WELCOME TO MIAMI

WELCOME TO MIAMI

When I am in the USA, I usually stay in Miami. I have always liked Miami, one of the main reasons being it is a Spanish speaking city and majority of the population are migrants from Spanish countries in South America. The largest group among them are Cuban immigrants from Cuba. Unfortunately, they tend to follow extreme right wing divisive politics but are cunning and innovative and masters of manipulation. Strangely enough, many Cubans who have visible African ancestry declare themselves as European when they arrive here, as do many of the other Spanish Speaking people with either African or Native ancestries.  So in the census, it would appear that majority of the Miami population is white European, the lived in experience is much different.

It is 70 per cent Spanish speaking

17% identify themselves as African Americans or of Black African origin (via the Caribbean)

14 per cent white , with a good chunk of Jews

Only 1% are Asian

One of the reasons why Koreans or chinese do not come here might be that an immigrant from Asia may be reluctant to learn Spanish while he or she is perfecting English and Miami is certainly not the best place to improve your English.

Miami is absolutely flat with no hills or mountains but has very pretty clouds and beautiful sea and coastline and water related sports and activities. 

The most commonly heard language is Spanish, followed by English , American added with its various cadences from the islands. Haitian Creole is heard in some parts and Brazilian Portuguese is often heard, especially in the malls. 

In 2000, the most significant ethnic origins in Miami were Cuban (34.1%), Nicaraguan (5.6%), Haitian (5.5%), Honduran (3.3%), Dominican (1.7%), and Colombian (1.6%).  20 years later, Cubans still dominate the horizon with Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Colombians dominating the rest. The contributions from Puerto Rico or Mexico or Central America is much smaller, so do not look for good Mexican food in Miami.

I find this melting pot of people very interesting and I always can speak in spanish to people you come in contact with. The health care system is heavily in favour of nurses from the Caribbean and the doctors like the rest of the population may be of Cuban origin.

I am from Australia a country which has a very strict immigration policy but that does not mean that I am anti-immigrant, no I am not and in fact, I feel warm towards the immigrant whether in USA France or Australia. I truly wish more Iranians would migrate to Australia to increase the intellectual level of our country  a bit !!

There are no large Arab, Turkish, Persian, indo/Pakistani/Bangla, filipino communities here in Miami  (so don’t search for those cuisines, alas!)

If ever you are in Miami, and coincide with one of my stays here, we could share a nice cup of Cuban Coffee 

My love for Miami is augmented by the fact that it has direct flights to over 100 cities outside USA, 25 of which are in Europe (including Istanbul), Only one city in Africa , Casablanca. Tel Aviv, Dubai, Doha in the Middle East and the rest are to central and South America and the Caribbean.

Those among you interested in Palm trees, you might be interested to know that Fairchild Gardens in Miami has the largest collection of Palms in the world

I AM AN AUSTRALIAN JEW AND I LOVE MOROCCO

I AM AN AUSTRALIAN  JEW AND I LOVE MOROCCO

Jews have been present in Morocco for at least 2000 years and lived with the native Amazigh (Berber) people . There was even a Berber Jewish community which is now scattered to Israel (mainly) and France. DIHYA al KAHINA the warrior queen of the Berbers who fought against the Arab conquest of Morocco is thought to have been Jewish. I have had the chance to visit many of the areas of jewish interest in Morocco, mainly in South Morocco, my favourite being Essaouira and the memory of that great Rabbi, Haim Pinto.

All the people I met in Morocco during my travels ( four times in 2023 and many more in 2024 to come) were friendly and harboured no ill feelings towards Jews, moroccan or otherwise.

Imagine my surprise when a friend of mine from northeastern Morocco on the border with Algeria wrote to say that the last jew of Oujda had passed away. She was more than 80 years old and her name was Nina Kohen. She had lived in the old Mellah and was highly respected for her prowess as a healer of children and women’s ailments.

Since this city borders the spanish enclave of Melilla where there are 1200 jews, our beloved Hnina may have received a jewish burial and prayers said (Kaddish). In any case I decided to light candles and say the jewish prayer for the dead, the Kaddish. This prayer which originated in the 13th Century is in Aramaic.

The jewish-moslem  coexistence in Morocco is exemplary and a fine example of genuinely felt brotherhood. I have experienced this warmth on my many visits.

The present king, Mohammed VI has retained his father Hassan II’s economic adviser, Andre Azoulay, who is a Jew from Essaouira.

Mohammed VI advanced the rights of ethnic groups and minorities. In 2001, he created the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture. In 2011, he pushed through a new constitution approved by voters. The constitution calls Morocco "A sovereign Moslem State, committed to the ideals of openness, moderation, tolerance and dialogue to foster mutual understanding among all civilizations; A Nation whose unity is based on the fully endorsed diversity of its constituents: Arabic, Amazigh, Hassani, Sub-Saharan, African, Andalusian, Jewish and Mediterranean components." For the first time, it made Tamazight, the language of the Amazigh people, an official state language

Photos: a jewish motif lamp from an roman archeological site, Volubilis. 2. grave of a rabbi at Rissani, dessert town home to the first Alaouite ruler, Moulay Rachid.3. King HassanII of Morocco recieving itzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres in Morocco. 4. Jewish cemetery of Oujda where they may have put Hnini Kohen the last jew to rest 5. Map of Morocco showing the location of Oujda on the border with Algerie. 6. King Mohammed VI re inaugurating a synagogue in Casablanca 7. Remnants of an old synagogue in Oujda.  8. King Mohammed VI at the jewish Muslim cultural centre in Essaouira which includes an old family synagogue. 9. I said Kaddish for Hnina Kohen of blessed memory, traditional healer of Oujda, Morocco. The kippah on the left is from Cochin India, the one on the right made by Druze people in the Carmel region in Israel

the order of the photos were reversed when i uploaded them, so in the following the order is 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Kaddish for Hnina Kohen of Oujda, Morocco

