What a time in Recife!

To say our time in Recife was amazing is a real understatement.  While there, we had the chance to visit the first synagogue in the Americas, to see and pray in the oldest synagogue in Recife- dating back to 1910 and to spend time in the Jewish Cultural center.

This is an original stone from the floor of the Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue from the early 1600s.

One of the highlights was meeting the students and teachers at the liberal Jewish school. The kids (and adults, too) were beyond cute and just as excited to meet us, as we were to meet them. The language barrier was no real barrier as there have people to translate English to Portuguese and vice-versa. Besides, a smile means the same in any language!  Speaking of languages, it´s been great to see Ruben (my husband) communicate in the common language of Yiddish with a number of people, and I even had the chance to speak in Hebrew to communicate, as well. It is a wonderful feeling to use our Jewish languages with fellow Jews in distant places. It is a great way to connect to feel connected to the Jewish people.

Ruben speaking in Yiddish to historians and members of the synagogue.

Aside from some of the ¨Jewish Touring,¨ while in Recife, we also went to a the home and studios of one of the most famous Brazilian ArtistsFrancisco Brennand. We ate at a number of great restaurants, including one of the best Brazilian Steak houses. Even though I am a vegetarian, I loved the salads, side dishes and dessert!  We also had a chance to visit an old prison which is now a tourist venue filled with a great deal of local shops.

Another highlight from our time in Recife (prounounced, ¨hey-cee-fey¨) was a boat ride where we saw the three islands which comprise Recife. We learned of the city`s amazing history and saw where progress is being made for the port and in preparation for the World Cup in 2014.  

After three great days in Recife we took a flight to Sao Paulo. Today was a great day in the largest city in Brazil, but more on that later...

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 The first group of Rabbis to come on an official mission to Brazil all standing in what was the very first synagogue in the Americas (1636-1654).