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In Memory of The American Sephardi Federation’s Vice President Florence Amzallag-Tatistcheff, A”H, a proud and elegant Moroccan Lady, a force of character who championed the classic Moroccan Sephardic tradition, the vibrancy of the Judeo-Moroccan heritage, and the cause of coexistence through her early and invaluable support of Association Mimouna ~ Elmehdi Boudra (President, Association Mimouna) and Jason Guberman-P. (Executive Director, American Sephardi Federation).
17 June 2019
Click here to dedicate a future issue of The Sephardi Ideas Monthly in honor/memory of a loved one
Sephardi Ideas Monthly is a continuing series of essays from the rich, multi-dimensional world of Sephardi thought that is delivered to your inbox on the second Monday of every month.

The American Sephardi Federation and Association Mimouna are hosting a unique three-day conference this month dedicated to, “Uncommon Commonalities: Jews and Muslims of Morocco.” With lectures, panel discussions, interviews, and live musical performances featuring outstanding scholars and artists from Morocco, Israel, France, Canada, Spain, and the United States, the conference, from 17-19 June, is set to explore the historical, cultural, and religious connections between Jews and Muslims who lived at the remarkable crossroads of African, Arab, Amazigh, Andalusian, and Jewish cultures that is called Morocco.

In celebration of the conference, this month’s issue of Sephardi Ideas Monthly is shining the spotlight on one of the great exemplars of the earthy, mystical, and dialogical spirit of Moroccan culture, Rabbi David Bouzaglo (1903-1975), the great 20th century practitioner of the Jewish liturgical (soul) music known as piyyut, and master of the Moroccan variation on “the songs of seeking,” to use Edwin Seroussi’s wonderful translation, known as baqqashot. But we won’t be using an article or interview to do the work. Instead, this month, R’Bouzaglo assumes center stage with Shir Yedidot (“A Song of Loves”), a 2015 documentary film dedicated to his life written and directed by Rafael Balulu. The film is largely in Hebrew, but with English subtitles.

Rabbi David Buzaglo 
(Photo courtesy of Docaviv)
 
Rabbi David Buzaglo 

Bouzaglo’s life was too rich, his spirit was too raw, sensitive, and complex, and his influence on Moroccan Jewry was too deep to introduce him in a few brief paragraphs.  But you have to start somewhere, so in order to offer some kind of entrance into his life, we can note that Bouzaglo was born in Zawiya, near Marrakesh, in 1903, and raised on a diet of traditional Jewish studies at which he excelled thanks in large part to his remarkable memory. In 1919 Bouzaglo moved to Casablanca, where he fell in love with Arab-Andalusian music and plied his musical trade in pious and bohemian circles.  Bouzaglo began to go blind in 1949, but entire traditions continued to live in his extraordinary mind, and after moving to Israel in 1965, Bouzaglo almost single-handedly breathed new life into the baqqashot traditions practiced by Moroccan Jewish communities in Israel’s periphery. Bouzaglo’s spirit was shocked by the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and he passed away in 1975.

Tragedies and deep silences marked Bouzaglo’s life, side-by-side with the musical dialogues that he carried on with Arab and Islamic culture on the one hand and new secular Jewish cultures in North Africa and Israel, on the other. A man who enjoyed his shots of alcohol and didn’t shun pleasure, Bouaglo retreated into an increasingly mystical-spiritual world after one of his children passed away, and he adamantly refused to be recorded for most of his life. Bouzaglo’s musical legacy lives on thanks to the efforts of his many admirers and select students, including the present master of Moroccan piyyut, R’Haim Louk.
Click here to watch Shir Yeditot (“A Song of Loves”)
This very short preface will have to suffice in introducing one of the titans of contemporary Moroccan Jewry who was also one of the great figures in 20th century Jewish music. Unfortunately, not everyone can attend the upcoming conference, but we can still share its spirit, and so we invite our readers to begin exploring and enjoying Moroccan culture for themselves with Rafael Balulu’s remarkable documentary film on the life of R’ David Bouzaglo, Shir Yeditot.
American Sephardi Federation
American Sephardi Federation
Sephardi Ideas Monthly
Sephardi Ideas Monthly
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Upcoming Events:


