'Opening' of Cuba makes a Jewish Scrabble-lover feel more at home

[bemildred]

A former bodyguard for Fidel Castro finds that, as restrictions relax, he can publicly embrace his religion and have more access to the game he practically worships.

Reporting from Havana—

He carries a dictionary under his arm and wears a very large Star of David around his neck. His name is Fidel Babani, but you can call him Senor Scrabble.

Babani, in addition to being an active member of Cuba's tiny Jewish community, is president of the also small, but growing, Cuban Scrabble Assn.

Two very different passions, perhaps, but in his island nation, adherents have followed parallel paths: From both vantage points, Babani has seen slow, sometimes contradictory change.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-cuba-scrabble-20110905,0,220840.story

[Judi Lynn]

1. Thanks for the article on Senor Scrabble. Interesting. Rec. n/t