New York: 15th NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival, March 10-16

The 15th New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival will showcase five US and six New York premieres March 10-16 at the Center for Jewish History.

The event is presented by the American Sephardi Federation (ASF) in association with Yeshiva University Museum (YUM).

The 2011 program includes critically acclaimed, award-winning, classic features and documentaries prsenting diverse global perspectives.

The annual event (since 1990) draws personalities, scholars, diplomats and filmmakers.

This year's themes include a special focus on the Jews of Morocco, as part of ASF's year-long series, '2,000 Years of Jewish Life in Morocco: An Epic Journey."

The Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Sephardi actor/filmmaker Ronit Elkabetz at the Opening Night Gala. She has received three Ophir Awards, the 2010 France Culture Award at the Cannes Film Festival and the Israeli Film Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award.

It is the only annual festival of this kind, and attracts more than 30,000 attendees.

The ASF is committed to exhibiting a selection of thought-provoking, international quality feature films and documentaries that examine the past and explore contemporary Sephardic issues and identity.

"Through cinematic exploration, our aim is to further elevate the understanding of the very rich history and culture of Sephardic Jewry," says ASF President, David E.R. Dangoor.

See the full program list and ticket information here.

New York: Moroccan henne ceremony, February 6

Looking for an ethnic alternative to Super Bowl Sunday?

The American Sephardi Foundation will present a re-enactment of the traditional Moroccan pre-wedding ceremony called berberisca or henne, on Sunday, February 6.

The program begins at 4pm at the Center for Jewish History, in New York.

It is part of a year-long series - "2,000 Years of Jewish Life in Morocco: An Epic Journey" - presented under the patronage of His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, and made possible through the generous support of the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation.

Tableau Vivant: The Berberisca Ceremony (A Living Picture)
Among the traditional ceremonies of the Moroccan Jews, the richest, most original and picturesque is the "Noche de Berberisca" or "Noche de Paños" (according to the Northern Moroccan Jews, who used to live in the former Spanish zone of Morocco), or the "Henne" or "Soiree du Henne," as it is called in the Southern Moroccan communities. The ceremony takes place during the week that precedes the wedding, in an atmosphere full of joy and emotion. It is enhanced with Sephardic songs, or Judeo-Arabic music, fashion, delicious dishes and pastries made with almonds and honey. The evening reaches its climax when the bride makes her entrance magnificently made up and dressed in the Berberisca "Traje de Paños", or "Vestido de Berberisca" (Spanish), or "Keswa Elkibra" (Great Dress or Grand Dress in Arabic). Moroccan Tea and pastries will be served.

Tickets: $18 General Admission/$12 ASF members. Advance registration requested.

New York: Dona Gracia Nasi, Nov. 2

The American Sephardi Federation is co-sponsoring the 500th birthday celebration of the famed Dona Gracia Nasi (c1510-2010) on  Tuesday, November 2.

The program begins at 7pm at the JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avent (76th St.); a reception follows.

Andree Aelion Brooks, award-winning author of "The Woman Who Defied Kings," continues the incredible journey of Dona Gracia, a 16th century woman banker whose escape network saved thousands of fellow conversos from the terrors of the Inquisition.

The Dona Gracia Project seeks to bring public recognition and honor to the memory of this famed woman leader of the Jewish world. For more information, contact Harriet Porto.

The event is also co-sponsored by the JCC and Congregation Shearith Israel. Tickets are $15/$10.

New York: 'Jewish life in Morocco' opens Oct. 14

"Looking Back: Jewish Life in Morocco" will open at the Center for Jewish History in New York City on Thursday, October 14.

It begins at 6:30pm at the Center for Jewish History,15 West 16th Street New York.

Produced by the American Sephardi Federation , the exhibt focuses on the history of the Jewish people and Jewish life, as it once was in Morocco.

This event launches a year-long series of programs on "2,000 Years of Jewish Life in Morocco: An Epic Journey" including an international symposium, a concert and individual lectures.

ASF president David Dangoor said:

"The American Sephardi Federation aims to promote cross-cultural understanding and highlight the diversity and international scope of the Sephardic Jewish heritage. The ASF is delighted to present this series of multidisciplinary events that will celebrate the patrimony and legacy of Jewish culture in Morocco."

Jews have lived in Morocco since at least the time of the Phoenicians, 550 BCE. Over several thousands years, Jewish communities lived there and were influenced by those with whom they lived: the Berbers, the Spanish, the Arabs and the French.

The exhibit is an overview of the presence and flourishing of Jews in the ancient and modern Kingdom of Morocco.

Included are artistically designed textual displays, documents, pull quotes, non-photo images (e.g. lithographs and engravings), historic photos, captions, replications of historic documents, and other visuals demonstrating the life of the Jews in this area.

The opening night keynote address will be presented by Dr. Norman A. Stillman, the Schusterman-Josey Professor and Chair of Judaic History at the University of Oklahoma. The developer and curator of the exhibit is Shelomo Alfassa.

Fee: ASF members, free; others $10. Reservations are required.

Tracing the Tribe's many readers interested in Sephardic programming may also follow the ASF on Twitter and Facebook.

New York: Aleppo-Syrian Jewish concert, Oct. 21

The American Sephardi Foundation will sponsor a concert of Syrian Jewish liturgical music, utilizing the Arabic maqam system for Hebrew poetry and prayers, on Thursday, October 21.

It begins at 6.30pm at the Center for Jewish History, 15 W. 16th St., New York City. See ticket details below.

