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Hello friends of CVJHP,
As we close out 2025, let's first acknowledge those we lost. As our elderly descendants pass, we lose not only dear friends and family, but also precious memories of their Moroccan Jewish ancestors. Luckily, many have shared their recollections while alive. Pedro Benrós was one of them. He was the linchpin of the Lisbon-based descendants as the above photo, circa 1997, attests. A senior advisor in the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture, Pedro regularly organized reunions and luncheons with descendants when I visited Lisbon en route to Cabo Verde. He also arranged interviews for me with many descendants from the Levy-Bentub, Brigham, and his own Benós family, which have enriched our archives. Pedro died in October at the age of 88.
On November 6, Olimpio Varela, a descendant of the Benchimol family, unexpectedly died in Cabo Verde at age 90. A nurse, musician and former diplomat, Olimpio fought for Cabo Verde's independence and exhibited keen interest in his paternal Jewish roots. He eagerly attended our first cemetery restoration ceremony in Praia in 2013. Olimpio also showed deep concern about the maintenance of the fragile tombstone, inscribed in Hebrew, of his great-grandfather, Hillel Benchimol. A businessman and landowner, Hillel wished to be buried on his property in Santa Catarina. To honor Olimpio's memory, CVJHP will redouble efforts to assist the Benchimol family in preserving this poignant patrimony. Earlier this year, we lost two more descendants whom we honored via the CVJHP Facebook page: Abraão Levy, whose great-grandfather, Fortunato, immigrated from Mogador (Essaouira) and Suzete Cohen Chantre, granddaughter of businessman, David Jacob Cohen, also from Mogador. Along with Abraão and Suzete, we feature a photo of Alfonso Benrós, whom we lost in 2024.
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