In memory of David Sassoon, A”H, the son of “a Sephardic Jewish couple from Iraq who honeymooned in London in 1925 and never went back to Baghdad,” who embodied “meritocracy,” “attentiveness and inventiveness,” in rising from a student of the Royal College of Art to a partner of high-end fashion house Bellville Sassoon and the designer of 70 outfits for Princess Diana.
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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: “David Blesses: R’Haim Sabato’s Wartime Talk in Ofaqim”
In honor of Passover, the ASF’s Sephardi World Weekly is pleased to offer the following “What Does the Oldest Haggadah Teach Us?”:
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“Lessons from Moses, Ibn Naghrillah this Passover”
By Sabrina Sofer, Sincerely Scribed
Sephardi House Fellows celebrating the 5th anniversary of the only national fellowship program enlightening and empowering Jewish students by infusing student life with Sephardic teachings, Temple Moses, Miami Beach, 6 April 2025
Sabrina Sofer is an ASF Sephardi House Fellow set to graduate soon from George Washington University. Her experience at the recent ASF Sephardi House Shabbaton and Leadership Summit in Miami inspired her to write a piece on two princes: Moses, and the 10th c. Andalusian Jewish poet, scholar, philanthropist, and general of an Islamic army, Shmuel Ibn Naghrilla, both of whom “under slavery and oppression, or restricted by the ropes of dhimmi status… broke through the bondage of their times.”
Contemplating the Passover Seder and the mysterious call that echoes across Jewish history to abandon “the comfort of the familiar” and to dive “into unknown, mysterious waters,” Sofer finds in Moses and Ibn Naghrilla heroic models of Jewish leadership:
Pleading with God to send anyone but him, Moses asks God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring out the Israelites from Egypt?” Ibn Naghrillah, too, was forced to emigrate like his fellow Jews upon the Berber conquest of Cordoba, leaving behind his life as a successful merchant, scholar, and active member of the rabbinic community.
Both, through their departures, remained spiritually guided and committed to their leadership: As God told Moses, “I will be with you,” and they acted accordingly.
Reflecting upon two leaders who did not enter the literal and metaphorical Promised Land themselves, Sofer concludes on a humble, locked-in, affirmative note:
Their lives remind us that even when we do not live to see the end of the story, our part in it matters, for it inspires the future. Even if fruits remain unseen, the planting is holy.
FEATURE: Amir Benayoun Sings “The Song of the Sea”
Moroccan Shirat HaYam by Amir Benayoun
(Screenshot courtesy of Youtube)
In traditional Jewish communities, the congregation recites Shirat haYam, (the Song of the Sea, Exodus 15:1-18 ), during morning prayers at the end of the section preceding the Qriyat Shma, the Declaration of God’s Oneness.
Shirat haYam is an ancient song that was triumphantly chanted by Moses and the Children of Israel after the stunning reversal in fortune when Pharaoh's army was swept away in the Sea of Reeds. It is so deeply ingrained in the collective Jewish psyche that, aside from its daily recitation, there is a Shabbat named after it, Shabbat Shira, and a holiday to celebrate it, the 7th day of Passover, Shvi’i shel Pesach, that falls this year on Shabbat, April 18-19.
One of the most recent renditions of Shir haYam was released in 2014 by Amir Benayoun, a Be’er Sheva born Israeli vocalist from a Moroccan Jewish family. Benayoun’s Shirat haYam is a march that combines the sweet intensity of Moroccan piyutim with a primal drum-cymbal rhythm backed by an array of plucked, sing-song strings and rolling vocal waves.
A wonderful example of the manner in which music links the ancient and the modern in present-day Israel, Benayoun’s Shirat haYam is also a reminder that quality religious art sometimes blossoms in Israeli pop culture.
“Seven Torah Scrolls in the Mosque Wall”
By Judith Kagan, the Librarians
The Aharonovs, a Jewish family from Mashad, Iran
(Photo courtesy of the Yad Yitzhak Ben-Zvi Collection)
Forced conversions and secret, crypto-identities were the dramatic realities for the Persian Jews of Mashhad during the 19th century.
The Jews of Mashhad were forced to convert to Islam in 1839 after a brutal Islamist attack upon the community. Outwardly, they lived as devout Muslims, “fasting during Ramadan, attending prayers at the mosque, and dressing in traditional Muslim attire,” while an entire Jewish existence lay hidden beneath the surface. Women played a central role in smuggling the material necessities of Jewish life “beneath their chador—the Muslim garment that covered their entire bodies.”
Men hid their Jewish lives by making hajj to Mecca:
Matityahu HaCohen, a leader of the Mashhad community, traveled to Mecca carrying minuscule tefillin, scrolls of Torah verses roughly the size of a thumbnail, hidden beneath his turban. He prayed in Mecca, facing the Kaaba, while secretly wearing his Jewish prayer items. He knew full well that discovery meant certain death.
And sometimes, the trails of disguises even ended in the Land of Israel:
A funeral procession winds around the mosque in Mashhad, Iran. Mourners wail over the deceased when suddenly, government officials burst into the ceremony. A Muslim woman loudly accuses the Jadid al-Islam (“new Muslims”) of wrapping the body in Jewish burial shrouds instead of following Islamic customs.
Panic spreads… practicing Judaism in secret is a crime punishable by death…
From the back of the crowd, an elderly woman steps forward… the wife of a respected Muslim man. The leaders of the Jadid community hold their breath, knowing that the shrouds were indeed prepared according to Jewish tradition…
The elderly woman curses the Jadid al-Islam loudly… She leans over the body, examines the shrouds, and then, with audible disappointment, announces that they are perfectly in line with Islamic law.
A sigh of relief sweeps through the community…
That elderly woman, named Johar, was herself a Jewish woman who had converted to Islam. After her Muslim husband’s death, she returned to Judaism, immigrated to the Land of Israel, lived in the Bukharan Quarter of Jerusalem, and was buried on the Mount of Olives in 1911.
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Explore one-of-a-kind handmade gifts for Shabbat and Jewish holidays at the ASF’s Sephardic Store!
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Upcoming Events or Opportunities
Our friends at Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan in partnership with the American Sephardi Federation present:
The Upper West Side Mimouna Celebration
Celebrate the vibrant conclusion of Passover at the Upper West Side Moroccan Mimouna! Enjoy an unforgettable evening of music, food, and tradition, featuring the enchanting sounds of Layali El Andalus. Indulge in a rich and colorful Mimouna table, overflowing with handmade sweets, traditional mufletas, and refreshing Moroccan mint tea.
Monday, 21 April at 7:00PM EST
@JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave, NYC
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $30
About the Artist:
Layali El Andalus breathes new life into the musical traditions of Morocco, Andalusia, North Africa, and the Middle East. Founded by Moroccan-born musician Rachid Halihal (singer, oud, violin), the ensemble, joined by Daphna Mor and other world-class musicians, is committed to preserving this rare and captivating repertoire. Layali El Andalus has graced prestigious music festivals and concert stages across the United States and abroad, with notable performances at MoMA and Lincoln Center.
This event is made in partnership with Israeli House, the American Sephardi Federation, YAMIM, JCRC, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, UWS Shlichut, UJA Federation New York, Ansche Chesed, and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
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YIVO Institute for Jewish Research presents:
Sidney Krum Young Artists Concert Series
An Evening of Sephardic Art Song
Co-sponsored by the American Sephardi Federation
Join us for a recital of Sephardic art songs that introduces a unique and rich vocal repertoire within the Western classical tradition, offering a captivating glimpse into Sephardic culture and history. Dr. Lori Şen will present an overview of the history, language, and culture of Sephardim, the development of the Sephardic art song genre, and its musical elements and stylistic features. Zoë Johnstone Stewart (guitar) and Andrew Stewart (piano) will join Lori for the recital portion and will present a variety of songs for voice and guitar, and voice and piano by Alberto Hemsi, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Lazare Saminsky, Joaquín Rodrigo, Joaquín Nin-Culmell, Manuel García Morante, Yehezkel Braun, Jose Antonio de Donostia, Daniel Akiva, Matilde Salvador, Ulrike Merk, among others.
Tuesday, 22 April at 7:00PM EST
@ YIVO - the Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street, NYC
Sign-up Now!
Tickets:
$15 General Admission
$10 YIVO members, ASF members & students
The Sidney Krum Young Artists Concert Series is made possible by a generous gift from the Estate of Sidney Krum.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.
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Our friends at Qesher present:
Moroccan Judaism: History and Culture
“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 this talk, we will explore the historical and contemporary context of Moroccan Judaism, tracing the migrations of Jewish communities to and from Morocco and their integration into the fabric of the country. We will discuss regional, linguistic, and cultural differences, as well as the unique characteristics of certain local traditions.”
Thursday, 24 April at 3:00PM EST
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $9
About the speaker:
“Dr. Vanessa Paloma Duncan-Elbaz is an ASF Broome & Allen Fellow, Research Associate at Cambridge University, and award-winning scholar and singer.
Dr. Vanessa Elbaz’s work focuses on the cultural histories of sound in the diasporic regions of 1492’s expulsion. She is described as “a kind of one-woman roving museum of her own” by The New York Times and was featured in a 2022 New York Times feature on Judeo-Spanish women's music. She has also written extensively on Judeo-Muslim relations through culture and public diplomacy of popular music.
Dr. Elbaz is the Chair of the Mediterranean Music Studies Group of the International Council for Traditional Music and Dance (ICTMD) and her work is regularly featured in the international press such as BBC, Al Jazeera, i24, France24, L’Express, NPR, PRI, Radio Pompidou, etc and is a frequent consultant for documentary film projects and media pieces. She is also an internationally known performer of Sephardi repertoires.”
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Our friends at TriBeCa Synagogue in partnership with Jewtina y Co. present:
“Interfaith Love thy Neighbor
Latino Shabbat Dinner”
Honored Guests:
Shmuel Steinhendler Chief Rabbi of Cuba
David Prinstein President of the Casa de la Comunidad Hebrea de Cuba, El Patronato and Gran Synagoga Bet Shalom, Havana, Cuba
Friday, 25 April
7:15PM EST Services
7:45PM EST Shabbat Dinner
@Tribeca Synagogue - 49 White Street, NYC
Sign-up Now!
Tickets:
$18 Adults
$15 Young Professionals (BELOW 30)
$15 ASF Community Members
Free for Jewtina y Co. Community Members
*Please note: We are sharing this announcement as a public service.
This is not an ASF program. We recommend reading “The Cuban Jewish Story of Survival” in the Sephardi Ideas Monthly (August 2017)
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The Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy and American Sephardi Federation present:
Musical Poetry of Three 19th c. Jewish Women: Emma Lazarus, Grace Aguilar, and Penina Moïse
This presentation will examine obscure work of the most famous Jewish women from the nineteenth century: Grace Aguilar (1816-1847), Penina Moïse (1797-1880), and Emma Lazarus (1849-1887). As Sephardic writers, they often wrote of exile, particularly of their Spanish and Portuguese heritage, of Jewishness in broader society, and of their pride in establishing a new homeland. Furthermore, their writing was profoundly impacted by their relationship to music. This presentation will reveal their musical projects to gain a better understanding of 19th century American and English Sephardic culture.
Sunday, 27 April at 12:00PM EST
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $10
About the guide:
Leonard Stein, is a literary scholar, musician, and writer. He received his PhD at the University of Toronto Centre for Comparative Literature and Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies. An ASF Broome & Allen Fellow (2021), he is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Bar-Ilan University, and lectures at Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He researches Sephardic literature, crypto-Jewish identity, poetry, music history, and the intersections between music and literature.
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Our friends at Qesher present:
The Musical Traditions of Moroccan Jews
“Throughout the centuries, Moroccan Jews preserved and blended religious and secular musical traditions, improvising upon them and popularizing them. By frequently collaborating with Muslim musicians, they helped develop a musical style that was authentically Moroccan.
This talk will explore the diverse musical traditions within Moroccan Jewish practice. The music of both men and women, including sacred, liturgical, and humorous traditions, forms part of a larger sonic world that has helped Moroccan Jews integrate different aspects of their identities.”
Sunday, 27 April at 3:00PM EST
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $9
About the speaker:
Dr. Vanessa Paloma Duncan-Elbaz is an ASF Broome & Allen Fellow, Research Associate at Cambridge University, and award-winning scholar and singer.
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The Museum of the Bible, the American Sephardi Federation and Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) present:
Sacred Words: Revealing the Earliest Hebrew Book
Explore the new Library exhibit, featuring the remarkable story of the earliest Hebrew book.
On View 19 March - 17 July 2025
@Jewish Theological Seminary
3080 Broadway (at 122nd Street)
New York City
The exhibit is open to the public during Library Hours.
Group tours are available.
Please contact Dr. David Kraemer, Joseph J. and Dora Abbell Librarian and Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, for more information.
About the Exhibit:
After 1,300 years of untold travels along the Silk Roads, the oldest Hebrew book reveals its extraordinary story. In Sacred Words, guests will behold the oldest-known Hebrew book, containing Sabbath-morning prayers, liturgical poems, and the world’s oldest Haggadah, which was mysteriously written upside down. Learn about the book’s content, its origins on the Silk Roads, and the multicultural cooperation that brought it first to Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC. This sacred book has a story to tell. Come discover it.
This exhibition was created in partnership with the American Sephardi Federation and the Museum of the Bible.
