Paying Vocal Homage to His Roots, Rabbi Playing the Oud, and Bollywood’s Jews

4 March 2016 In honor of Jonathan Sharbani, a distinguished member of The American Sephardi Federation’s Board of Directors

“Paying Vocal Homage To His Roots” By Ted Merwin, The Jewish Week   David Serero grew up in France dining with his Muslim friends ‘no-pork tables’ and hearing family stories about Jewish-Arab friendship in Morocco. While the world has changed, Serero’s worldly, Mediterranean-Sephardi spirit deeply informs the musical interpretations of Verdi and Shakespeare that he has been bringing to The Center for Jewish History’s stage with ASF’s theatrical season.   Click here to reserve tickets for Serero’s Nabucco in April

David Serero as Shylock in ASF’s production of The Merchant of Venice  (Photo courtesy of David Serero)

“Paying Vocal Homage To His Roots”
By Ted Merwin, The Jewish Week

David Serero as Shylock in ASF’s production of The Merchant of Venice  (Photo courtesy of David Serero) Video of the Week: “Ranu ve’Gilu” (“Sing and Be Joyful”)

Dnyaneshwar Mulay, Consul General of India at New York, spoke to a capacity crowd at the opening of Baghdadis & the Bene Israel in Bollywood & Beyond, Forchheimer Auditorium/Kumble Stage, Center for Jewish History, 3 November 2015 (Photo courtesy of Chrystie Sherman)

“Bollywood And The Jews” By Caroline Lagnado, The Jewish Week Everyone knows about Jews and Hollywood. But what about Jews and Bollywood? The American Sephardi Federation and author/collector Kenneth X. Robbins are sharing the fascinating story of Jews and the Indian film industry with an exhibit, “Baghdadis and The Bene Israel in Bollywood and Beyond,” on display at Manhattan’s Center for Jewish History through the end of March. According to ASF’s Executive Director, Jason Guberman, the public response has been overwhelmingly positive: “There is tremendous interest in the Jews of Bollywood (and India more broadly), and we have received an outpouring of support from New York’s predominantly non-Jewish Indian community.”   If you don’t have a Festival Pass, click here to reserve tickets for Bollywood Night on Sunday, 13 March, during ASF’s 19th NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival

Dnyaneshwar Mulay, Consul General of India at New York, spoke to a capacity crowd at the opening of Baghdadis & the Bene Israel in Bollywood & Beyond, Forchheimer Auditorium/Kumble Stage, Center for Jewish History, 3 November 2015 (Photo courtesy of Chrystie Sherman) “Bollywood And The Jews”
By Caroline Lagnado, The Jewish Week

Everyone knows about Jews and Hollywood. But what about Jews and Bollywood? The American Sephardi Federation and author/collector Kenneth X. Robbins are sharing the fascinating story of Jews and the Indian film industry with an exhibit, “Baghdadis and The Bene Israel in Bollywood and Beyond,” on display at Manhattan’s Center for Jewish History through the end of March. According to ASF’s Executive Director, Jason Guberman, the public response has been overwhelmingly positive: “There is tremendous interest in the Jews of Bollywood (and India more broadly), and we have received an outpouring of support from New York’s predominantly non-Jewish Indian community.”
 

March 10-17
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street, New York City

This year’s NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival (NYSJFF) will feature poignant stories and intriguing documentaries from Argentina, Australia, Egypt, France, Israel, Italy, and Morocco, as well as exciting programs (Pomegranate Awards Ceremony on Opening Night, Sephardim in America, Bollywood Night, Moroccan Day, Arabic Movie Night, and “Iraqi Music, History &… Kubba” for Closing Night). Watch the NYSJFF trailer here. 

ASF’s Young Leadership Board, headed by Lauren Gibli, is hosting an After Party for the Festival’s NY première of Midnight Orchestra, a Moroccan film starring French comedic superstar Gad Elmaleh. 

Passes and Tickets

Opening and Closing Nights: $100 (includes Festival Pass)

Festival Pass: $50 (includes all the films)

Single Screening: $15

Midnight Orchestra: $25 (includes After Party)

Order here or by phone (1.800.838.3006)
Visit NYSJFF to learn about Sponsorship and Advertising opportunities 

Special Announcement

Sephardic Birthright Trip Summer 2016

Sephardic Communities in New York, Miami, and Seattle, are joining together to create a Sephardic Birthright Israel Trip this Summer from August 7th to August 17th!  If you’ve never been on Birthright before and want to go to Israel for free, this is your chance! For 10 days, you’ll be able to travel around the country with amazing people with Sephardic, Greek, and Turkish backgrounds, all while exploring everything Israel has to offer. You’ll be able to ride camels in the desert, raft down the Jordan River, explore the Old City in Jerusalem, and a whole lot more.

The trip is totally free and anyone between the ages of 18 and 26 who hasn’t been on a Birthright Israel trip before is eligible. What’s more, we are working on creating an extended portion of the Trip to Greece! Even if you’ve been to Israel before on a non-birthright trip you may still be eligible. 

If you or someone you know is interested, please register today at https://www.israelfreespirit.com/app and use the organizational referral code “Sephardic Trip.” Registration takes less than 10 minutes and no final commitment is necessary. You can also email the organizers to find out more info at sephardicisraeltrip@gmail.com
 

Note: ASF is not organizing this trip, although individual members of our Young Leadership Board are participating

Shirat Baqashot ve-Piyyutim

Mondays, starting March 21st at 7:30PM
Center for Jewish History 
15 West 16th Street, New York City

According to the nusach of the Moroccan Jews
Presented by the hazzan and payytan, R’ Amar

The American Sephardi Federation is pleased to announce a new class exploring the Baqashot (‘Songs of Seeking’ in Edwin Seroussi’s wonderful translation), a musical tradition whose roots are in Andalusian Spain. R’ Amar, a student of R’ David Buzaglo, considered the greatest Hebrew liturgical poet of the 20th century, will guide students through the theory and practice of the Baqashot:

1). Their purpose, when and how they are used in the liturgy–how they are attached to weekly parshiyot (Shabbat Torah readings)
2). The musical  maqamim (Arabic melodic mode) used in the singing of the Baqashot
3). The great composers of this traditional art form

Students will be instructed in the chanting of each of the baqashot according to the weekly parshiyot and maqam. 

Please click here to RSVP for the sessions
Cost: $20 for four classes

Your Cardholder Benefits Include:  Subscription to the print edition of The Sephardi Report, a magazine that shines a light on contemporary Sephardi creativity and excellence in the arts, scholarship, entrepreneurship, rabbinic thought, and philanthropy   Subscription to Sephardi Ideas Monthly and Sephardi World Weekly   Invitations to special events across the country     Reduced ticket prices and back-stage access at the upcoming 19th NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival   Discounts at Sephardi businesses around the world, including restaurants, salons, and boutiques

$72

($54 tax-deductible)

Copyright © 2016 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 unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Copyright © 2016 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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