Castro Decimated Jewish Community

by Stephan Archer

Since the Communist Revolution in 1959, Fidel Castro has attempted to portray his nation as a model of "socialism in one country." In creating his socialist paradise, Castro has developed one of the most repressive regimes in the Western Hemisphere, if not the world.

Like many old-style Soviet satellite nations, the Cuban regime has been ruthless in persecuting religious communities.

One community that has been singled out — to the point they have almost become extinct in Cuba — is the Jewish community there.

Nobody knows this fact better than David Cohen, a doctor currently living in Cuba.

Dr. Cohen spoke with NewsMax.com by phone — at great risk of reprisals to him and his family from the Cuban government.

Cohen is a member of Cuba’s Jewish population, a group of only 700 people. When Castro came to power the Jewish community, largely centered in Havana, was flourishing and vibrant with approximately 12,000 Cuban Jews.

Though Castro never used the draconian measures of the Nazis against the Jewish population, his regime made it clear, the Jews were not wanted.

Since the revolution, most Jews in Cuba have either fled to the United States or Israel.

The reason for the Jewish flight is simple.

Castro doesn’t tolerate Jews or any other religious group seeking to practice their faith publicly.

Jews, like Cohen, aren’t allowed to express their faith freely, and if they attempt to do so in public places such as work, they’re persecuted for it.

As a doctor, Cohen has always worked for the state, but up until 1994, he was a physician assigned to one of Castro’s military clinics — a good job in Cuba.

But that year he lost his job and was demoted. His crime?

David Cohen wore a Star of david and openly practiced his faith. This raised serious questions by his superiors in the Cuban government.

Cohen says, he can worship more freely now, but only because he paid a heavy price and was made an example of by the Cuban government.

But where were the Jewish leaders in Cuba? Why didn’t anyone come to his aid? Why haven't they been complaining to the international community?

Cohen explained Castro controls the Jewish leaders in Cuba. They have no choice. They are forced to speak to the religious community on behalf of Castro’s regime.

"As long as the religious leaders all participate, they’re fine because they’re going by what Castro says,” stated Cohen.

Cohen’s brother, Jose Cohen, who defected to the United States in 1994 and lives in Miami, told NewsMax.com the religious leaders in Cuba are not agents of the regime. More likely than not, they’re unwilling servants.

"It’s sad in Cuba because there is no religious freedom,” said Jose Cohen.

"None of the religions in Cuba are for Castro’s regime. The best option the Jews have is to leave and go to Israel. The ones that are in Cuba, like my family, are there because the regime doesn’t let them leave.”

When Jose Cohen defected six years ago, he expected his family to be able to come soon after, but they were stopped with visas in hand.

Both Jose and David Cohen laugh at the notion that Castro is seeking "parental rights" for Juan Miguel Gonzalez.

Because of Castro, Jose has not seen his two daughters in six years. The brothers know of hundreds of cases of divided parents and children that the Castro government has stubbornly refused to allow to reunite.

Jose Cohen said the family he left behind has now adapted to the regime so they can survive. Although they obey the regime, he laments the fact his family can not openly and freely practice his religious faith and that his children cannot attend Jewish schools.

Jose Cohen explained that in Cuba, there is no such thing as a Jewish school. All schools are run by the state where communism is heavily taught. Even if he doesn’t want his children to learn about communism, he has no choice.

"They don’t care what the parents say,” said Jose Cohen.

While in Cuba, Jose Cohen had a good job as a Cuban intelligence officer. Because of his good position within the government, he was able to see what most Cubans never saw — the world beyond the island.

As a young boy born during the revolution, Jose Cohen said Fidel Castro was God for him, so when he began discovering the outside world as a young man, it was a shock. He began realizing his own people had been manipulated. They had been brainwashed.

He wanted to speak out about what he had discovered but doing so would risk his life as well as the lives of his family, so he came to the United States with the hopes of being reunited with his family at a later date.

He’s still waiting for his family whom he believes are being held hostage.

Commenting on whether he thinks his family will ever get to America, Jose Cohen said, "That’s in the hands of Fidel Castro. I’ve done everything possible.”

Altogether seven members of the Cohen family have not made it to the United States.

The Cohens find it extraordinary that the American government has been in such a hurry to return Elian to Cuba.

"I think the boy should stay in the U.S.,” said David Cohen. "There is freedom there. He can be whatever he wants to be. He doesn’t have to be what they say he has to be in Cuba.”

David’s brother agrees with his sentiments.

David openly disputes the propaganda put out by Cuban state media and CNN's Havana bureau which suggests that Cubans are united in wanting Elian's return.

"The people in the streets don’t really talk about it because they’re scared to comment, but I think it’s divided half and half,” David Cohen said.

"Some people want him to stay in the U.S. while some people want him to stay with his father, but not necessarily come back to Cuba because they know that if Elian wants to go back to the U.S., he will have the same trouble they do getting there.”

END

Stephan Archer
NewsMax
May 1st, 2000
NewsMax.com

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