In Memory of Claude Senouf, A”H, “the renowned Moroccan artist, painter, and photographer,” as well as a visionary builder of relations between Moroccan Muslims and Jews. “Claude’s deep love for Morocco and the vibrant spirit of Essaouira was evident in every piece of his work, capturing the essence of his beloved homeland.” Senior Advisor to HM King Mohammed VI, Mr. Andre Azoulay, gave an eloquent eulogy to his departed friend in Casablanca.
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The Sephardi World Weekly is made possible by Daniel Yifrach, Rachel Sally, Professor Rifka Cook, Maria Gabriela Borrego Medina, Rachel Amar, Deborah Arellano, & ASF VP Gwen Zuares!
Don't miss the latest Sephardi Ideas Monthly: “A Baghdadi Woman of Virtue, from Bombay to London”
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“How Cabo Verde is highlighting the rich history of the Jewish people in Africa”
By El Mehdi Boudra, The Atlantic Council
President David Dangoor (ASF), President Elmehdi Boudra (Mimouna Association), President Lauren Gibli (ASF Young Leaders), Executive Director Jason Guberman (ASF), and Houda Ougaddoum (Mimouna Association) presented Carol Castiel, Founder of the Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project, with the “Moses, The African: Jewish Leadership Award” at the 1st Jewish Africa Conference, Leo & Julia Forchheimer Auditorium, ASF - Center for Jewish History, 27 January 2019
On 6 March, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim dignitaries gathered in Praia, Cabo Verde, a predominantly Christian island nation off the coast of West Africa, to celebrate how, a decade ago, the capital city’s Jewish cemeteries were restored “under the patronage of a Muslim leader, King Mohammed VI of Morocco.” El Mehdi Boudra, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs, Founder and President the Mimouna Association, and an ASF Advisory Board Member, believes something universal is at stake in the restoration of these cemeteries
This achievement transcends a single community and embraces a larger vision of Cabo Verdean society. The Jewish cemeteries are now not merely materialized memories but pivotal platforms for fostering interfaith dialogue and, by embodying the spirit of unity in diversity, have become beacons of inspiration for generations.
The origins of Cabo Verde’s Jewish community, explains Boudra
date back to the nineteenth century, starting with the arrival of Moroccan Jews from cities like Tangier, Tetouan, Rabat, Essaouira, and Gibraltar in search of economic opportunities. These communities left a lasting impression on the archipelago’s history by contributing significantly to its cultural and economic development. The descendants of Moroccan Jews in Cabo Verde still have their Sephardic names—such as Auday, Brigham, and Cohen—and descendants of these families speak with great pride of their Jewish ancestors and honor their legacy by preserving their Jewish heritage.
A strong proponent of interfaith connection and the importance of Jewish heritage in Africa, Boudra sees in “[t]he resurrection of this house of life” by a Muslim king in a Christian country “a profound act that transcends merely dusting off the collective memory.”
Enrico Macias duet with Yossi Azulay - Ki Eshmera Shabbat & Leha Dodi
Enrico Macias and Yossi Azulay
(Screenshot courtesy of Youtube)
ASF Pomegranate Award Honoree Enrico Macias sings two Shabbat classics with Moroccan-Israeli singer Yossi Azulay.
“Museum of Mountain Jews: a window into Azerbaijan’s centuries-old history”
By Seymur Mammadov, News.Az
A US delegation of public figures from Maine recieve a tour from Igor Shaulov, the Director of the Mountain Jews Museum, Guba, Azerbaijan
(Photo courtesy of News.Az)
Azerbaijan is a Shi’a Muslim majority secular state known for its pluralist society and strong relationship with Israel:
Located at the crossroads of civilizations, Azerbaijan has always been a meeting place for cultures and peoples. Here, Muslims, Christians, and Jews have lived side by side for centuries, exchanging traditions and knowledge.
Azerbaijan’s thriving Mountain Jewish community stands as an example of the country’s character. The Mountain Jews Museum, located in Azerbaijan's Guba District, has become a popular tourist site. Most recently, on May 26th, a delegation of public figures from the American state of Maine visited the museum, but visitors regularly arrive from across the globe.
This museum immortalizes the traditions of the Mountain Jews, serving not only as a repository of cultural heritage but also as a living symbol of centuries-old coexistence and mutual understanding among peoples.
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Exploring Sephardic Customs and Traditions
By Hakham R’Marc D. Angel, Ph.D
Over the centuries, Jewish communities throughout the world adopted customs that enhanced and deepened their religious observances. These customs, or minhagim, became powerful elements in the religious consciousness of the Jewish people. It is important to recognize that minhagim are manifestations of a religious worldview, a philosophy of life. They are not merely quaint or picturesque practices, but expressions of a community’s way of enhancing the religious experience. A valuable resource for Sephardim and Ashkenazim alike.
