In Memory of the two children murdered in Minneapolis this week while attending Mass by a domestic terrorist, who was radicalized online by anti-American and antisemitic ruscist propaganda. We pray for the victims, the 17 wounded survivors, their families, and the Annunciation Catholic School Community. Political violence has no place in America. To protect our way of life, we must insist upon evil being confronted, not euphemizedand reaffirming shared principles, especially religious liberty
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Don’t miss the latest Sephardi Ideas Monthly: “Deep Listening: Exploring Music with Dan Asia”
“I didn't believe it at first”: Enrico Macias recounts how Bin Laden listened to his songs
By Jerome Goulon, Entrevue.fr
Enrico Macias, Sold Out Closing Night of the 27th NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival - Inaugural Festival Sefarad, El Museo Del Barrio, 15 June 2025
(Photo courtesy of Zak Siraj)
Enrico Macias’s “The People of the North” (“Les Gens du Nord”) is a popular classic in the Francophone world, but its reputation took a wild detour when a recording was discovered in Osama bin Laden’s abandoned cassette collection in Kandahar, Afghanistan. It’s amusing to imagine the late Jihadi leader, between ascetic sermons and revolutionary manifestos, humming along to the tunes of an Algerian-Jewish crooner.
The scenario startled Macias. He confessed that he initially thought the whole story was a joke. After all, Macias’ heritage as a Sephardic Jew with a strong Zionist streak has made him persona non grata in Algeria, no less Al Qaeda’s caves in Afghanistan. And yet, here he was, in a soundtrack alongside Bin Laden’s speeches. As Macias put it, “‘The man responsible for the 9/11 attacks listening to the man who sings ‘Children of All Countries,’ that would be weird.’”
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FEATURE: The Enrico Macias song that even Bin Laden loved: “Peoples of the North”
Enrico Macias performs “Peoples of the North” live at Paris’ famous concert hall, L’Olympia, in 1995.
(Screenshot courtesy of YouTube)
Enrico Macias’s song “Peoples of the North” (“Les gens du Nord”) celebrates the warmth and resilience of the people of Northern France. The tune became a significant hit in the French-speaking world, ranking among Macias’s most popular tracks and becoming a classic frequently performed at his concerts. How popular was the song? A recording was found among cassette tapes belonging to Osama bin Laden.
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Upcoming Events or Opportunities
Our friends at Qesher in partnership with the American Sephardi Federation present:
Jewish History Tours: Travel to Morocco
“Morocco is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the Diaspora, with a heritage spanning over 2,000 years. This rich history reflects an intersection of various civilizations and traditions, including Berber, Andalusian, and Arab influences. In the first forty-five minutes of this talk, we’ll explore together the rich Jewish Heritage of this unique North African community, and tour virtually its most important locations such as Casablanca, Marrakech, Essaouira, Fés and more.
After this, we invite you to stay for the second part of the presentation, where we will focus on our “Jewish History Tour to Morocco” in April 2026. We will follow the daily program with Moisés, who will take us through the highlights of the planned visits to Casablanca, Marrakech, Essaouira, the Ourika Valley, Fés, Meknes, Ifran and Rabat. We will discuss the itinerary, the hotels, and the food. Moisés will be available to answer any logistical questions, and if the tour looks exciting to you, you can book a spot.”
Thursday, 4 September at 3:00PM
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: Complimentary (RSVP Required)
About the speaker:
Moisés Hassán-Amselém was born in Seville of Moroccan heritage. He is an honorary lecturer on Holocaust-Shoa Studies and Antisemitism at the “Pablo de Olavide” University in Seville. He obtained a law degree in 1995. However, he decided to make a complete career change and focus on the Jewish history of Spain and Morocco. Therefore he set out to found Jewish Spain Tour, a fully licensed Tour Operator specializing in Jewish travel inside the Iberian Peninsula as well as in Morocco.
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Our friends at Qesher in partnership with the American Sephardi Federation present:
A Unique Jewish Story from Libya: A Journey from Suffering and Loss to Joy and Success
“David Gerbi’s life is a journey of exile, memory, and resilience. Born into a Jewish family in Tripoli, Libya, he fled to Italy after the 1967 anti-Jewish pogroms. As a young refugee, he faced disorientation but also discovered inner strength. Inspired by his heritage and the need to heal transgenerational trauma, he became a Jungian analyst and psychotherapist. In 2002, he returned to Libya, where he found the Jewish cemetery destroyed and met his aunt—the last Jew in Libya. After months of negotiation with Gaddafi's regime, he brought her safely to Italy.
For over two decades, David has worked to preserve the memory and dignity of Libyan Jews through therapy, activism, theatre, and a digital memorial, sharing their history with the world. While telling his own story, David also sheds light on the heritage, culture, and history of the Jews of Libya.”
Sunday, 7 September at 3:00PM
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $18
About the speaker:
Dr. David Gerbi, born in 1955, is a Jungian psychologist, psychotherapist, analyst, and writer. An Italian and Spanish citizen of Libyan Jewish descent, he has dedicated his life to peace-building and preserving Jewish heritage in Libya. Appointed as a UNHCR Witness of Peace in Rome (2004) and Ambassador for Peace in South Africa (2007), he played a key role in restoring Libya–U.S. relations in 2002. He collaborates with the Italian Embassy in Tripoli and the U.S. State Department on stability projects. In 2023 he promoted the Abraham Accords between Libya and Israel.
