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Mysterious Murder in Peru Goes UnsolvedShe fought with all her might. Myriam Fefer even broke her red, acrylic fingernails trying to fend off her attacker. But in the early morning hours of August 15, 2006, the assailant succeeded in wrapping a computer cord around Fefer’s neck and strangling her to death in the bedroom of her home here.…Read more

In Peru, Leftist Candidate’s Runoff Surge Sparks Fear, RecriminationsLIMA, Peru — The decision by two leading members of Peru’s small Jewish community to support Ollanta Humala, a retired lieutenant colonel, for president has provoked outrage among other Jews here.Humala, a leftist with links to authoritarian Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, led the first election round April 9 with 30.5%, and is given nearly…Read more

In Unruly Bolivia, Orchestra’s Chief Wields Baton Against the BrickbatsLA PAZ, Bolivia — Dozens of street protests have paralyzed downtown La Paz since David Handel first became conductor of the Bolivian National Symphony Orchestra in 1997.Turning violent at times, the protests have forced two presidents out of office.Handel has learned to take these extraordinary events in stride in a city that is also at an…Read more

Next for New Orleans: A Jewish Mayor?NEW ORLEANS — A three-man band played bluesy tunes from a makeshift stage.A woman conducted business ladling out gumbo at $7 per Styrofoam cup.A tall man in slacks and comfortable shoes worked the crowd as residents of the Broadmoor neighborhood here held a street party Saturday to cheer themselves up and proclaim that they…Read more

Orchestra Started by Shoah RefugeesLA PAZ, Bolivia — Erich Eisner founded the Bolivian National Symphony Orchestra in 1945, six years after being released from the Dachau concentration camp and landing in the South American country.Bolivia was one of the few countries still willing to take Jews as World War II erupted in 1939.Eisner, a pianist born in Prague…Read more