Shalom from Haiti

This past week, we welcomed visitors from the Have Faith Haiti Mission Orphanage. During their four days with us, we toured Philadelphia, where we spent some time learning about the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Given that this was the week before the Fourth of July, we discussed the famous passage of from the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  Of course, “these truths” did not reflect the reality of life in the newly born United States.  It would be years before slaves were freed.  Black people still experience discrimination today.  Women didn’t have the right to vote until 1920. Similarly, the inscription on the Liberty Bell from the Book of Leviticus does not ring true in the societal setting of 1776: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”  Still, I think the kids understood that the words were and remain aspirational and inspirational.  After all, they have grown up in a place that teaches them to “Have Faith.” I know I found it inspiring to stand at these places with them and reflect on the meaning of the moment.

Later, we got up close and personal with some of the founding fathers.

(Pictured here:  Halie (Program Director), Rabbi Steve, Louvenson, J.U.,  Bianka, Sabrina,  Yonel (Director)

The whole group came to services on Shabbat and then shared a bit about themselves after Kiddush.  

Yonel explained how he was very angry at his parents for placing him in the orphanage when he was five years old.  He grew up there, years before Mitch Albom took over Have Faith Haiti.  He made it through high school, went on to study theology and now he is the Director of Have Faith Haiti, responsible for the day-to-day operations.  Along the way, he realized that his parents had done what was best for him, and he sees the hand of God in placing him in a position where he can now help his family, along with the 60 children at the Mission—the impact of faith. 

J.U. told us about his mom, who gave birth to him when she was 15 years old and knew she couldn’t care for him.  He loves and respects her for making the very difficult decision to place him in the orphanage, and he is very thankful for the fact that he will be starting college in Michigan, this fall.  He wants to study diplomacy.  Louvenson never really knew his parents.  He was raised by a relative who brought him to Have Faith Haiti when he was around 5 years old.  He, too, will start college in the fall, and he wants to pursue a career in pharmaceuticals to help bring the benefits of decent medical care to Haiti. Bianka will study business. She would like to create and manage affordable housing. Hearing these stories gives you faith in the future.  

On Sunday, we went to NY—Times Square, Rockefeller Plaza, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Empire State Building and the Disney Broadway play, Aladdin. On the way home, I asked the kids to think about what they found meaningful in the play.  

This is what J.U. wrote: “I believe that the Aladdin Broadway show teaches the importance of friendship, keeping one’s promises, the importance of telling the truth, equality, and most importantly that bad times don’t last; one only needs to be brave and courageous enough to chase their dreams and make it a reality.”  

Faith! I don’t know if you have ever seen Aladdin, but my guess is you might want to see it again, now.  

On Monday morning, before the kids flew back to Detroit, we stopped into TBS for a tour and an up-close look at a Torah.

All of the kids wrote thank-you notes and said they particularly appreciated the opportunity to learn a bit about the Jewish Faith.  But it is Halie’s handwritten note I want to share: