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8 January 2016
In Honor of Norman Benazaquen, a distinguished member of the American Sephardi Federation’s Board of Directors |
In Honor of Norman Benazaquen, a distinguished member of the American Sephardi Federation’s Board of Directors
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“Egyptian Political Scientist Amr Hamzawy: Egypt Needs A Frank Discussion About The ‘Displacement’ Of Egyptian Jews In The 1950s and 1960s” By Amr Hamzawy, MEMRI Jewish life in Egypt came to a bitter end when Egyptian society was infused with Nasser’s pan-Arabist ethos. Al-Sisi, however, has been encouraging a return to Egypt’s cosmopolitan past. Following Al-Sisi’s lead, Jews have been fondly remembered on Egyptian TV, a prominent Egyptian scholar questioned Islam’s claim to Jerusalem, and, in a recent essay, an Egyptian political scientist called for a frank and open discussion about “the displacement, oppression, and collective punishment forced on the Jews of Egypt in the 1950s and 1960s.”
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 Joseph Smouha’s City in Alexandria was amongst the Jewish properties nationalized by Nasser’s regime. Pictured here: Smouha Sporting Club, Alexandria, Egypt (Photo courtesy of the Government of Alexandria) |
By Amr Hamzawy, MEMRI
Joseph Smouha’s City in Alexandria was amongst the Jewish properties nationalized by Nasser’s regime. Pictured here: Smouha Sporting Club, Alexandria, Egypt (Photo courtesy of the Government of Alexandria)
 Raphy ElMaleh in the Cemetery, Ait Bayoud, Morocco (Photo courtesy of Diarna: Geo-Museum of North African and Middle Eastern Jewish Life) |
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“Interview with Co-Author of Jews under Moroccan Skies: Two Thousand Years of Jewish Life” Ousama Saki, Morocco World News Scottish-born George Ricketts moved to Morocco on account of the warm climate and people. In time, Ricketts teamed-up with his friend and Morocco’s only Jewish tour guide, Raphael David ElMaleh, to write, Jews under Moroccan Skies: Two Thousand Years of Jewish Life. The book is both a historical text and travel guide: “When the readers reach a Jewish site or a place where the Moroccan Jews used to live, they are able to read about it while standing right there, and hopefully feel some connection to the former occupants, as I did when visiting such places.” |
Raphy ElMaleh in the Cemetery, Ait Bayoud, Morocco (Photo courtesy of Diarna: Geo-Museum of North African and Middle Eastern Jewish Life)
Ousama Saki, Morocco World News
Scottish-born George Ricketts moved to Morocco on account of the warm climate and people. In time, Ricketts teamed-up with his friend and Morocco’s only Jewish tour guide, Raphael David ElMaleh, to write, Jews under Moroccan Skies: Two Thousand Years of Jewish Life. The book is both a historical text and travel guide: “When the readers reach a Jewish site or a place where the Moroccan Jews used to live, they are able to read about it while standing right there, and hopefully feel some connection to the former occupants, as I did when visiting such places.”
ElMaleh describes meeting an Amazigh (“Berber”) Muslim man named Moulay at the cafe in Taroudant’s main square. Moulay was a retired bus porter who knew the region well. Amused by the young Jewish man sitting next to him in the cafe, Moulay offered to be his guide to the south.
In this video, Raphy recounts some of their initial adventures, including spending Friday night with the last Jew in Taroudant (a man named Siso) and discovering a synagogue guardian waiting for the Jews to return (in the village of Arazane). At the time, Raphy was a curious young man eager to find hidden treasures in the south. As he laments in the video, he regrets that he did not have a camcorder then to document the colorful personalities he encountered, many of whom have since passed.
ElMaleh’s vivid recollections provide insight into the process of uncovering the region’s hidden Jewish history. To see more Raphy and explore Jewish sites throughout Morocco, visit the Diarna Geo-Museum’s online exhibition D’fina: Jewish Treasures of Morocco.
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“Anatolian Sephardic traditions through the eyes of a Jewish woman” By Merve Baran, Daily Sabah Daily Sabah, a liberal Turkish daily, sat down for an interview with Karen Gerson Şarhon, the head of the Ottoman-Turkish Sephardic Cultural Research Center. Among the subjects discussed: Sephardi cuisine, Turkish Jewish music, matchmakers, and baby showers.
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 Inside the Ahrida or Okhrida Synagogue in the Balat (Jewish Quarter), Istanbul, Turkey (Photo courtesy of Belgin Palaz/Diarna Geo-Museum of North African and Middle Eastern Jewish Life) |
By Merve Baran, Daily Sabah
Inside the Ahrida or Okhrida Synagogue in the Balat (Jewish Quarter), Istanbul, Turkey (Photo courtesy of Belgin Palaz/Diarna Geo-Museum of North African and Middle Eastern Jewish Life)
January 13th, 17th, 19th, and 21st
at The Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street, New York, NY
Back by popular demand, the American Sephardi Federation invites you to David Serero’s The Merchant of Venice. Playing to sold-out shows in the summer, the French-Moroccan baritone opera singer once again directs and stars (as Shylock) in his Sephardi adaptation of Shakespeare’s play about love, commerce, and bigotry. Featuring a diverse cast and Sephardi music, there will be a preview matinee on January 13th, ahead of opening night on January 17th.
Click
here to buy tickets
on display now through March 2016
Click here for viewing hours and additional information
THE POMEGRANATE CARD
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($54 tax-deductible)
Contact us by email or phone (212-294-6170) to sponsor future issues of the Sephardi World Weekly in honor or memory of loved ones.
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Copyright © 2015 American Sephardi Federation, All rights reserved. Thank you for opting (on our websites, at an event, or by email) to receive American Sephardi Federation Programming Updates and Publications. We apologize if this message was sent in error. The American Sephardi Federation’s Sephardi House is located at the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th St., New York, New York, 10011). American Sephardi Federation | http://www.AmericanSephardi.org | info@Sephardi.House | (212) 548-4486 |
Copyright © 2015 American Sephardi Federation, All rights reserved.
Thank you for opting (on our websites, at an event, or by email) to receive American Sephardi Federation Programming Updates and Publications. We apologize if this message was sent in error.
The American Sephardi Federation’s Sephardi House is located at the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th St., New York, New York, 10011).
American Sephardi Federation | http://www.AmericanSephardi.org | info@Sephardi.House | (212) 548-4486
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