Chama Mechtaly is an Amazigh (“Berber”) Moroccan artist who, in her paintings, challenges narrow notions of Arab-Moroccan identity. Her recent exhibition in Casablanca featured a Moroccan flag emblazoned with a green Star of David and background text in Arabic, Hebrew, and Amazigh, but that was apparently too much. Under threat of possible arrest, she removed the piece from the exhibit: “We talk a lot about pluralism and tolerance in Morocco, but this talk is not reflected in reality and in the public school system.”
Chama Mechtaly’s “Moroccan Flag Revisited” (excerpt shown here) was removed from her exhibit under possible threat of arrest (Photo courtesy of Chama Mechtaly)
Eliyahu HaNabi Synagogue, Damascus, Syria (Photo courtesy of Diarna: Geo-Museum)
Rabbi Moshe Chadid is on a mission to preserve Damascus’ Jewish heritage for future generations. From prayer books to proper pronunciation to traditional melodies, “I am… bringing my forefathers to the present… and they sing and play. They are alive again!”
Tu B’Av is a Jewish celebration of love. In 2011, the American Sephardi Federation staged its own Tableau Vivant: The Berberisca Ceremony, which precedes a traditional Moroccan wedding.
Especially for Tu B’Av, the “Jewish Day of Love,” Lea Avraham performs a jazzed-up version of the Yemenite piyyut, “Ahavat Hadassah,” composed by the great 17th century Yemenite payytan R’ Shalom Shabazi and traditionally performed at weddings. Omer Avital, featured in the June issue of Sephardi Ideas Monthly, appears on bass.
In the 1970’s the Iranians bought a piece of land in Tel Aviv for their embassy. Then the mullahs ousted the Shah, and the land, which still belongs to Iran, lies unused. “Israel won’t let anything be built — in case Iran ever renews ties with Israel and builds its embassy.”
Before the Revolution, screened at the 18th NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival,draws on rare archival footage, personal histories, and interviews to tell the untold story of the Israeli Paradise in Iran. Pictured here is the office of El Al, Tehran, Iran (Courtesy of Dan Shadur/Before the Revolution).
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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, NY., 10011).
Before the Revolution, screened at the 