The Jews of the Middle East and North Africa: The Impact of World War II
By Professor Reva Spector Simon
Incorporating published and archival material, this volume fills an important gap in the history of the Jewish experience during World War II, describing how the war affected Jews living along the southern rim of the Mediterranean and the Levant, from Morocco to Iran.
Surviving the Nazi slaughter did not mean that Jews living in the Middle East and North Africa were unaffected by the war: there was constant anti-Semitic propaganda and general economic deprivation; communities were bombed; and Jews suffered because of the anti-Semitic Vichy regulations that left them unemployed, homeless, and subject to forced labor and deportation to labor camps.
Covering the entire Middle East and North Africa region, this book on World War II is a key resource for students, scholars, and general readers interested in Jewish history, World War II, and Middle East history.
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Upcoming Events or Opportunities
Our friends at Qesher present:
Rediscovering Portuguese Secrets: Little-Known Jewish History that Changed the World
“Travel with the author and historian Irene Shaland to Portugal and discover the most fascinating Jewish history, which is largely unknown. The Sephardic or Spanish-Portuguese Jewish heritage in Portugal has greatly influenced the country's development throughout the ages: from the Roman and Visigoth times to the brilliant Age of Discovery; through the dark centuries of Inquisition and persecution, when the Jewish faith and traditions survived in secret, to World War II, when the country became a safe haven for thousands of European refugees; and to today's small but blossoming Jewish community.
Drawing on extensive academic research and personal experiences during an extended stay in Portugal, Irene Shaland paints a vivid picture of the Sephardic Jewish experience in Iberia from Antiquity through modern times in her book titled ‘Shaland’s Lisbon.’”
Sunday, 14 July at 3:00PM EDT
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $9-$18
About the speaker:
“Irene Shaland and her husband Alex, an award-winning travel photographer, have visited over 90 countries and enchanted audiences with their books, magazine articles, lectures, and photography exhibits based on their travels.
Irene's new series dedicated specifically to Jewish history travel around the world was launched in September 2021 with the Shaland's Jewish Travel Guide to Malta and Corsica: A Trusted Companion to Jewish History Explorer. The new Portuguese five book series is launched with the first one: Shaland's Lisbon: An Illustrated Guide to Jewish History and Sites In and Around Lisbon, December 2023.
Alex Shaland, the author of Suburbanites on Safari (2019), and the series of popular children's books Jackie the Penguin Goes on Safari"(2022), and Jackie the Penguin Goes to Madagascar (2023), is an internationally-published photographer. Alex's photographs appeared in various journals and other media in the U.S., Canada, France, Kenya, South Korea, and the U.K.”
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Our friends at Qesher present:
Greek Jewry: At the crossroads of civilizations
“The presence of Jews in Greece dates back to antiquity; it is the oldest Jewish community in Europe and the western hemisphere, with a unique and multifaceted cultural heritage. It was the epicenter of Sephardi culture in Europe and boasted the unique Greek-speaking Romaniote community as well as Jews that had taken refuge there from all across Europe. At the start of WWII, Jews in Greece numbered around 80,000, however the Holocaust decimated the Jewish population. At present, the Jewish community is working to preserve its unique heritage. We will explore this ancient, diverse and unique Jewish culture that has spanned more than two millennia and yet is still present and relevant in our modern era.”
Sunday, 21 July at 3:00PM EDT
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $9-$18
About the speaker:
“Joseph Michael Vardakis was born in Athens, Greece. He has a B.A in Psychology, an M.A in Psychobiology and is currently completing his M.Sc in Clinical Psychology. He has lived and studied in the UK, South Africa and Israel and is currently residing in Athens. He has been a student counsellor for the Ministry of Absorption for new immigrants to Israel and has also worked in an educational framework for the Jewish community in South Africa before his studies. On his spare time, he offers themed tours in Athens, including sites of Jewish interest.”
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American Sephardi Federation presents:
The Trial of Adolf Eichmann
Adapted on stage by David Serero
Inspired by actual events, this powerful drama takes audiences on a haunting journey through one of the most infamous trials in history, examining the depths of human evil and the quest for justice.
Don’t miss this compelling and thought-provoking theatrical experience as the world premiere of “The Trial of Adolf Eichmann” opens in July 2024 at the Center for Jewish History, inviting audiences to reflect on the lessons of history and the enduring struggle for justice and reconciliation.