Dr. Gerbi currently serves as a representative of the World Organization of Libyan Jews, as a representative of the Supreme Council of Amazigh of Libya and as a representative of the Italian-Libyan Culture Commission. He is the founder of Astrel.org, a virtual cemetery of Libyan Jews, and he is a former president of ASTREL, promoting the preservation of Libyan Jewish cultural and religious heritage.
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Our friends at Qesher in partnership with the American Sephardi Federation present:
Jews in the Commonwealth of Nations: Trinidad, Gibraltar, Tanzania, and Hong Kong
“In this session, Clive Lawton, CEO of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, will examine the contemporary realities of the Commonwealth of Nations, the world's second-largest international organization. This network spans continents and includes a wide range of Jewish communities, from larger and more established ones in countries like Canada and the UK, to smaller and less-known communities in places such as Sri Lanka and Lesotho.
Does the Commonwealth still hold significance today? What are the strengths, challenges, and unique characteristics of the roughly 40 Jewish communities spread across Oceania, the Americas, Europe, and Africa?
In the second part of the talk, we will look at specific examples from different regions of the Commonwealth. Jewish communities in Trinidad, Gibraltar, Tanzania and Hong Kong will be discussed, with a focus on their histories, distinguishing features, and their place within the broader Commonwealth framework.
Join us as we navigate the fascinating diversity and commonalities of these Jewish communities, and ask the bigger question: what role does the Commonwealth play in shaping and sustaining these varied Jewish identities?”
Thursday, 11 September at 3:00PM
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $18
About the speaker:
Clive Lawton OBE is the CEO of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, a Presiding Justice, and a Tribunal Chair for health funding issues. Honoured with an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2016, Clive has led a distinguished career across education, healthcare, diversity, interfaith relations, and policing.
As the co-founder of Limmud, Clive transformed Jewish learning worldwide and helped establish Holocaust education for school-aged children. He has also held senior roles, including Head of a high school, A-Level Chief Examiner, and municipal Director of Education.
In healthcare, Clive chaired a hospital board and led NHS leadership training in London. His work in diversity included advising the UK government on race equality and refugee resettlement. He also served as a governor for London’s Metropolitan Police, focusing on Public Order and Community Engagement.
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Announcing a new Online Course
Soundtrack of a Nation: An Introduction to Israeli Music
Explore and enjoy Israeli music as a way to understand Israel as it is—beyond the headlines. Guided by Dr. Aryeh Tepper, a dynamic instructor with deep knowledge of Israeli culture and extensive experience teaching in Israel and the United States, this course invites you to discover the fascinating stories and vibrant pluralism of Israeli society through the diversity of its music, while avoiding the polemics that often bedevil conversations about Israel in academia and the media. No prior experience is needed—just a sense of curiosity, an open mind and a receptive soul, and you'll come away with a playlist to last a lifetime.
Sign-up Now (New Link!)
Twelve Sessions Starting on 11 September
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Our friends at 14Y, Be’chol Lashon, and the Center for Traditional Music and Dance present:
Reimagining Ladino Song: Lily Henley Live in Concert
“Join groundbreaking singer-composer Lily Henley and multi-instrumentalist Duncan Wickel as they reimagine Ladino music, blending its lyrics with the rich textures of Celtic and Americana folk. Once spoken across the Mediterranean by Jewish communities, Ladino is now a language spoken by fewer than 100,000 people. A blend of Old Spanish, Hebrew, Turkish and Arabic, Ladino carries centuries of Sephardic history, storytelling, and cultural tradition. Lily isn’t just preserving this 500-year-old tradition—she’s reinventing its music for today.
In Henley’s one-hour concert, she and Wickel will perform brand-new songs from her upcoming album, alongside selections from their acclaimed release Oras Dezaoradas (Lior Editions Paris, 2022). After the concert, Henley and Ladino expert Bryan Kirschen will engage in an insightful conversation about the cultural history, resilience, and ongoing revival of the Ladino musical tradition.”
Thursday, 18 September, at 7:00 PM
Sign-up Now!
@14Y - 344 E 14th St, NYC
Tickets: $16.99 - $19.99 including fees
This program is presented by 14Y, Be’chol Lashon and the Center for Traditional Music and Dance, and cosponsored by the American Ladino League, American Sephardi Federation, Hebrew Union College Jewish Language Project, Jalopy Theater and School of Music, and Kanisse. This event is also sponsored by a Humanities New York Action Grant.
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Our friends at Qesher in partnership with Nora Kaplan Learn-in-trips presents:
Jewish History Tours to Spain
BARCELONA-CORDOBA-GRANADA
SEVILLA-TOLEDO-MADRID
Embark on a 12-day journey this October and November 2025 to experience the history of Jews in Sepharad: explore museums and world heritage sites, walk through the old cobbled lanes of Jewish quarters, take in the splendid architecture, and enjoy delicious food and Spanish wine.
Learn about the Golden Age of Jewish life in Spain on this unique, family-run Jewish Heritage Tour.
26 October - 6 November, 2025
For questions or more information, please visit www.norakaplan.com or email alexis.learnintrips@gmail.com.
Note: While this is not an ASF program, the American Sephardi Federation is proud to serve as a promotional partner for this unique educational experience.
