Nico Riethmuller updates the Community from his home in Santiago de Chile.

In January, I decided to devote myself to Jewish education. Over the past few months I have been busy launching various groups and projects.

I have started a study and discussion group for about 30 young Jews (in their 20s and 30s). The group meets twice a month to discuss critical and relevant topics like international terrorism, religion, politics, etc. and to meet with a panel of selected speakers.

This weekend we are holding a discussion called "Judaism and Identity in the 21st Century." The panel includes two rabbis (orthodox and conservative) as well as the President of Meretz Chile and other secular representatives.

Members of this group are involved in developing a new website that was launched last Wednesday. The website is designed to present different perspectives of the news to the public in order to balance the information my community otherwise receives from two primary news and media sources that are both very traditional and old-fashioned. This new source will hopefully help stir debate, dialogue and more open-thinking.

I have also taken up dancing and in March I began directing the israeli-style dance group for the Chile Hashomer Hatzair Movement. Here's the link of our first performance - at the very least you'll get a laugh out of it! (For those of you who don't know me in person, I'm the one who starts at the left.)



Next week I will be opening a literature workshop for young Jewish adults. Six weekly sessions are scheduled.

In other news, I am involved in setting-up two more groups: one for Jewish gays and one that aims to increase dialogue between Jews and Muslims (Arabs). While there are many Palestinians living in Chile, at the moment I am finiding it difficult to rally support or involvement from them.

Anyway, that's all for now. Hope everyone is well and keeping active!