Nov. 2005 Jewish-Hispanic Legislative Reception

On November 17th, the Jewish-Hispanic Dialog Committee met again, this time for the first Legislative Reception in their history. Organized by the Baltimore Jewish Council, the American Jewish Committee and the Hispanic Roundtable, the event took place at the Jewish Museum of Maryland.

Legislators present were: Senators Alex Mooney and Sharon Grosfeld and Delegates Dan Morhaim, Ana Sol Gutierrez, Victor Ramirez, Luiz Simmons, Adrienne Mandel and Sandy Rosenberg. The legislators were introduced by Javier Bustamante, Chairman of the Baltimore Hispanic Roundtable, Marty Himeles, President of the American Jewish Committee and Ilana Subar, Chair of the Baltimore Jewish Council Interethnic Dialogue.

David Conn moderated the panel discussion which concentrated primarily on the legislators' backgrounds as Jewish and Hispanic individuals. Luiz Simmons who is a member of both communities spoke of his Brazilian and Venezuelan background. The Hispanic legislators, all first generation Americans spoke of their immigration experiences.

About 75 persons of both communities came to the event which was a great success. Laura Beasley, the Director of Community Outreach of the Council was the primary organizer. Rafael Regales of the Mayor's Office of Hispanic Affairs was also an organizer and Lorena Beltran, also of the Mayor's Office of Hispanic Affairs was the photographer.

L to R. Delegate Morhaim, Senator Mooney, Delegates Mandel, Cardiin and Simmons

Delegate Simmons, Senator Grosfeld and Delegate Rosenberg

Javier Bustamante, Delegate Morhaim and Senator Mooney

Jaime Schwartzberg, Delegate Gutierrez and David Conn

Lorena Beltran and Pedro Aponte

Ricardo Flores, Jaime Schwarztberg, Pedro Aponte and Lorena Beltran

Moses parting the Waters in Hebrew Scripture

Delegates Gutierrez and Simmons

An view of the attendees with Mr. and Mrs. Lupperini and Nelson Ortega in front

Pedro Aponte and Hector Manzano during the event

Francisco Witt, Nelson Ortega, Jaime Schwartzberg

Marty Himeles and Ilana Subar

Dr. and Mrs. Joshua Sharfstein and Lois Rosenfield in the 2nd row, center

A picture from a November 1994's Jewish Times article on the Jewish-Hispanic Dialogue which began then at the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.