Mazal Tov/Mabruk to the recipients of the Israel Prime Minister’s Prize for Encouraging and Empowering Research about Jewish Communities in Arab Countries and Iran: Dr. Ovadia Yerushalmi, the Association for Society and Culture of Yemenite Jewish Tradition, and the World Organization of Libyan Jews.
A Saudi opinion writer, Hussein Shobokshi, deplores how Jews in Arab-ruled countries were accused of disloyalty, “despite the fact that they were proponents of the arts, economy and civilization in the country in which they lived.” Shobokshi’s piece is almost entirely dedicated to telling the truth about various cases of discrimination against Jews across the Middle East and North Africa, but, demonstrating the limits of contemporary discourse, he concludes with a piece of back-handed sympathy.
Sir Sassoon Heskel, Iraq’s first Minister of Finance and “Father of the Parliament”
(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
The first synagogue in the United States was the Mill Street Synagogue, built in lower Manhattan in 1730, to serve the Spanish and Portuguese members of Congregation Shearith Israel. The congregation’s “Patriot Rabbi,” Gershom Mendes Seixas, became famous for supporting the revolution from his pulpit during the American War of Independence. Today, the American Sephardi Federation is partnering with the Lower Manhattan Historical Association, “to support a request for signage on a lamppost outside the Dubliner restaurant co-naming South William Street as Mill Street Synagogue/Gershom Mendes Seixas Way.”
Sunday, 15 April at 7:00 PM Opening Night (Followed by After Party)
Tuesday, 17 April at 8:00 PM
Thursday, 19 April at 8:00 PM
Sunday, 22 April at 7:00 PM (Followed by After Party)
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street
New York City
This well known French classic will be performed in English, featuring Sephardi and Jazz standards for a world premiere adaptation.
The cast includes: David Serero (Cyrano), Mary Albert (Roxane), Andrew Edward Erwin (Christian), Cesar Munoz (De Guiche), Gordon Gray (Ragueneau), Michael Vincent Iannuzzi (Le Bret), Isaac Cruz (Ligniere), Lauren Berkman (Duenna), Cameron Addicott (Valvert), Elena Du Pisanie, Benjamin Culpepper, Shawn Chang.
Plot summary: Hercule Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac, a cadet (nobleman serving as a soldier) in the French Army, is a brash, strong-willed man of many talents. In addition to being a remarkable duelist, he is a gifted, joyful poet and is also a musician. However, he has an extremely large nose, which causes him to doubt himself. This doubt prevents him from expressing his love for his distant cousin, the beautiful and intellectual Roxane, as he believes that his ugliness would prevent him the "dream of being loved by even an ugly woman."
We look forward to having you join us!
Please click here to make a reservation Tickets: $26 and $36
(Including VIP seating and access to an After Party)
SPINOZA'S UNIVERSE
JEWISH STUDIES CENTER ANNUAL CONFERENCE
1Thursday, 19 April from 10AM-9PM Rosalyn and Irwin Engelman Recital Hall
The City University of New York
Baruch College
55 Lexington Ave.at 24th Street
New York City
Few philosophers have elicited as much controversy as Baruch Spinoza (1632-77), banished from the Sephardic community for his heretical views. A day of guest speakers will explore his philosophy in the context of the tumultuous world of the 17th Century Holland, and its continued relevance today. Keynote address by author and historian Russell Shorto.
Co-sponsored with Congregation Shearith Israel: The Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue, American Sephardi Federation (ASF), and The Portuguese Consulate at NY.
Sponsored by the Sandra Kahn Wasserman Jewish Studies Center, the Baruch Performing Arts Center, and the Philosophy Department
Please click here to register for each panel you wish to attend Comlimentary
Our friend Steven Chera and another talented member of the community, Julienne Dweck, have an upcoming concert! Sephardi World Weekly readers can use a special promo code (see below).
Steven Chera Sings The 60’s Classics featuring singer-songwriter Julienne Dweck
Saturday, 21 April at 9:00 PM The Triad Theatre
158 W 72nd Street
New York City
Steve Chera has been capturing the attention of critics and taste-makers for over a decade. He has established a unique cross-generational audience by blending songs from the Great American Songbook spanning hits from the ’20s to the ’40s, with early Rock n’ Roll from the ’50s through the ’70s. Come join Steven and his extraordinary band on a ride though the 60’s, for an unforgettable night of songs like “The Wanderer” , “My Girl” to Ol' Blue Eye's “My Way”. Prior to Steven's performance as the opening act will be Singer-Songwriter and music educator, Julienne Dweck performing some of her originals inspired by the 60's. Who knows, maybe they might do a song or two together but you'll have to come to find out.
We look forward to having you join us!
Please click here to make a reservation (Promo code for $10 off your ticket: CLASSICSTANDARDS)
Tuesday, 24 April at 7:00 PM Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street
New York City
The ASF and the Alliance Israélite Universelle-KIAH invite you to celebrate the launch of an incredible database featuring the lives and writings of over 500 Sephardi sages, who exemplify the classic moral, ethical, inclusive, and tolerant traditional Judaism of Greater Sephardi communities.