Speaking and performing will be:

-- Mark Kligman, PhD, Professor of Jewish Musicology, will trace the development of this music which he explores in his book "Maqam and Liturgy: Ritual, Music and Aesthetics of Syrian Jews in Brooklyn."

-- Isaac J. Cabasso, Cantor of Congregation Beth Torah, a Syrian synagogue in Brooklyn, NY, will lend his 50 years of experience in Syrian Hazzanut to the conversation, and perform excerpts of the prayers in various maqams.

-- Musical accompaniment on the oud will be performed by Victor Esses, Cantor of Sephardic Synagogue, Brooklyn, NY.

-- Joseph Mosseri, Cantor and founder of the Hazzanut Forum, will discuss the resurgence of maqam music among the community's younger generation.

This program is presented in association with the American Society for Jewish Music

The concert will be held at the Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street. Tickets are $10 at the door; $5, ASF members. Reservations requested; send an email.

For more information, visit the ASF website.

New York: First Sephardic Jewish Book Fair, July 25

The first annual New York Sephardic Jewish Book Fair will include book readings, author signings, sales and tours at the Center for Jewish History, on Sunday July 25.

From noon-5.30pm - hosted by the American Sephardi Federation (ASF) - the event brings together authors and book lovers, those who write about and enjoy books relating to the culture, history, philosophy, religion, languages and experiences of Sephardic Jews, past and present.

Hundreds of Sephardic-oriented books - new, hard-to-find or rare - will be available.

Visiting authors will discuss diverse topics and personal histories, Sephardic history, philosophy, culture and religion:

12pm: Jean Naggar will read from her Egyptian memoir, "Sipping From the Nile."
12.30pm: Marc Kligman, Professor of Jewish Musicology (Hebrew Union College) will read from his award-winning book, "Maqam and Liturgy: Ritual, Music, and Aesthetics of Syrian Jews in Brooklyn."
1pm: Andrée Aelion Brooks will read from and discuss the life of the Sephardic banker and heroine, "The Woman who Defied Kings: The Life and Times of Doña Gracia Nasi."
Children's hour, 2-3pm:
1.30pm: Peninnah Schram, Professor of Speech and Drama, Stern College for Women (Yeshiva University), shares a Sephardic tale for youth, "The Hungry Clothes - And other Jewish Folktales."
2pm: Mara Cohen Ioannides, Professor of English (Missouri State University), reads a story about Sephardic and Romanoite Jews from her award-winning children's book, "A Shout in the Sunshine."
2:30pm: Jessica Jiji reads from her novel, "Sweet Dates in Basra."
3pm: Rabbi Marc D. Angel, Ph.D., founder of The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals and Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Shearith Israel, North America's oldest Jewish congregation. He speaks on his books, "Foundations of Sephardic Spirituality" and "Maimonides, Spinoza and Us."
4pm: Abraham Sutton reads from "The Aristocrat," a book about his father, Rabbi Hillel Menashe Sutton, a leading member of the Aleppo (Syria) and Jerusalem Sephardic communities.
4.30pm, J. Daniel Khazzoom, Professor emeritus, reads from his book, "No Way Back: The Journey of a Jew from Baghdad."
5pm: Mitchell James Kaplan reads from his book about ordinary people swept up in the Inquisition's chaos and upheaval and the Expulsion, "By Fire, By Water."

Vendors will bring out-of-print Jewish books, as well as modern and rare titles, some from the 18th-20th centuries, including antique Ladino and Hebrew volumes from Salonika, Livorno, Tunis, Venice and Jerusalem.

Rare Sephardic books from the ASF Library and Archives will be displayed and Yeshiva University Museum will offer tours of its current exhibits, including "A Journey Through Jewish Worlds: Highlights from the Braginsky Collection of Hebrew Manuscripts and Printed Books.' This collection includes handwritten manuscripts and printed books from Holland, Italy, Spain, Greece and India.

The free event is set for the Steinberg Great Hall at the CJH, 15 W. 16th Street.

New York: Sephardic Book Fair, July 25

The first New York Sephardic Jewish Book Fair - with book readings, author signings, book sales and tours - is set for Sunday, July 25.

Hosted by the American Sephardi Federation (ASF), will be held from noon-5pm, at the Steinberg Great Hall at the Center for Jewish History, 15 W. 16th Street.

The free event, open to the public, will include authors and book lovers, those who write about and read about the culture, history, philosophy, religion, languages and experiences of the Sephardic Jews, past and present.

Hundreds of titles of Sephardic-oriented books, including many rare titles, will be available for sale by the Sephardic House bookstore, as well as by unique vendors that specialize in Sephardic Judaica.

Several visiting authors will discuss a wide range of topics including personal histories, Sephardic history, philosophy, culture and religion. The day's key author and speaker will be Dr. Marc D. Angel, founder of The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals and Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Shearith Israel, North America's oldest Jewish congregation.

The fair will also feature a display of rare Sephardic books from the ASF Library and Archives, while Yeshiva University Museum will hold tours of their current exhibit: "A Journey Through Jewish Worlds: Highlights from the Braginsky Collection of Hebrew Manuscripts and Printed Books."

The Braginsky Collection includes handwritten manuscripts and printed books from Holland, Italy, Spain, Greece and India.

There will also be hourly free door prizes for attendees.

The ASF promotes and preserves the spiritual, historical, cultural and social traditions of all Sephardic communities as an integral part of Jewish heritage.