Members of two of India’s Jewish communities, the Baghdadis and the Bene Israel, played leading roles in the early development of Bollywood, both on the screen and behind it. Especially notable were the roles played by leading Jewish women: “[y]ears before Indian independence, Jewish actresses were creating waves because of their at-the-time scandalous costumes and characters.” An exhibit sponsored by the American Sephardi Federation that explores the influence and impact of Indian Jews in Bollywood, “Baghdadis & the Bene Israel in Bollywood and Beyond,” is now on display in the Leon Levy Gallery at The Center for Jewish History through March 2016.
Dnyaneshwar Mulay, Consul General of India at New York, spoke to a capacity crowd at the opening of Baghdadis & the Bene Israel in Bollywood & Beyond, Forchheimer Auditorium/Kumble Stage, Center for Jewish History, 3 November 2015 (Photo courtesy of Chrystie Sherman)
Sephardic fritters found in the cookbook Stella's Sephardic Table, on sale at the American Sephardi Federation (Photo courtesy of Stella Cohen)
The influence of Sephardic Jewish culture can still be traced in traditional Spanish foods such as “deep-fried fritters known as bimuelos (or buñuelos in Spanish), ring-shaped cookies and cakes like biscocho (bizcocho in Spanish), (and) deep-fried or baked half-moon shaped empanadas (pies).” As for Jewish culinary customs, ricotta cheese pancakes made by Sephardi Jews in Italy were “the latke of choice” during Chanukkah until Eastern European potato recipes became popular in the 19th century.
Happy Chanukkah! The American Sephardi Federation is celebrating with our friends, Nahmias et Fils, who preserve the tradition of Moroccan Jews and have been marking each day of this festival of liberty with a Mahia (bottle) Menorah! Join ASF and Nahmias Monday night for The Silk Road Experience.
At this year’s Jerusalem Piyyut Festival, The Borochovim interpreted the famous Chanukkah piyyut, “Ma’oz Tzur Yeshuati,” in Bukhari style and in a creative and rhythmic mode.
Jews played an important role in the North African music industry during the first half of the 20th century. They recorded in a number of languages, including Hebrew, as a 1932 Tunisian recording of what would become Israel’s national anthem, HaTikvah, attests. What’s most remarkable, however, “is just how uncontroversial the release of Hatikvah in North Africa was at the beginning of the 20th century.”
The Silk Road Experience: a Night of Food, Fashion, and Music 14 December at 7 PM
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street, New York City
Come experience the sumptuous sights, sounds, and tastes of the Silk Road as the American Sephardi Federation hosts a fashion show and souk. For hundreds of years people, goods, and ideas traveled along the famous trade route, creating a rich and diverse cultural legacy. Sephardi travelers and traders, publishers and philosophers, scientists and singers used the Silk Road to transcend borders and barriers (linguistic, cultural, religious) as they pioneered today’s globalized world.
Focusing on textiles, our celebration will feature original designs by Siona Benjamin and Shahin Yousefzadeh (Shahin Design Madison Avenue). Mumbai-born artist Siona Benjamin, having grown up in the enigmatic community of the Bene Israel in India, synthesizes her Jewish roots with the Hindu, Catholic, Muslim, and Zoroastrian iconography of her homeland. Shahin Yousefzadeh, a member of New York’s Persian-Jewish community, creates custom made couture fashion for professional, stylish and spirited women in New York and across the globe.
Purchase tickets here Cost: $36
Showcasing authentic music, food, dance, tea, and spices of the Silk Road
Come visit ASF’s Leon Levy Gallery at The Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th Street) to view our new exhibition: “Baghdadis & The Bene Israel in Bollywood & Beyond: Indian Jews in the Movies”
on display now through March 2016
Click here for viewing hours and additional information
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The American Sephardi Federation's Sephardi House is located at the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th St., New York, New York, 10011).