ASF’s Sephardi Scholars Center Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street
New York City
The American Sephardi Federation’s Young Sephardi Scholars Series, in partnership with COJECO BluePrint Fellowship, is excited to host a three-part learning and cultural series about the Russian-speaking Jewish (RSJ) communities of the Greater Sephardic world. The cultures and histories of Bukharian, Georgian, and Kavkazi (Mountain) Jews are situated at the fascinating, yet lesser known, intersection of RSJ, Sephardic, and Mizrahi life. Led by Ruben Shimonov, this interactive multimedia learning series will provide a unique opportunity to explore the rich and multilayered stories of the three communities.
Ruben Shimonov, 2018 American Sephardi Federation Broome & Allen Fellow, was born in Uzbekistan and grew up in the vibrant Greek and Turkish Sephardic community of Seattle. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Near Eastern Studies, and Jewish Studies from the University of Washington. As a Bukharian Jew—whose own multilayered identity lies at the intersection of Mizrahi, Sephardic, and RSJ—Ruben roots his work as an educator, social innovator, and community builder in a deep passion for the diverse cultural mosaic of the Jewish people. This has informed his active leadership and community organizing endeavors within organizations such as the American Sephardi Federation (where he is the Young Leadership Board’s VP of Education and Community Engagement), JDC Entwine, Moishe House, and OneTable. He has also brought this passion to his work at Queens College Hillel for the past four years—most recently as Director of Cross-Community Engagement and Education—where he had the unique role of engaging, empowering, and creating meaningful Jewish experiences for Sephardic and Mizrahi students. Ruben is currently pursuing Master’s degrees in both Public Administration/Nonprofit Management and Judaic Studies at New York University. Ruben was recently named a COJECO Blueprint Fellow and is working on community projects that highlight the intersectional identities of Russian-speaking Greater Sephardic Jews. He is also the founder of the Sephardic-Mizrahi LGBTQ Shabbat Dinner Series and annual retreats, which provide a one-of-a-kind platform for LGBTQ Jews from Sephardic and Mizrahi backgrounds to build a vibrant and supportive community.
Please click here to sign-up for updates on future events
The American Sephardi Federation and Yeshiva University Museum Presents: Hey, Wow!
The Art of Oded Halahmy
Monday, 30 April
Exhibition Viewing at 6:00 PM
Musical Performance at 7:00 PM
Dessert Reception Following
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
This exhibition features the mixed-media work of New York and Jaffa-based artist Oded Halahmy, an international artist with roots in Iraq and Israel. Halahmy’s lyrical sculptures span from expressive abstraction to simple but vivid figuration. His work reflects the rich, complex history of Jewish heritage in Babylonia, and celebrates the notion of homeland. Hey, Wow! explores themes originating in a popular Hebrew song written in Iraq. The artist riffs on Hebrew letter forms, blending the languages of modern artistic practice and of his ancient culture heritage.
Featuring performance by vocal artist Victoria Hanna
Wednesday, 9 May at 7:00 PM Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street
New York City
In Uprooted, Lyn Julius, a British journalist (Guardian, Standpoint) and daughter of Iraqi-Jewish refugees, explores the mass exodus of Middle Eastern Jewish minority communities, the clamour for recognition, redress, and memorialization, and how their cause can further peace and reconciliation between Israel and the Muslim world.
Tuesday, 29 May 7:00 PM Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street
New York City
Join Irene Shaland, an internationally-published art and travel writer, educator, and lecturer, for a fascinating talk about her travels through Jewish history in Burma, India, China, Cuba, and Cambodia. Seeking Jewish narrative all over the world, Irene with her husband-photographer Alex, has visited close to 70 countries and shared her experiences with audiences and readers in US, Canada, and Europe.
A three day academic and cultural conference exploring the cultural heritage of Jews of Yemenite heritage and their joint cultural commonalities with the Muslims of Yemenite heritage. Learn more at: www.ASFYemenConference.org
International Academic Conference Monday, 4 June, 9:00am-5:30pm
Tuesday, 5 June, 9:00am-3:30pm @The Center for Jewish History
Celebrating the culture and history of Yemenite Jews and the rich interactions between Yemenite Jews and Muslims. Topics include Jews and Muslims, spirituality, antiquity, modern culture, and Yemenite women.
Extended through April
in ASF’s Leon Levy Gallery 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 two renowned Latino artists, Angel Urrely (Cuba) and Carlos Ayala (Puerto Rico)--as a symbolic recognition and “step forward” to improving Jewish-Latino relations. We thank the Dominican artist, Juan Bravo, for exhibiting his pieces for the exhibit’s Opening Night. 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:
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 for additional information and viewing hours
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The American Sephardi Federation is located at the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th Street, New York, New York, 10011).