• About
  • Jewish Community Directory
  • Subscription Information
  • Contact Us
American Jewish World
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia & New Zealand
    • Europe
    • Israel/Mideast
    • Latin America
    • Minnesota
    • US & Canada
    ‘Honoring Our Graduates’ in the July issue

    ‘Honoring Our Graduates’ in the July issue

    A whodunit from back in the USSR

    A whodunit from back in the USSR

    There’s always at least one doctor in the house

    There’s always at least one doctor in the house

  • Arts
    • All
    • Blue Box
    • Books & Literature
    • Music
    • Televison & Film
    • Theater & Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts
    There’s always at least one doctor in the house

    There’s always at least one doctor in the house

    Music’s power to heal

    Music’s power to heal

    Set a place for Andrew Zimmern at the dinner table

    Set a place for Andrew Zimmern at the dinner table

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Travel & Culture
    Robyn Frank finds her niche in the cookie business

    Robyn Frank finds her niche in the cookie business

    Editorial: More from my European vacation

    Editorial: More from my European vacation

    Our Rosh Hashana special edition

    Our Rosh Hashana special edition

  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • AJW Digital Archives
  • News
    • All
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia & New Zealand
    • Europe
    • Israel/Mideast
    • Latin America
    • Minnesota
    • US & Canada
    ‘Honoring Our Graduates’ in the July issue

    ‘Honoring Our Graduates’ in the July issue

    A whodunit from back in the USSR

    A whodunit from back in the USSR

    There’s always at least one doctor in the house

    There’s always at least one doctor in the house

  • Arts
    • All
    • Blue Box
    • Books & Literature
    • Music
    • Televison & Film
    • Theater & Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts
    There’s always at least one doctor in the house

    There’s always at least one doctor in the house

    Music’s power to heal

    Music’s power to heal

    Set a place for Andrew Zimmern at the dinner table

    Set a place for Andrew Zimmern at the dinner table

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Travel & Culture
    Robyn Frank finds her niche in the cookie business

    Robyn Frank finds her niche in the cookie business

    Editorial: More from my European vacation

    Editorial: More from my European vacation

    Our Rosh Hashana special edition

    Our Rosh Hashana special edition

  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • AJW Digital Archives
No Result
View All Result
Morning News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Israel and the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana

American Jewish World by American Jewish World
May 23, 2020
in News
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Asher Yarden, Consul General of Israel to the Southwest, meets members of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. (Photo: www.katherinetolentino.com)Asher Yarden, Consul General of Israel to the Southwest, meets members of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. (Photo: www.katherinetolentino.com)

In addition to editing and publishing the American Jewish World, I write a monthly column called “Political Matters” for The Circle, the Minneapolis-based American Indian newspaper.

READ ALSO

‘Honoring Our Graduates’ in the July issue

A whodunit from back in the USSR

In my December column in The Circle, I wrote about my November visit to Israel, covering the Minneapolis Jewish Federation’s Israel @ 60 Mission.

Here’s part of what I wrote:

Israel is a fast-paced, high-tech society with an advanced security regime; it’s kind of like stepping into the future. Now and then a camel approaches — if you happen to be near the Old City of Jerusalem — and reminds you that you’re in the Middle East.

I was traveling with a group of Jews from the Minneapolis area, visiting social uplift projects funded by the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. We spent several days in Jerusalem, then went to the most northern area of Israel — to the town of Kiryat Shemona, in the “finger of the Galilee,” which is a chip shot from Lebanon and across the valley from Syria. Kiryat Shemona was a virtual ghost town during the summer of 2006, when Hezbollah guerrillas were firing Katyusha rockets across the border. During the 34-day war, more than a million Israelis fled south to escape the rocket fire.

Upon my return to the States, I learned that the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the State of Israel signed a friendship proclamation in early November. The Coushattas, in their first international foray, are looking for Israel’s help in diversifying their tribal economy beyond the casino business.

AP reported that the event, “colorfully highlighted by a traditional ‘stomp’ dance, marked the first time a Native American tribe has signed an ‘affirmation of friendship’ with the State of Israel, said Asher Yarden, Israel’s consul general based in Houston. Coushatta and Israeli representatives said they could identify with each other over their searches for a sovereign identity and homeland.”

