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01 Septemeber 2017
In memory of 104-year-old Blanche Blackwell (née Lindo), the Jamaican Sephardi “muse and mistress of 007’s creator, Ian Fleming,” who was a friend and inspiration to Noel Coward, lover of Errol Flynn, and mother of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chris Blackwell, the pioneering exponent of Reggae as founder of Island Records.
Philanthropist And Billionaire Izak Parviz Nazarian Passes Away At 88” 
By Leonardo Faierman, The Iranian

The Iranian-Jewish billionaire entrepreneur, Izak Parviz Nazarian, passed away on August 23rd. Born into an impoverished home in Tehran, Iran, Nazarian fought in Israel’s War of Independence and served as Golda Meir’s driver before ultimately immigrating to the United States and playing a pivotal role in the rise of Qualcomm. A renowned philanthropist, “Nazarian attributed his benevolent perspective to his mother, who urged him to always think about how to help others, a motto that he lived his life by.” 

Izak Parviz Nazarian  
(Photo courtesy of Coolspotters)
 
Feature of the Week: Françoise Atlan’s Avinu Malkeinu

 

Françoise Atlan recieved a standing ovation at Opening Night of ASF's American Sephardi Music Festival
(Photo courtesy of Chrystie Sherman)


The French-Sephardi singer Françoise Atlan, a master of Andalusian music, performed at Opening Night of ASF’s inaugural American Sephardi Music Festival on 24 August. Here is her soulful, a cappella rendition of Avinu Malkeinu, which is recited daily between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Atlan also performed as part of an impromptu trio, accompanied by Gerard Edery and David Serero. 
Operation Babylon, Shlomo Hillel’s book about the operation to save Iraq’s Jews
Operation Michaelberg’s Iraqi Immigrants Mark 70th Anniversary” 
By Tamara Zieve, The Jerusalem Post

Hundreds of Israelis recently gathered to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Operation Michaelberg, the first time Jews were brought to the Land of Israel “illegally” through the air. Among the guests was the Iraqi-born leader of the operation, Shlomo Hillel, 94. Afterward, “Hillel… served as minister of police and minister of internal affairs, and speaker of the Knesset. In 1988, he was awarded the Israel Prize.”
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“Like” ASF on Facebook to keep up-to-date on our projects, programs, and publications, as well as to share your thoughts
Upcoming Events:

Nosotros: Strengthening Bonds Between Jewish and Latino Communities

Thursday, September 7
4:00-9:30 p.m. (Viewing hours)
7:30 p.m. Remarks

Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
 

The Philos Project and American Sephardi Federation cordially invite you to “Nosotros," an art exhibit featuring the work of three renowned Latino artists--Juan Bravo (Dominican Republic), Angel Urrely (Cuba), and Carlos Ayala (Puerto Rico)--as a symbolic recognition and “step forward” to improving Jewish-Latino relations. Each piece reflects the shared roots of Jewish and Latino communities and expresses hope for a more positive future from the perspective of each respective artist.

Each artist has displayed their works in hundreds of exhibits in both the US and Latin America, having many of them included in some of the most coveted collections in the world. We are very excited to bring them and their works to celebrate the importance of uniting us (or Nosotros), the Jewish and Latino communities, and having this art displayed in a very powerful way at the American Sephardi Federation at the Center for Jewish History.

 
Artists:
 
Juan Bravo emerges as the veteran. Many are the broken brushes that this Dominican artist has in his repertoire. Juan Prefers the large formats and can impress anyone—not only by the agility of his strokes, but also by the persuasion with which he succeeds in submerging in them. We must be careful, for at any moment, we might see ourselves within one of his works without notice.
 
Angel Urrely is to the point. This son of Cuba does not beat around the bush. At least not for what the brush comes to reveal—his theory is clear and sharp. Each frame creates a specific, assertive and brutal connection. The reading of his work is—from the perspective of the viewer—very simple, to the point that if you assume an interpretation of what you are reading, believe me: Urrely is addressing exactly what you are thinking. Urrely has something to tell you and will let you know one way or another.
 
