Mizrahi Icons
Yemenite Israeli music group of three sisters
Who is "A-WA"?
Two LGBTQ+ Mizrahi social media influencers we interacted with during the fellowship who use their platforms for advocacy.
Who are Matthew Nouriel and Hen Mazzig?
Both these individuals are social media influencers who use their instagram platforms to accomplish important advocacy work for the Jewish community.
This country expelled all Jews from within its borders in 1492.
What is Spain?
The North African holiday which marks the end of Pesach
What is Mimouna?
Drawing inspiration from his long family line of singers in Baghdad, this Israeli singer, songwriter, composer, and record producer has become one of the most popular artists in Israel. His music permeating the arabic speaking world.
Who is David "Dudu" Tassa?
David "Dudu" Tassa is an Israeli, singer, songwriter, and record producer of Mizrahi Jewish descent. Besides having had a successful solo career in Israel, Tassa has been the leader of the internationally acclaimed band Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis which plays new renditions of old Iraqi and Kuwaiti songs written and composed by Tassa's late grandfather and great-uncle, Daoud and Salih Al-Kuwaity.
The country where Hadeel Oueis is from.
What is Syria?
Hadeel Oueis is a Syrian American writer and journalist focusing on the Middle East. In 2011 Hadeel was arrested by the Assad regime for participating in the advocacy for political rights in Syria. In 2012, she spoke in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva about the suffering of the Syrians. The United States delegation in Geneva met with Oueis and helped her relocate to the United States.
This country is home to the famous El Ghriba Synagogue
What is Tunisia?
The Hebrew name for the "Festival of the Daughters", a North African holiday honoring women and their contribution to Jewish life.
Chag haBanot (Eid Al-Banat)
A holiday, celebrated by some of the Jewish communities in the Middle East on Rosh Chodesh of the Jewish month of Tevet, during the Jewish holiday of Chanukah. Chag haBanot falls on the new moon of the Hebrew month of Tevet, which is the sixth or seventh night of Chanukah.
Commonly known as "The Israeli Madonna" this Israeli Yemenite singer, actress, grammy Award-nominated recording artist, and writer was an influential cultural figure who helped to popularize Mizrahi culture in the 80s and 90s.
Who is Ofra Haza?
(Bat-Sheva) Ofra Haza was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, to Mizrahi Jewish parents from Yemen who immigrated to Israel.
This person is the young Israeli Yemenite poet Barak Loozon mentioned in his session.
Who is Adi Keissar?
Keissar is an Israeli poet and founder of the cultural group Ars Poetica.
This American city has the largest concentration of Persian Jews.
What is Los Angeles?
Sfenge / Sfinge / Sfenj is a donut which is sometimes served on a string, often lathered in honey or powdered sugar and eaten during Hanukkah, originating from this country
What is Morocco?
Creator and lead actor of the Israeli Hit TV series "Fauda"
Who is Lior Raz?
Lior Raz was born in Ma'ale Adumim, Israel. His parents immigrated to Israel from Iraq and Algeria.
There is a concept that Dr. Saba Soomekh reiterated in a part of her lecture on the mass expulsion of Jews from MENA, which she believed was crucial to include in contemporary discussions on antisemitism. Please say what this term is.
What is "ethnic cleansing"?
The name for the secret operation launched by the IDF to transport thousands of Yemeni Jews from Yemen to Israel.
What is "Operation Magic Carpet" AKA Operation "On Wings of Eagles"?
This distinctly Mizrahi ceremony is common during joyous occasions including weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.
What is the Henna Ceremony?
The Mizrahi Jews of Morocco, Algeria, Yemen, Persia, Iraq as well as other countries, absorbed and adapted the use of henna as did their Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Zoroastrian neighbors. The Jewish henna became an important tradition that marked and enhanced auspicious events: births, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, holidays, and most lastingly as a rite of passage ceremony for Jewish Sephardic weddings.
This 11th c. religious figure was a prominent Jewish leader and philosopher, serving as a Judge and lawyer in Egypt and physician of sultans in the Ayyubid Empire. He compiled a systematic exposition of the whole of Jewish law as contained in the Pentateuch and in Talmudic literature.
Who was Maimonides? (Moses ben Maimon)
This Sephardic poet has their work inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty (mentioned in Devin Naar's session).
Who was Emma Lazarus?
Emma Lazarus (July 22, 1849 – November 19, 1887) was an American author of poetry, prose, and translations, as well as an activist for Jewish and Georgist causes. She is remembered for writing the sonnet "The New Colossus" in 1883. Its lines appear inscribed on a bronze plaque, installed in 1903, on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. (adapted from Wikipedia)
This Middle Eastern country has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.
This is a day and/or pilgrimage to honor a great Tzaddik who taught Kabbalah and/or Chassidut.
What is Hilloula?
A Yom Hillula is commemorated specifically through simcha (joy), and festive celebration. The observation of a hillula in North African Jewish communities is also widespread, especially in Morocco, with the Hiloula of Rabbi Isaac Ben Walid and the Hiloula of Rabbi Amram ben Diwan <--(the Yom Hillula of Rabbi Amram ben Diwan) among them, as well as the Baba Sali in the Israeli town of Netivot.