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21 NOVEMBER 2014                                                 
In Memory of Iranian-Israeli Private Hagai Bar-Orian, z'l
The Rise and Fall of Calcutta Jews”  
By Aruna D’Souza, The Jewish Daily Forward

In Calcutta, capital of the British Raj until 1912, Baghdadi Jews had an “outsize[d] impact, from establishing schools, hospitals and some of the longest-running shops to staring in Bollywood film productions.” A newly launched online archive, Recalling Jewish Calcutta, tells their story through documents, photographs, and memorabilia.



 
Joseph and Lilian Abraham's Wedding, 1931 (Photo Courtesy of Recalling Jewish Calcutta)
 

Entrance to the Rambam/Maimonides Synagogue in Cairo, Egypt (Photo courtesy of Diarna Geo-Museum
Jewish Characters in Arab Novels 
By Marcia Lynx Qualey, Qantara.de

Although absent from most Arab lands, Jews are increasingly being featured in Arab fiction, such as the recently translated Exhausted Hearts: The Muslim Jew by Kamal Ruhayyim, an Egyptian writer. The novel examines the contentious relationship of an Egyptian Muslim and his Jewish mother, whom he unsuccessfully tries to convert. 
 
Song of the Week (VIDEO): El Cantar de los Cantares
 
 
Yehoram Gaon renders Song of Songs in Ladino for Voces de Sefarad (1988)

Pvt. Hagai Bar-Orian (Photo courtesy of Eyal Shragai) 
Saving Pvt. Bar-Orian from Obscurity” 
By Mitch Ginsburg, Times of Israel

In 1964, Iranian-born Private Hagai Bar-Orian sacrificed his life to save his fellow Israeli soldiers during a secret mission in Jerusalem, but his act of heroism was never officially recognized by the Defense Ministry. Now friends and family, along with Knesset Member Omer Bar-Lev, are trying to win Bar-Orian the honor he deserves.
 
Crossing the Judeo-Persian Gulf” 
By Gloria Kestenbaum, The Jewish Week

An exhibit of Judeo-Persian manuscripts at the Jewish Theological Seminary reveals Sufi influences, haunting love poetry, rousing epics based on Biblical themes, and strikingly beautiful illustrations. 

Moses and Aaron are depicted “standing before Pharaoh (after Exodus 7:8-10)” in this 19th-20th century illustrated manuscript from Isfahan, Iran (Image courtesy of the Magnes Museum Collection of Jewish Art and Life). 
Class @ ASFs Sephardi House in the Center for Jewish History: The Brooklyn Institute for Social Researchs Jews and the Colonial Project starts November 25th. Members receive a 10% Discount. Click here for additional information and to register
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