Carlos Ayala presents himself as the “Benjamin” of the tribes, the youngest of them all. This son of Puerto Rico presupposes that his youth may seem an obstacle to you, so he shows you his clutched fists from the introduction. This young man is fierce. Carlos shows us the deepest pains experienced by man, and brings them to an entertained, distracted and ill-bred public. He does not sit down to dream on the Caribbean coast and wait for boats loaded with promises. He does not have the time for it, but rather wants to remind you that even at the best moments pain is present. And at any moment it can befall us.
 
We look forward to having you join us!


Please click here to reserve tickets

Iraqi Jewish Voices Project
cordially invites you to a festive event
celebrating and honoring its founding supporters:
Robert Shasha and Dennis Shasha


Monday, September 11
7:00 p.m.

Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street
New York, NY 10011

The Iraqi Jewish Voices Project tells the story of the last generation of Iraqi Jews and their integration into Israel and throughout the world through dramatic current and historical photography, film, and personal narrative.  It is a project of Sephardi Voices USA, whose mission is to collect and archive the life stories of Jews of Middle Eastern, North African, and Iranian origin to raise awareness of their displacement and appreciation for their contribution to Jewish peoplehood and world history.
 
The evening is hosted by the American Sephardi Federation, which supported the publication of Iraq’s Last Jews (Palgrave Macmillan, 2008), edited by Tamar Morad, Dennis and Robert Shasha, and is proud to be the home of the Robert Shasha Collection of Iraqi Jewish Oral Histories.
 
 The evening will feature a talk by Tamar Morad, who now spearheads the Iraqi Jewish Voices Project.




Please click here to reserve tickets

Let Our People Go!

Tuesday, September 12
6:00 p.m. VIP Reception
7:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony

Museum of Jewish Heritage
36 Battery Place
New York, NY 10280 

Join StandWithUS and the American Sephardi Federation as we honor those who took part in the historic rescue of  Yemenite Jews. ASF will be presenting Retired Captain Elgen M. Long, the last surviving Alaska Airlines crew member who was part of the airlift of more than 50,000 Yemenite Jews on “eagle’s wings’” to the re-established State of Israel, with the Maimonides Friendship Award in recognition of his important contributions to the Jewish People. StandWithUS will present Alaska Airlines with its Savior of Israel Award.  

Please click here for tickets

When Baghdadi Jews Baruch and Ellen Bekhor (née Cohen) succumbed to the camera’s gaze for their denaturalization pictures in 1951, they became stateless. Ellen was in her eighth month of pregnancy. Permitted to bring no more than a few kilos of belongings out of Iraq, Ellen carried their wedding picture and ketubah in her pocketbook. Laissez-Passer, Royaume D’Irak by Leslie Starobin (2016). 

The Last Address

Through September 2017
in ASF’s Myron Habib Memorial Display

Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street
New York, NY 10011

The American Sephardi Federation proudly presents excerpts from The Last Address, a multi-year, photo-montage series and oral history and book project by award-winning artist Leslie Starobin that explores the enduring texture of memory and culture in the lives of Greater Sephardic families from dispersed Jewish communities in Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Iran, and Lebanon.

Leslie Starobin is a Boston-area photographer and montage artist. Her work is in the permanent collections of many academic (Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University) and public (Jewish Museum, MoMA) museums. Starobin is the recipient of numerous grants, including from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New England Foundation of the Arts/Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture. Most recently, she received two Hadassah-Brandeis Institute Research Grants for this series, The Last Address.

Her exhibition in ASF’s Myron Habib Memorial Display is sponsored in part by CELTSS: The Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship and Service at Framingham State University in Massachusetts, where Starobin is a Professor of Communication Arts.

Please click here for additional information and viewing hours

 and your tax-deductible contribution will help ASF preserve and promote the Greater Sephardi history, traditions, and culture as an integral part of the Jewish experience! 

Contact us by email or phone (917) 606-8266 to learn about giving opportunities in honor, or memory of loved ones

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The American Sephardi Federation is located at the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th St., New York, New York, 10011).

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