Sephardic Anusim Center of the Americas
August 21, 2008
"The exiles from Jerusalem who are in
Sepharad will possess the towns of the Negev."
(Obadiah 20)
ALIYAH -- Americans Need More & Get Less!
In just 12 days, the Sephardic Anusim Vasquez
family of Portland is heading to their HOMELAND
of Israel. After a brisk visit with family in New York,
they'll head to the land of resurrection, Israel.
And guess what - they need our help and they
need it now! They have passed all the tests of the
Jewish Agency and Israel's Ministry of Interior to
become Israeli citizens!
No, they didn't ask me to tell you this but I'm sure it's
okay with them because we love and trust each other.
So if you've ever heard me out, please hear me now. I'll give you a brief list of reasons why their aliyah is so
very vital and let you know how you can help. (Pictured: Mark & Jodene Vasquez)
WHY THE VASQUEZ ALIYAH IS SO VITAL
One, their aliyah is vital because they're a
perfect model of what an American Sephardic Anusim
family looks like in terms of making aliyah. Many other
American Jews have made aliyah but this case is
historic and unprecedented. Why? Because they're
not Jews immigrating from Eastern Europe or
Ethiopia or India or any place else. They're all-
American, homegrown folk. Two, their aliyah is vital because it comes at a
time when immigration to Israel is at an all time low!
Since the Second Intifada which flared up in
September 2000, tourism decreased and terrorism
increased. Meanwhile, immigration also decreased by
59 percent since 1948 or a little over 64 percent since
1989. In my conservative estimates, we should have
close to two million more Jews in Israel at this time -
which there is not. Finally, the Vasquez aliyah is vital because
they represent God's OPEN DOOR for thousands and
perhaps millions like them that will make aliyah to the
Negev soon. (Pictured: Jonathan and Milo Vasquez)
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP
Our first order of business is always to pray rich
blessings on the Vasquez family. But we also have the
honor of following in father Abraham's example. I'm
referring to his encounter with Melchizedek, king of
Salem and priest of the Most High God. (Genesis
14:18) Melchizedek gave Abraham bread and wine
and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he
confiscated from the kings that had captured Lot and
his family.
Maybe your tithe already goes to the place of worship.
If not, here's a wonderful family to sow your tithe into.
If you do tithe, then maybe you can set aside a portion
of another tithe for the holy purpose of the Vasquez'
homecoming expenses. So please let me know as
soon as you possibly can how you can help. Please send your donations and gifts of love to:
ALIYAH SEPHARDIC CENTER (Vasquez Fund)
; PO BOX 75, Helotes, Texas 78023. By the way, the reason why American Jews need more
and get less help from Israeli institutions is because it
is assumed that Americans have many more
resources than Jews in other countries. What they
neglect to see is that the American cost of living is
much higher than most other countries. In order to live
a nominal, decent life in Israel without experiencing
financial shock is by finding a happy medium
between what they're turning their back on in America
and inheriting in their new homeland of Israel and her
Negev!
With richest gratitude, Dell F. Sanchez Founding President, American Anusim Center of
the Americas
You can read our past newsletters by going to our Archives
Homepage.
In just 12 days, the Sephardic Anusim Vasquez
family of Portland is heading to their HOMELAND
of Israel. After a brisk visit with family in New York,
they'll head to the land of resurrection, Israel.
And guess what - they need our help and they
need it now! They have passed all the tests of the
Jewish Agency and Israel's Ministry of Interior to
become Israeli citizens!
One, their aliyah is vital because they're a
perfect model of what an American Sephardic Anusim
family looks like in terms of making aliyah. Many other
American Jews have made aliyah but this case is
historic and unprecedented. Why? Because they're
not Jews immigrating from Eastern Europe or
Ethiopia or India or any place else. They're all-
American, homegrown folk.
Our first order of business is always to pray rich
blessings on the Vasquez family. But we also have the
honor of following in father Abraham's example. I'm
referring to his encounter with Melchizedek, king of
Salem and priest of the Most High God. (Genesis
14:18) Melchizedek gave Abraham bread and wine
and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he
confiscated from the kings that had captured Lot and
his family.