I usually don’t get much direct feedback from my column in The Circle, so I was surprised to receive an email on Monday from David Sickey, vice chairman of the Coushatta Tribe. He commented on my brief article and directed me to a Web slideshow documenting the Affirmation of Friendship ceremony between the Coushatta Tribe and the State of Israel. The Israeli delegation that visited the Coushatta land, in Elton, Louisiana, included Belaynesh Zevadia, an Ethiopian-Israeli diplomat who many Jews here know from the time she was posted to the Israeli consulate in Chicago.

This is a grim time for Israel and the Middle East. As American Jews, our hearts go out to those who are suffering and grieving on all sides of the conflict. In the meantime, a small Indian tribe in the southeastern United States has forged a bond of friendship with the Jewish state. A Coushatta delegation will be visiting Israel sometime next month. May they go in peace and return in peace.

— Mordecai Specktor

Related Posts

‘Honoring Our Graduates’ in the July issue
Featured

‘Honoring Our Graduates’ in the July issue

June 7, 2023
A whodunit from back in the USSR
Books & Literature

A whodunit from back in the USSR

June 7, 2023
There’s always at least one doctor in the house
Music

There’s always at least one doctor in the house

June 8, 2023
Shoah survivor, fundraiser Francelyne Lurie dies at 84
Minnesota

Shoah survivor, fundraiser Francelyne Lurie dies at 84

May 21, 2023
Temple Israel’s Rabbi Simeon ‘Sim’ Glaser dies at 67
Minnesota

Temple Israel’s Rabbi Simeon ‘Sim’ Glaser dies at 67

May 21, 2023
Israel, ‘an almost magical story’
Books & Literature

Israel, ‘an almost magical story’

May 19, 2023
Next Post

Israel's onslaught in Gaza is a step backward

Comments 0

  1. Neil says:
    14 years ago

    I contacted the Coushatta tribal office yesterday morning to thank the Coushatta people for their friendship & solidarity with the State of Israel & the Jewish people. I suggest that all people who read my comments also call the tribal office to express our graditute.

    Reply
  2. Terrance H. Booth, Sr. says:
    14 years ago

    What a blessed event where two Nations come together and have a worthy exchange and in an atmosphere of friendship and solidarity. It is very fitting the two join for they like the Jews have been through many plights and yet survive because of who they are as people. Was a special event that will long be remembered and where good people gather the spirit of the event still remains.

    Reply
  3. Suzanne Manthei says:
    14 years ago

    We’ve had a tribe near Amarillo, Tx that also had a ceremony of friendship with an Israeli friend of mine when he was in that area- so I’m so glad that the Coushatta’s did the same in Louisiana. Since I’ve become friends with the Jews and we have started celebrating the Holy Days the blessings have been immeasurable… I know the same can happen with others who befriend the Jews. Thank you for writing about this issue.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECENT ARTICLES

Revisiting the horrors of Dachau

June 9, 2023
‘Honoring Our Graduates’ in the July issue

‘Honoring Our Graduates’ in the July issue

June 7, 2023
A whodunit from back in the USSR

A whodunit from back in the USSR

June 7, 2023
There’s always at least one doctor in the house

There’s always at least one doctor in the house

June 8, 2023
Music’s power to heal

Music’s power to heal

June 6, 2023

About

Since 1912 the AJW has served as an important news resource for the Jewish community. The Jewish World unites the main Jewish communities in St. Paul and Minneapolis, as well as those in Duluth, Rochester and smaller cities, and bridges the divides between the various Jewish religious streams.

Quick Links

  • About the AJW
  • Advertising Information
  • Submission Guidelines
  • Subscription Information
  • Jewish Community Directory

Contact Us

The American Jewish World
3249 Hennepin Ave., Suite 245
Minneapolis, MN 55408

Tel: 612.824.0030 / Fax: 612.823.0753
editor@ajwnews.com

  • Buy JNews
  • Landing Page
  • Documentation
  • Support Forum

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Homepages
    • Home Page 1
  • News
  • Food
  • Health & Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Opinion

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.