Mazal Tov/Mabrouk to Aomar Boum, recipient of the American Sephardi Federation & Association Mimouna's Professor Haim Zafrani, A”H Award, on being appointed as Maurice Amado Professor of Sephardic Studies at UCLA! Moment Magazine and the ASF most recently co-hosted “North Africa’s Forgotten Holocaust,” an International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2021 event with Professors Boum and Sarah Abrevaya Stein, co-editors of The Holocaust and North Africa
The Sephardi World Weekly is made possible by Professor Rifka Cook, Maria Gabriela Borrego Medina, Rachel Amar, Deborah Arellano, and Distinguished ASF Vice President Gwen Zuares!
Click here to dedicate a future issue in honor or memory of a loved one
📚“A Literary Tribute to Stuart Schoffman”
R’ Daniel Bouskila, The Jewish Journal
Rabbi Daniel Bouskila, International Director of the Sephardic Educational Center
(Screenshot courtesy of YouTube)
R’Daniel Bouskila is setting the standard for integrating the study of literature into Jewish spirituality. For years he has been reading Shai Agnon and Haim Sabato with his congregants in L.A., and he recently joined the event, “Combating Racism and Antisemitism: Shaping an Omni-American Future” to offer his thoughts on Albert Murray’s contribution to literary theory, The Hero and the Blues (click here to watch). It thus comes as no surprise that R’Bouskila offered a thoughtful “literary tribute” to the recently departed “renaissance man,” Stuart Schoffman. Calling Schoffman, “[The] translator of Israeli literature par excellence,” R’Bouskila praises Schoffman for bringing readers: “into the heart and soul of Israeli society, where they could experience Israel in its full gamut of emotions, challenges and complexities.”
Feature: Why Did Louis Armstrong Wear the Star of David?✡️🎺
Louis Armstrong waring his Star of David at the recording session of “Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy,” 1954
(Photo courtesy Louis Armstrong House Museum/Crescent City Jewish News)
Did you know that Louis Armstrong, considered by many to be the founding father of all jazz soloists—hence his nickname, “Pops”—wore a Star of David around his neck for most of his life? At the recent event, “Combating Racism and Antisemitism: Shaping an Omni-American Future,” the Co-Founder and CEO of the Jazz Leadership Project, Greg Thomas, shared the story of how the Karnofskys, a warm, New Orleans Jewish family, brought young Louis into their home and helped set him, and with him, the great American art of Jazz music, on its future path. So why did Armstrong wear the Star of David? Says Thomas, “Gratitude and appreciation.”
📸“Turkey’s Yunus Emre Institute launches Sepharad exhibition in Amsterdam”
Salih Seref, Anadolu Agency
A visitor examines works at the “Sepharad - Traces of a Multicultural Heritage,” YEE Amsterdam, 12 November 2021
(Photo courtesy of AA/Daily Sabah)
The Yunus Emre Institute at Amsterdam is extending its exhibition, “Sepharad - Traces of a Multicultural Heritage,” through the end of the month. Dedicated to showcasing “33 Turkish Sephardic artists… with 60 pieces of artwork, including paintings, glass art, sculptures, mosaics, ceramics, jewelry, and photography,” the collection is scheduled to travel to Spain next year. Says Terry Katalan, the Istanbul-born artist and curator: “‘The exhibition shows the integration of Sephardic people in Turkey with Turkish culture.’”
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The American Sephardi Federation invites all individuals, communities, and organizations who share our vision & principles to join us in signing the American Sephardi Leadership Statement!
Please also support the ASF with a generous, tax-deductible contribution so we can continue to cultivate and advocate, preserve and promote, as well as educate and empower!
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Hanukkah in Eight Nights: Bring the Past to Light
By Marian Scheuer Sofaer
Celebrate a family Hanukkah with dramatic readings about the feats of the Maccabees! In addition to the candle lighting blessings, Hanukkah songs, recipes, and sevivon game rules, this book incudes excerpts from ancient sources and vivid read-aloud stories by Moshe Pearlman for each night that will bring the riveting events of 164 B.C.E. to life. Good for school age children through adults.
My Life and Work: Chanukah Lamps
By Oded Halahmy
The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication" and symbolizes freedom; Oded Halahmy has dedicated himself to honoring his Jewish roots and culture through artwork related especially to this holiday.
Oded once hosted a holiday party and invited many friends to light Hanukkah candles. Every year since, he has kept up the tradition of making a new Hanukkah lamp.
Over the years, other ancient Middle Eastern symbols from Oded's Iraqi heritage began to appear in his lamps: the pomegranate, Hamsa (hand), lion, palm tree, palm frond, crown, and horseshoe.
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Upcoming Events or Opportunities
The ASF Institute of Jewish Experience presents:
A Bukharian Jew in Uzbekistan
Manashe Khaimov was born in a city along the Silk Road, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where his ancestors lived for over 2000 years. Join Manashe as he will explore the story about being a Bukharian Jew in Uzbekistan. He will discuss his experience in the Uzbekistan school system, his education in the underground yeshiva, and his relationship with his family mikvah (ritual bath), the only mikvah in Samarkand at that time.
Tuesday, 23 November at 1:00PM EST
Sign-up Now!
About the speaker:
Manashe is a fourth generation community organizer, serial entrepreneur, and social innovator who builds and consults organizations on Jewish diversity.
At his previous role as a Director of Community Engagement and Development at Queens College Hillel, he focused on building a real diverse Jewish community, creating Sepharadi and Mizrahi Leadership pipeline while expanding Sephardi and Mizrahi student life programs at five CUNY Hillel campuses.
