIDA.
FULANA Person
MENTIROSA Liar
CASHA Box
TEMBELA Lazy
SHIFTELEES Peaches
HARAGANA Lazy
SAKSEE Planter, Vase
LONSA Dumb one
PARAS Money
KUJA Big
YEESURIN EN VIDA Misery in life
Bavajadas de Benadam Thoughts for the Month:
VIJITA SIN SOL NO ES DE CORASON.
A visit without (sunshine) pleasantness means it doesn't come from the heart.
VAZIANDO LA MAR CON UN DEEDAL.
Attempting to empty the ocean with a thimble.
|
|
