As I Lived It

In this memoir, Irma Miriam Lopes Cardozo (nee Fernandes Robles) recounts her journey from her native Suriname, Dutch Guyana to her present home in New York City. As the wife of Rev. Abraham Lopes Cardozo, Hazzan of the Spanish Portuguese Synagogue, Congregation Shearith Israel-the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States-Mrs. Cardozo forged her own path as an advocate for Jewish children, Jewish education, immigrants, the poor and the State of Israel. Among other leadership positions, she was a founder of the Sephardic Studies Program at Yeshiva University, the American Sephardi Federation and the World Sephardi Federation; was president of the American Friends of Misgav Ladach Hospital and the Women's Division of the Central Sephardic Jewish Community. Mrs. Cardozo continues to serve as president of the Sisterhood of Congregation Shearith Israel. Written in her own forthright style, Mrs. Cardozo describes Jewish life in Suriname and in New York and the trials and joys of community service. While a personal memoir, the book depicts many important historical events, such as the Sephardic renaissance movement; and figures, such as Rabbi Dr. David and Tamar de Sola Pool. Included in the volume is a short history of Jewish life in Suriname, a lexicon of words in the native taki taki dialect spoken in Suriname, her famous recipe for haroset, as well as photos reflecting important events and people. As I Lived It is tribute to Mrs. Cardozo's will, spirit and faith, and makes for delightful reading. It is the story of her life - as she lived it.