Boynton author searches for Jews in exotic places
Ben Frank explores the world to find Jews in obscure destinations
Ben Frank, author of The Scattered
Tribe, Traveling the Diaspora From Cuba to India to Tahiti &Beyond. (Mark Randall,
Sun Sentinel / July 31, 2012)
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Despite the amusing stereotype, there are Jews who choose to live outside of
New York and South Florida. Many live in unconventional and bizarre locales that
provoke surprise: Siberia? Vietnam? Tahiti?
Travel writer Ben Frank, of Boynton Beach, can vouch for a Jewish presence in these obscure destinations. He has visited Jews in all these countries, and many more, with the goal of getting to know his co-religionists in the diaspora, learning their history and sharing their stories.
"It definitely intrigues people and surprises them, even places like Cuba, as close as it is," said Frank, 78. "A lot of Jews who travel look for a kosher deli or a synagogue or a Jewish museum. They want to connect."
Frank will talk on Friday at the National Jewish Retreat at the Hyatt Bonaventure in Weston about the worldwide Jewish connections he has cultivated. He recently published his fourth book, "The Scattered Tribe: Traveling the Diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond."
Frank has published several books on Jewish travel, including "A Travel Guide to Jewish Russia and Ukraine" and "A Travel Guide to the Jewish Caribbean and South America." In his latest, he focuses on exotic Jewish customs in the context of the nation's history and the environments that hosted the Jews. His book describes his visits to 10 countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Myanmar and India.
Frank, a former journalist and public relations agency owner, said he has been to 88 countries. He said he and his wife managed this feat by rarely returning to the same country. Among their first vacations: Israel in 1952, before it became a standard tourist destination for the world's Jews, and Algeria in the 1960s, shortly after its independence from France.
Frank's public relations agency represented several airlines and national tourist offices, which allowed him some discounted travel.
Among his dearest memories: a bar mitzvah in Marseille, France in which a Moroccan family celebrated by roasting a lamb on a spit; and a wedding in Mumbai, India with a huge reception on a soccer field.
He was also impressed with Tahiti, where Jews from France, Algeria and Morocco work to maintain their small Orthodox community, and Myanmar, where one man, Moses Samuels, opens the nation's single synagogue in Yangon each day for the city's 21 Jews.
With the Internet, "It's a smaller world now. We can be in touch with these Jewish communities," Frank said. "They don't have to be isolated anymore."
As for Frank, he prefers to live in a traditional American retirement community. He moved to Boynton Beach from Chappaqua, N.Y., almost three years ago.
"I look at the palm trees, the beaches, the good weather, and that is exotic for me," he said.
end
Travel writer Ben Frank, of Boynton Beach, can vouch for a Jewish presence in these obscure destinations. He has visited Jews in all these countries, and many more, with the goal of getting to know his co-religionists in the diaspora, learning their history and sharing their stories.
"It definitely intrigues people and surprises them, even places like Cuba, as close as it is," said Frank, 78. "A lot of Jews who travel look for a kosher deli or a synagogue or a Jewish museum. They want to connect."
Frank will talk on Friday at the National Jewish Retreat at the Hyatt Bonaventure in Weston about the worldwide Jewish connections he has cultivated. He recently published his fourth book, "The Scattered Tribe: Traveling the Diaspora from Cuba to India to Tahiti & Beyond."
Frank has published several books on Jewish travel, including "A Travel Guide to Jewish Russia and Ukraine" and "A Travel Guide to the Jewish Caribbean and South America." In his latest, he focuses on exotic Jewish customs in the context of the nation's history and the environments that hosted the Jews. His book describes his visits to 10 countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Myanmar and India.
Frank, a former journalist and public relations agency owner, said he has been to 88 countries. He said he and his wife managed this feat by rarely returning to the same country. Among their first vacations: Israel in 1952, before it became a standard tourist destination for the world's Jews, and Algeria in the 1960s, shortly after its independence from France.
Frank's public relations agency represented several airlines and national tourist offices, which allowed him some discounted travel.
Among his dearest memories: a bar mitzvah in Marseille, France in which a Moroccan family celebrated by roasting a lamb on a spit; and a wedding in Mumbai, India with a huge reception on a soccer field.
He was also impressed with Tahiti, where Jews from France, Algeria and Morocco work to maintain their small Orthodox community, and Myanmar, where one man, Moses Samuels, opens the nation's single synagogue in Yangon each day for the city's 21 Jews.
With the Internet, "It's a smaller world now. We can be in touch with these Jewish communities," Frank said. "They don't have to be isolated anymore."
As for Frank, he prefers to live in a traditional American retirement community. He moved to Boynton Beach from Chappaqua, N.Y., almost three years ago.
"I look at the palm trees, the beaches, the good weather, and that is exotic for me," he said.
end
Comments (2)
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Shall we
call Francois at 8:31 PM July 31, 2012
It's so easy really.
You must miss a challenge.
You can make or break anyone
WITH PUBLICITY
You must miss a challenge.
You can make or break anyone
WITH PUBLICITY
Shall we call Francois at 7:18 PM July 31, 2012
Who designed Ann Romneys dresses?
THEY ARE GORGEOUS
THEY ARE GORGEOUS
