DonaGraciaDeskHeader1b
December 2007
Hanukkah Lights
Our Hanukkah Greeting Newsletter from SHI 
In This Issue
Celebrating Hanukkah
Hanukkiah Lighting
Anusim Learn Hebrew
Greetings From
Dona Gracia

DonaGracia at The Bridge1
Dona Gracia singing, Ocho Kandelikas for the group!
 
SHI 
continues to bring a message of hope and "light" to all the Diaspora Sphardic Anusim  who share the vision of return to Israel.  As the light began to shine brightly in 1948, so this beacon is reaching into the dark places and awakening the lost sheep of Israel to their true homeland. May this light continue to shine in the darkness to a people hidden for over 500 years! 
 
Isaiah 49:8,9  states "In an acceptable time I have heard You. And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people to restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; That You may say to the prisioners, "Go forth, To those who are in darkness, Show yourselves".
SHI Quicklinks
Celebrating Hanukkah Together!
Rabbi Zitter at The Bridge1  On this last night of Hanukkah, 2007, we say a prayer and wish you the best of G-d's light for this beautiful season!  We have  enjoyed sharing this holiday with our family at home each night and at our  Special Event on Dec. 8th!

 

We were  privileged to share our "Hanukkah Lights" celebration event for the fifth night of Hanukkah with some beautiful friends of the San Francisco Bay area in California!   This included Rabbi Zitter, from the Sephardic Orthodox  Ahabat Torah Congregation in San Jose.  We had many other special guests from far and near, including  Dr. Arnold Zierderman from Sacramento, Rosemary Shindler from Shinder's Ark and other great supporters of Israel!  Here Rabbi Zitter explains more about this special holiday to our guests!  Thank you Rabbi Zitter for coming with your children and  Geri from Ahabat Torah Congregation!  You are a blessing!
Hanukkiah Lighting At "The Bridge"
Hanukkiah Lighting1 

Some of our Israel Group, met at "The Bridge at San Martin" .  This is a Judeo-Christian connection congregation, named after the Bridge of San Martin in Toledo Spain (the bridge where the Jews were expelled in 1492 out of Toledo).   Sephardic Orthodox Rabbi David Zitter from the, Ahabat Torah Synagogue of San Jose came to help light/bless our 8 foot Menorah!  We sang Hanukkah music and shared latkes and bunuelos (the Sephardic Hanukkah treat!).  The event was warm and full of goodwill to all who came to share!  Thank you to all our guests that joined us!  You made this night historic!

Sephardic Anusim Leaning Hebrew!Anusim Center Kit 

 

 Rabbi David Zitter taught our Israel Group a crash course of Hebrew for six weeks at the Sephardic Orthodox  Congregation, Ahabat Torah in San Jose, CA. We are thankful for this great relationship connection! 
 
Information for this course is at the National Jewish Outreach Program  info@njop.org or 800-44-HEBRE(W) to order and further your studies!
Israel Ultimate journeyCome To Spain & Israel With SHI January 13-24, 2008!! $2995!
Our Spain (Madrid and Toledo) and Israel(Negev, Jerusalem, Tiberias) trip is scheduled for January 13-24, 2008.  We are looking forward to this trip with many of our dear friends, supporters and readers. Interested?  Contact us ASAP!  Must be passport ready!
 
Madrid & Toledo, Spain
We will be visiting Madrid & Toledo, Spain teaching on the Sephardic roots and consequences of the Inquisition in these cities.  We will view works by El Greco & others at the Prado museum in Madrid and discover Jewish secrets in the art!

On To Israel!
We will then fly to Israel and visit sites and our Israeli friends in Be'er Shava, Ashkelon, Jerusalem, Tiberius and Safed.  We will see "Springs in the Desert" in Ein Avdat, Gamla - The Masada of the North - where the raptors of Ezekiel 39 are breeding, Safed where the Jews fleeing the Inquisition founded a spiritual movement of tremendous depth and many things other trips never do!
Sign Up Now!
We hope  you will join us(limited space still available) as we take the journey of a lifetime in quest of many Sephardic insights into events happening around us today!  The total is due NOW, so call 408-422-5498, ask for Drake or go online for your application www.Sephardimhope.org .  Trip is through World Express Travel at 818-654-2880.  Ask for Carly.
 
We will also travel to Israel in June 2008, and spend time at the hospitality center.  Space limited! Contact us! 
 
Awakening The Sephardim To The Negev!
Sephardim Hope International is a benevolent international non-profit organization to bring the message of the Sephardic Anusim Jews (the descendents of the forcibly converted ones) from Spain to the awareness of the Jews, the Christian Church and the world. This is a prophetic message of hope and part of the story of Biblical Zionism.

Sephardim Hope International is also a support to the nation of Israel working in partnership with other organizations bringing aid and comfort to Jerusalem and the Jewish people.

Sephardim Hope International is a tax-deductible 501 (c)3 charitable organization formed for the above purpose. Donate tax-free to help support Sephardim Hope International in this endeavor of education, benevolence and helping the Anusim to make Aliyah to Israel.

To donate by regular mail please use the address at the bottom of this newsletter. You may also donate securely on-line by clicking here. Or you may call (408) 422-5498 and ask for Drake Fenn to donate by phone.

We look forward to hearing from many of you. Remember that you can respond to our newsletter or email directly with questions.

May Ha Shem continue to bless you and your families in this great year! Please do contact our administrator Drake (my awesome husband and webmaster) at Drake@SephardimHope.org for speaking and music engagements.
Loving Shalom,
 
Dona Gracia Serrano Fenn
www.SephardimHope.org