Sunday, 21 July at 7:00PM EDT
Monday, 22 July at 8:00PM EDT (Premiere)
Tuesday, 23 July at 3:00PM EDT
Thursday, 25 July at 8:00PM EDT
@the Center for Jewish History
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $26-$36
For questions and more details please call 855.688.7277 (ext.1)
The play revolves around the trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of the principal architects of the Holocaust, who orchestrated the systematic murder of millions of Jews during World War II. Set in Jerusalem in 1961, the story follows the trial of Eichmann, a former Nazi officer captured by Israeli agents in Argentina and brought to Israel to face justice. As the courtroom drama unfolds, audiences are confronted with the moral dilemmas faced by the prosecution, defense, and the international community. Eichmann’s unapologetic defense, which hinges on his claim of “just following orders,” sparks intense debates about responsibility, collaboration, and the nature of evil. The play delves into the legal and ethical complexities of the trial, exploring how the pursuit of justice can intersect with the need for closure, healing, and reconciliation in the aftermath of unspeakable atrocities. David Serero’s masterful writing combines historical accuracy and dramatic tension to create a riveting theatrical experience. “The Trial of Adolf Eichmann” challenges its audience to grapple with profound questions about humanity’s capacity for cruelty and the enduring quest for accountability in the face of unimaginable horror. With a talented ensemble cast, David Serero’s direction, and meticulous attention to detail, this Off-Broadway production promises to be a thought-provoking and emotionally charged exploration of a pivotal historical moment. “The Trial of Adolf Eichmann” is a timely reminder of the importance of remembering the past and seeking justice, even when the wounds are deep and the scars are still fresh.
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The American Sephardi Federation presents:
“The Golden Age of the Jews of Alandalus” | “La Edad de Oro de los judíos de Alandalús”
On View in the Paul S. And Sylvia Steinberg Great Hall
through July 2024
@ the Center for Jewish History
The Jewish community of Alandalús gave the world extraordinary thinkers like Maimonides, diplomats like Ibn Shaprut, and poets like Ibn Gabirol and Judah Halevi, whose wisdom, works, and accomplishments resonate through the ages. 820 years after his death, the RAMBAM’s contributions to medicine, philosophy, diplomacy, and Jewish law continue to inspire wonder and influence till today. Across the Mediterranean in Fustat (Cairo) about two hundred thousand documents accumulated in the Ben Ezra Synagogue’s Genizah—a room or grave where obsolete sacred documents are respectfully discarded—over the course of nearly a millennium.
The geographical location of Egypt, a natural bridge between the Islamic East and Christian West, made it possible for many of these documents to be of Andalusian origin. This exhibition, curated by the University of Granada Professor José Martínez Delgado, takes us on a journey from the origins of this important community to its exodus and extinction in the XIX century. Although subsequently scattered all over the world, Sepharadim have maintained connections to their past by perpetuating traditions, the Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) language, and exemplifying a seriously Jewish yet cosmopolitan worldview.
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The American Sephardi Federation presents:
Convergence: Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian Calligraphy in Conversation
Featuring the multilingual art of Ruben Shimonov Convergence creates a visual world where Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian languages interact with, and speak to, one another; a world where stylized letters and words dance together on the page; a world where cultures, religions, communities, and philosophies intersect.
Juxtaposing cognates from these ancient West Asian languages, artist Ruben Shimonov encourages the viewer to explore the deep-rooted connections between these tongues, as well as the multilayered and transnational identity of the artist himself.
On View in the Leon Levy Gallery
through July 2024
@ the Center for Jewish History
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The American Sephardi Federation and Mimouna Association’s Rebuilding Our Homes Project present:
Re-Creation: Judaica by Moroccan Muslim Artisans
Explore the exhibition of Judeo-Moroccan art, Moroccan Judaica, cultural and religious objects, including Menorot, Mezuzot, Yads, Shabbat Candleholders, Seder Plates, Hallah Covers, and much more.
On View through July 2024
@ the Center for Jewish History
As Moroccan Jewish populations largely left the mellahs (Jewish quarters) in the latter half of the 20th century, there was a danger that not only designs but even the traditional artisanal techniques needed to create them would be lost. Passed down from one artisan to another and perfected over time, these designs and techniques. ranging from vibrant patterns to intricate metalwork and soulful wood carvings, are expressions of Moroccanity and reflect the individual character of each city. The materials and craftsmanship of Rabat are different than Fez, and Essaouira is distinct from both.
Mimouna Association and the American Sephardi Federation’s Rebuilding Our Homes Project, a multi-year USAID-supported New Partnerships Initiative, brought three notable experts-Ms. Zhor Rehihil, Ms. Deborah Koenigsberger Gutierrez, and Ms. Meryem Ghandi to train Moroccan Muslim artisans in the history of Judeo-Moroccan art and guided them in re-creating Moroccan Judaica, which encompasses a diverse array of cultural and religious objects, including Menorot, Mezuzot, Yads, Shabbat Candleholders, Seder Plates, Hallah Covers, and much more.