Currently, Manashe is an Adjunct Professor in Jewish Studies, with a specialty in the History and Culture of the Central Asian Jews at Queens College. He is the founding president of SAMi Sephardic American Mizrahi Initiative that focuses on the Leadership Development of under-served Jewish communities on college campuses. In 2021 Manashe was appointed by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz as a member of the Jewish Advisory Council. Manashe also just accepted a position with Moishe House as their new Eastern Community Manager.
Manashe is founder of the Bukharian Jewish Union, an organization for the young professionals in their 20’s and 30’s, the founder of AskBobo.org, the only Bukharian online dictionary and the founder of The Jewish Silk Road Tours ™ an initiative that helps to introduce NYers and tourists from around the world to the diversity of NYC.
Sponsorship opportunities available:
info@americansephardi.org
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The ASF Institute of Jewish Experience presents:
Reclaiming Identity: Jews of Arab Lands and Iran share stories of identity, struggle and redemption
Join us for a global virtual event marking the November 30, Israel's national day of commemorating the effectual end of Jewish in many Arab lands and Iran. We will discuss questions such as: What is my true identity? How does my family narrative coexist within the wider Jewish world? Why, when, and how did I reclaim my heritage identity? Featuring guests from Dubai to Los Angeles!
Tuesday, 30 November at 9:00AM EST
Sign-up Now!
On 23 June 2014, the Knesset adopted a law designating 30 November as an annual, national day of commemoration for the 850,000 Jewish refugees who were displaced from Arab countries and Iran in the 20th century.
This year on 30 November, Jews across the world will share personal experiences of their families who left those countries only to once again face losses in the experience of living their heritage and identity. It is time to reclaim our Jewish heritage!
Sponsorship opportunities available:
info@americansephardi.org
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The Consulate General of Israel to New England presents:
The Untold Story of Syrian Jews: Commemoration of Jewish Exodus from Arab Lands
“In June 2014, the Government of Israel adopted a law which designates November 30th as an annual, national day of commemoration for the 850, 000 Jewish refugees who were displaced from Arab countries and Iran in the 20th century.
This year, the Consulate General of Israel to New England will be hosting a virtual program commemorating the expulsion of Jews from Syria which occurred in the wake of the establishment of the State of Israel. Our program will feature leading expert Dr. Mijal Bitton, whose research focuses on the Jews of Syria, as well as an interview with Dr. Mayer Ballas, a Syrian Jew who played a key role in the rescue of this community.”
Tuesday, 30 November at 7:00PM EST
Sign-up Now!
Participants:
*Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mijal Bitton, Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and an ASF Broome & Allen Fellow
*Special Guest: Dr. Mayer Ballas, Council for the Rescue of Syrian Jews
*Introductory Remarks: Ambassador Meron Reuben, Consul General of Israel to New England
*Hanukkah candle lighting with representatives of the Sephardic congregations of Beth Abraham in Brookline and Beit Sasson in Newton.
This event is co-sponsored by AJC New England, American Sephardi Federation, Beit-Sasson-The Sephardic Congregation of Newton, Beth Abraham Sephardic Synagogue, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine, Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts, Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut, Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, JIMENA, Lappin Foundation, United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien
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The ASF Institute of Jewish Experience presents:
Eid Al-Banat
The ASF Institute of Jewish Experience and the Mizrahi Dance Archive invites you to a unique global celebration of Eid Al-Banat!
This year for the North African holiday of Eid Al-Banat (The Festival of Daughters, in Judeo-Arabic), or Hag HaBanot (Hebrew), we are bringing together female Greater Sephardi talents to virtually celebrate North African Jewish traditions, female leadership, music, dance, and so much more.
Sunday, 5 December at 12:00PM EST
Sign-up Now!
This festival honors the story of Jewish heroines like Judith and Queen Esther and the important role of women in Jewish life until today. It is customary to sing, dance, and light the night’s menorah candle and focus on bringing together generations of mothers, daughters, aunts, sisters and the extended community. Women would traditionally get together to bake sweet treats and give gifts to each other. They would sing piyyutim and pray for the health and wellbeing of the women in their lives. It is a celebration of women, past and present.
In this year’s celebration, we will be featuring musician Lala Tamar, a world-renowned Israeli singer, who will be streaming a concert from Morocco accompanied by local female musicians. Lala is known for her bold and feminine style where she incorporates her Moroccan roots and the ancient Judeo-Spanish language of Haketia.
Jackie Barzvi will be leading us in celebratory dance to Jewish Moroccan music, where anyone can follow along, without any previous dance experience. Jackie is a professional Raqs Sharqi (belly dance) instructor and performer and the creator of the Mizrahi Dance Archive.
Dr. Hélène Jawhara Piñer, author of Sephardi: Cooking the History. Recipes of the Jews of Spain and the Diaspora from the 13th Century to Today will be sharing a new recipe created uniquely for this program that incorporates the historical and modern significance of the day in the context of specific food items.
Sponsorship opportunities available:
info@americansephardi.org
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The ASF Institute of Jewish Experience presents:
Museum Mondays:
The Museum for Islamic Art, Jerusalem
Tour the Museums from the comfort of your own home with Nachliel Selavan, the Museum Guy.
Monday, 10 January at 12PM EST
Tour the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center in Or Yehuda
Sign-up Now!
About Your Tour Guide:
Nachliel Selavan created and delivered an integrated learning and museum tour program for both school and adult educational settings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and has hosted similar pilot visits to a dozen museums in North America, and a few museums in Europe and in Jerusalem. He also teaches and engages audiences through virtual tours and social media. He has recently completed a year long Tanach Study podcast called Parasha Study Plus, delivering a weekly episode of Archaeology on the Parasha, and is now on his second podcast and a new video series reviewing every book in Tanach, called Archaeology Snapshot.
Sponsorship opportunities available:
info@americansephardi.org