Rabbi Yosef Hayyim of Baghdad (1835-1909), popularly known as Ben Ish Hai (“Son of a Living Man”), is the author of numerous works that remain popular in traditional Sephardi circles. Amazingly, some of R’ Hayyim’s writings, previously unknown, were discovered by American troops, “in a flooded basement of Iraq’s intelligence headquarters after Saddam Hussein’s downfall in 2003.” Those writings were recently published in two volumes as Birkat HaReyach (“Blessing of the Fragrance”).
Note: ASF regrets that this article does not use the correct, Sephardi transliteration of Hebrew.
Water-damaged Jewish manuscripts rescued from the flooded offices of Saddam Hussein’s secret security services (Photo courtesy of Harold Rhode/The Jerusalem Post)
In order to viscerally appreciate the end of Jewish life in Middle Eastern countries (outside of Israel), consider the Jews of Egypt. 80,000 Jews used to live in the country. Last week, seven elderly Jewish women remained. Then, on Friday, community member Lucy Saul passed away. After Lucy’s passing, the “leader” of the Egyptian Jewish community, Magda Tania, released the following message: “I will miss you Lucy. We have become just six women.”
Video of the Week: “Al Neharot Bavel” (“By the Rivers of Babylon”)
Rabbi Moshe Habusha playing the oud (Photo courtesy of Emil Salman)
R’ Moshe Habusha sings a lamentation for the 9th of Av, Psalm 137, Al Neharot Bavel (“By the Rivers of Babylon”)
Dr. Aron Sterk, a scholar of Spanish and Portuguese Jews in England, recently discovered an English-language translation of a Spanish-language siddur, or prayer book, at the Manchester library. While the English translation dates back to the 18th century, Sterk believes the original Spanish text is from the period when Converso Jews secretly lived in the country.
The first page of the English translation signed by Moses Gaster (Photo courtesy of The Times of Israel)
Southhampton Jewish Film Festival
7:30PM on August 9th Southampton Arts Center
25 Jobs Lane
Southampton, NY 11968
The Last Jews Of Baghdad provides a historical and personal view of the persecution, torture, escape, and flight of over 160,000 Jews from Iraq between the years 1940 and 2003. Carole Basri, born to Iraqi Jewish parents and Vice President of the American Sephardi Federation, presents an amazing account of Jewish life in Iraq based on first hand accounts. Ms. Basri will be on hand to discuss her film and the history of Iraqi Jews. This will be a very special evening and a rare opportunity to meet the filmmaker. The Last Jews Of Baghdad premièred at ASF’s NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival.
Please click here to purchase tickets (General Admission $15; Students under 21 $7.50) Reservations Suggested
The Converso Project
IAJGS International Jewish Genealogical Conference 7:30PM on August 9th Sheraton Seattle Hotel
1400 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Join the Society for Crypto Judaic Studies and Genie Milgrom, genealogist and author of My 15 Grandmothers, to formally unveil 'The Converso Project' at the annual conference of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies in Seattle, WA. The project will give the public access to the various sources of genealogical information of conversos, those forcibly converted to Catholicism during the Inquisition.
April 7th through September 9th Center for Jewish History 15 West 16th Street
New York City
The American Sephardi Federation, Portuguese Consulate of New York, the Sousa Mendes Foundation, and the Municipality of Almeida, Portugal proudly present a new exhibition in the Leon Levy Gallery honoring Aristides de Sousa Mendes, the courageous and creative Portuguese diplomat who saved Salvador Dali, the authors of Curious George, and thousands of other Holocaust refugees.
Please click here for additional information and viewing hours
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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).