The American Sephardi Federations Institute of Jewish Experience in partnership with Association Mimouna present:

The Morocco Conference
Uncommon Commonalities: Jews and Muslims of Morocco



Monday, 17 June 
at 6:00PM

Exhibitions and Reception
at 7:00PM
Opening Ceremony and
Musical Performance by Noufel FK & Jawad


Tuesday, 18 June, 9:00AM-6:00PM
Academic Sessions

Wednesday, 19 June, 9:00AM-6:00PM
Academic Sessions

Wednesday, 19 June at 7:00PM
Closing Night

Musical Performance by Omer Avital 

Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street
New York City

Please register here
or call: 
1.800.838.3006


The American Sephardi Federation’s Institute of Jewish Experience in partnership with Association Mimouna present a three-day scholarly and cultural conference dedicated to exploring the uncommon commonalities shared by Moroccan Jews and Muslims. The Morocco Conference is bringing together 40 of the world’s leading academics and artists to explore the historical, spiritual, and cultural expressions of Morocco’s exceptional culture of coexistence. Scholars, dignitaries, and communal leaders will convene to share research, knowledge, and experiences to foster enhanced understanding and engagement with Morocco’s tradition of tolerance and interconnectedness as a model for other Muslim nations and, moreover, the entire world.


American Sephardi Federation Presents:

Romeo & Juliet

Jewish Adaptation 
Starring  David Serero as Romeo.


Tuesday, 18 June at 8:00PM
Thursday, 20 June at 8:00PM
Sunday, 23 June at 6:00PM

Closing Night; Followed by After Party

Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street
New York City

Please register here


Shakespeare’s classic tale of love and loss reconceived as the story of two Jewish lovers, one from a Sephardi family and one from an Ashkenazi family. Featuring Ladino and Yiddish songs. Original Jewish adaption by David Serero.


Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America Presents:

Sephardic Birthright Israel Trip

26 June - 7 July, 2019

Please register here 
or email: info@sephardicbrotherhood.com 

“Join Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America for the Birthright Israel - Sephardic Israel Trip this Summer from June 27 - July 7! For 10 days, you'll be able to travel around the country with amazing people with Sephardic, Greek, and Turkish backgrounds, all while exploring everything Israel has to offer. You'll be able to ride camels in the desert, raft down the Jordan River, explore the Old City in Jerusalem, and a whole lot more. especially for Sephardic Jews from across the United States.”

Sign up now or learn more here

Note: While not an ASF program, ASF is proud of the members of our Young Leadership Board who are involved in organizing this trip


The American Sephardi Federation & Consulate General of Spain at New York present:

Visados para la Libertad (Visas for Freedom)

Thursday, 13 June at 7:00PM
Exhibit Opening (RSVP Required)

Please RSVP here

On view until July
Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street
New York City


“The history of the Holocaust is not merely one of villains and their victims. There were also those who did not want to stand idly by in the face of tragedy; driven by their conscience, they decided to take action. Among these are the heroes, those who risked, or even sacrificed, their own lives to save others. However, there is also another group of individuals, whose actions behind the scenes, albeit more modest, are no less deserving of remembrance and tribute. They took advantage of the scope of Influence offered by their position or profession to protect and help, as far as was at all possible, Jews condemned to extermination in Europe. This was the case of some Spanish Diplomats. In the aftermath of the World War II, The Spanish government would claim that the regime’s official policy was devoted to humanitarian concerns, which they either tolerated or hindered.  It was, rather, individual diplomats, those to whom this exhibition pays homage, who did what was possible, and sometimes impossible, to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust.”

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

Contact us by email to learn about giving opportunities in honor or memory of loved ones.

Copyright © 2018 American Sephardi Federation, All rights reserved.

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The American Sephardi Federation is a proud partner of the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th St., New York, NY, 10011). 

American Sephardi Federation | http://www.AmericanSephardi.org | info@americansephardi.org | (212) 548-4486

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