From Paraguay to OJC

Rabbi shares thoughts on small Jewish communities.

Okanagan Jewish Community (OJC) president Bob Bidner and his business partner, Danny Mandelbaum, did more than their usual business on a recent visit to Paraguay. They took the time to reach out to the Jewish community in Asuncion and had the pleasure of meeting their rabbi, Yehoshua Forma.

Forma was shortly thereafter invited, by the Lubavitch, to a convention in New York. He then decided to repay the OJC's visit to Paraguay with a visit to Kelowna. An evening for the entire community took place Nov. 5 at the Okanagan Jewish Community Centre, with Forma speaking on the topic of the similarities between and the problems facing small Jewish communities.

Asuncion has a Jewish community of 350 families and every Friday night service has a turn out of at least 80 people, said Forma. The rabbi conducts lectures every Sunday and on Mondays his wife meets with the female members of the community for discussion and learning.

Forma's belief is that, if you truly want to do something, go ahead and the problems such as financing will be taken care of. To this end, the Asuncion synagogue purchased land a year ago and is going ahead with a 3,000-square-metre building to house the shul, mikvah, kindergarten and other educational classes as well as a kosher bakery.

– Courtesy of Peter Barwin of the Okanagan Jewish Community

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