COINCIDENCES ARE NOT CASUAL, WE JUST ARE NOT SMART TO UNDERSTAND THEM. LAKOTA INDIAN WISDOM

Yesterday I had a very strange sensation in the amazonian town of Leticia. Perhaps it was the reason I had travelled there ? It seemed , or was it a signal that I need to study more deeply the Vipassana meditation.

While I have the chance and desire to travel constantly, I am very seldom a tourist but a traveler in whose  path are thrown extraordinary experiences. In the only air conditioned cafe in that outpost of CoCa-Colonization (why should there be a bottling plant there ?) I met people who contribute to this happiness I my life.

The western style obesity is creeping in, and soon Colombia would join the rank of the developing countries, developing economically plus people heavier than before.

In this town of 38 000 , you are never a stone’s throw away from a church or a preaching or converting centre..(remember GianCarlo Giannini in Swept Away saying.. Crucifix  more popular than Coca Cola !). So, it was no coincidence that my colourful way of dressing and beads and rings made the locals think of me a medicine man or an evangelist.

As I entered the only air conditioned cafe in town, to escape the intense heat, the ladies behind the counter looked at me closely and asked me.  Could you please pray for us ? Taken aback by this strange request, I confessed that I am not religious but years spent with indigenous people has contributed to my becoming a Healer. Then briefly talked about their individual health. I must have touched some raw nerves, when the lady who brought me the cake and coffee , said Doctor, please can you talk to my husband, tomorrow when you come.

He is 34 years old, a well built young man who had been recently admitted to the hospital because of suspected heart attack, investigations showing, as expected, no damage to his heart. Then why do I feel this impending sense of doom, tremendous fear of future which does not allow me to sleep. This is somatasized into panic attacks. First I had to assure him that his heart is healthy and that he would not die anytime soon leaving two orphans. Fortunately my faithful stethoscope was in my bag and I checked him very thoroughly. His partner had mentioned that his father had been stabbed to death in the recent past and his mother is disabled with medical problems. I was trying to connect these and his panic attacks which only began recently, he burst out crying. It looked natural to me, this muscular man, sitting next to me bursting out crying in a busy cafe in an isolate town near the mightiest river on earth.

I spent some more time  with him, I can see him visibly relaxing and by the time I said goodbye to him, to catch my flight to Bogota, he cupped my hands with his, and said, Doctor I feel so much better, thank you for your time.

As I left the cafe, I was hit with a feeling of euphoria, which was a high and at the same time a low feeling, but an incredibly grateful moment . I was so so happy.

Being a student of Vipassana, I recognised this sensation..still in the realm of mind and matter, coming and going like a wave, a sense of extreme tranquility and calm which can be named, adhukamasukka. But I told myself, dont become attached to this feeling, Annica or attachment, which to me is the basis of so much unhappiness in the world at a personal level, professional level and a national level..

I floated along like a log bopping up and down along the mighty river which was near by.

WELCOME 2024 FULL OF HOPE AND TRANQUILITY AND IT IS THE YEAR FOR ME FRIEND AND FOOD AND SOUL

With Gratitude we goodbye to 2023 and with Gratitude we welcome 2024.

It is good to reflect on happiness in this moment of great transition from one year to the next, one year older 

It was a pleasant evening. Good Northern Mexican food, good company of friends involved in Pubic Health. The now defunct El Modelo restaurant in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico provided good ambience with some music in the background and the waiters elegantly dressed with years of experience behind them attended to you.

There in the midst of the flavours of tampiquenas and margaritas, I was asked the question:

How would you define Happiness!

I remember that moment very well. Two Mexican Americans and a West African from California were peering at me, waiting for an answer.

I thought following a moment of silence to concentrate my mind and the answer came to me:

Happiness is the absence of desires. To be happy, you have to decrease your desires.

They didn't respond immediately, then after a moment, the West African psychologist responded with glee: that is a very good definition.

That was long before I was introduced to the Yogic Philosophy of Patanjali by a Chinese Accountant from Malaysia or had encountered Buddhism through the book, The Jew on a Lotus by Louis Kaminitzer.

I am not interested in Hinduism or Buddhism as religions but I am very attracted to the philosophies of Patanjali and Buddha, both thought to be contemporaries in Northern India around 2500 years ago.

I am asked a lot of questions about how to find out who you are , about mindfulness and in general, how to avoid the anxiety of living every day life.

I stress GRATITUDE. HUMILITY and COMPASSION, all learned from my association with the indigenous people of USA and elsewhere.

I will briefly mention GRATITUDE.. we are one year older, we are afraid of the future ? While forgetting to live in the present.But Gratitude does make an impact on your life as it is now , which has to be lived in the present,

A past-positive temporal frame involves focus on positive memories of the past and is associated with outcomes such as greater life satisfaction. Dispositional gratitude consists of the tendency to notice and appreciate positive aspects of life, and this characteristic is also associated with greater well-being.

Positive memories of the past, ever eager gratitude for what you have now.. your future would be happier ..