The Dominican Republic recently played host to a rather rare meeting — the Caribbean Conference of major Jewish organization Chabad.

The conference brought together the Rabbis of 12 Jewish congregations around the wider Caribbean region, including Rabbis from Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Cancun and Playa del Carmen, St. Maarten, Aruba, St. Barth, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Grenada and the local Rabbi in the Dominican Republic.

The group was joined by Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, Chabad-Lubavitch HQ.

While the Caribbean once had a significant population of Jews in the colonial period, largely from the Iberian peninsula, for several centuries the region’s population dwindled.

In recent years, though, Chabad, which sends “shluchim” to re-cultivate Jewish communities around the world, has expanded in the Caribbean, also proving a boon for many Jewish visitors to the region.

The post Why 12 Rabbis Met in the Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Hurricane Matthew is threatening much of the northern Caribbean, including Jamaica and Haiti, according the latest information from the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The Hurricane, which vacillated around a Category 4 strength on Saturday, led to a hurricane warning in effect for Jamaica and for Haiti, from the southern border with the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St. Nicholas. The storm had briefly reached a Category 5 strength before slowing slightly on Saturday afternoon.

A Hurricane Watch was also in effect for Haiti east of Le Mole St. Nicholas to the northern border with the Dominican Republic and for Cuba, from the province of Camaguey to the province of Guantanamo.

A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.

As of late Saturday, Matthew was expected to bring life-threatening rainfall to portions of Haiti.

The storm had already led to at least one death in the Caribbean on the island of St. Vincent as the storm first reached the wider Caribbean region.

Matthew is expected to remain a powerful hurricane through Monday, the Hurricane Center said, with maximum sustained winds near 150 mph with higher gusts.

It was the strongest of its kind in the Atlantic basin since Hurricane Felix in 2007 and could

The post Hurricane Matthew on Course for Northern Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

The third edition of the St. Barth Gourmet Festival will take place November 3-6, 2016.

Once again, St. Barth Properties is offering an exclusive gourmet package to guests seeking out a taste of the island’s flavors during the festival.

Travelers who book a week at one of the following villas will also secure a reservation at one of the four-course Gourmet Festival dining events.

Villa Aurore

Villa Aurore, set upon the hillside of St. Barth, treats guests to sweeping views of the sea.

With five bedrooms and five a half baths, the villa lends itself to a family or group of friends traveling together.

Another option for larger groups is Villa Eternity.

This five bedroom, five bathroom villa is part of the Grand Cru Collection offering additional amenities such as morning delivery of coffee, fresh fruit and French pastries and evening turndown service

Villa Matajagui is ideal for guests seeking an athletic getaway, offering a heated pool, air-conditioned gym and stationary bike.

The two bedroom villa is located in the hillside of Flamands, in close proximity to both the sea and mountain.

With a spacious outdoor living areas, Villa Utopic makes a perfect place to hold an event.

Villa Utopic

The three bedroom villa is also ideal for art lovers, who will enjoy pieces by photographer Désirée Dolron.

Another three bedroom option is Villa Curiosité, located in Lurin.

The villa is ideal for relaxation and enjoying sunset in the pool.

Travelers planning to stay at one of the other villas in St. Barth Properties’ portfolio can ask their travel concierge about making a reservation at one of the Gourmet Festival meals.

The post Another Way to Enjoy the St. Barth Gourmet Festival appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Activist group Puerto Rico Limpio accused US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional administrator Judith Enck of misleading the people of Puerto Rico on Thursday in her announcement over the closure of toxic landfills in Cayey and Arroyo.

Powered by WPeMatico

ORLANDO, USA — On Thursday, Latino leaders and civic organizations from across the Central Florida region and the nation launched “Que Vote Mi Gente,” a new coalition to mobilize Puerto Rican voters, one of the newest power constituencies in American politics. Puerto Ricans moving…

Powered by WPeMatico