JIMENA ONLINE

Dear Friends and Members,

These troubling times invite all of us to explore unique and age-old ways to find community, connectivity, joy, and calmness. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area where JIMENA is headquartered, our staff, board, volunteers and community partners have been ordered to “shelter-in-place” at our homes. This has provided us with a unique opportunity to connect closely with family and loved-ones and find innovative ways to stay in community with our friends and partners. As all of JIMENA’s upcoming face-to-face events have been cancelled we are excited to announce many opportunities for online learning and engagement. We look forward to offering an ongoing array of discussions, lectures, book-talks, classes and meetings with top rabbis, thought-leaders, educators, writers, and community partners in our field.  

For the time being, we plan to utilize Zoom as the primary video-conferencing tool for online gatherings and we encourage you to click here for a quick tutorial. Online offerings will be added to JIMENA’s website and Facebook page weekly so please check back often. We are also offering unique opportunities to connect in a more personal way. These programs include:

JIMENA Buddy System: As so many of us are alone with limited opportunities for social interaction, this is a chance to be paired with another JIMENA member for weekly check-ins via facetime, zoom, or just the good old phone. We are specifically interested in pairing older members of our community with a buddy to talk to, problem-solve with, and check-in with. If you or a loved one are in need of phone-support during this time or if you’d simply like to be a JIMENA Buddy – please fill out this very quick survey. We are seeking French, Hebrew, Spanish, and English- speaking individuals.

JIMENA Together Sessions: We will be hosting weekly meetings for our members to simply connect and share. Each individual will be given a couple minutes to talk about whatever is on their mind and then the opportunity to discuss current realities. We will be offering separate decompression sessions on Zoom for young adults and for the older members of our community. Please fill out this very quick form to join.

May you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy.


Sincerely,

Sarah Levin,
Executive Director

Sapir Taib,
Program Director


Upcoming Events:

Greek Jewish Festival – May 15, 2022 in NYC 12-6 PM ET

Join the Greek Jewish Festival on Sunday May 15 as we celebrate the unique Romaniote and Sephardic heritage of the Jews of Greece! Experience a feast for the senses including authentic kosher Greek foods and homemade Greek pastries, traditional Greek dancing and live Greek and Sephardic music, an outdoor marketplace full of vendors, arts and educational activities for kids, and much more! Learn more at www.GreekJewishFestival.com

Virtual Yom HaShoah Commemoration Event with the JFCS HOLOCAUST CENTER – April 27, 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET (Zoom)

On April 27, join the JFCS Holocaust Center for a virtual reading of the names and community Yizkor service. Clergy from San Francisco synagogues and the Israeli Consul General will participate.

4:00 pm (PT) — Reading of the Names (*To remember loved ones on this day, please submit their names here.)

6:00 pm (PT) — Memorial Commemoration and Program

Yom Hashoah: the Memory of the Past and the Moral Responsibilities of the Present: Dr. Anita Friedman in conversation with Yoav Potash, filmmaker, and Aaron Tartakovsky, community leader

Register Here

Interview with JIMENA’s Executive Director Sarah Levin with Temple Chai in Chicago – April 3rd, 5 pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET (on Zoom)

Join JIMENA’s Executive Director for a unique opportunity to learn about JIMENA’s mission and history, culture, and diversity of Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews.

Click Here for the Zoom Link.

Jewish Learning Works and JIMENA: Power and Transmission: Jewish Women’s Songs from Morocco – March 20th, 11 am Pacific / 2pm Eastern / 7 pm UK / 9pm Israel

Vanessa Paloma Elbaz’s research focuses on the central role of Jewish women in Morocco in transmitting their heritage from generation to generation, with musical traditions being an essential part of this chain. The extensive oral history interviews Elbaz made while living in Morocco recorded many of the songs sung by Jewish women on the occasion of marriages, birth, bar mitzvah ceremonies, and other life cycle events, signifying the spiritual power that women have in their communities. Elbaz will share these songs, in Judeo-Arabic and Judeo-Spanish, and explain the role that they play in carrying the culture and resilience of the communities in which they are sung. 

Vanessa Paloma Elbaz is a research associate at the Faculty of Music of the University of Cambridge. She earned her PhD from the Center for Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Studies of Sorbonne Paris Cité University and was a Senior Fulbright Research Fellow to Morocco. In 2014, she founded KHOYA: Jewish Morocco Sound Archive to collect, digitize, classify, and analyze contemporary and historical sound recording of Moroccan Jews. Her newest project, drawn from interviews with Mme. Sultana Azeroual in Casablanca, may be found at yalalla.org.uk. She also has an international performance career as a singer of Moroccan Jewish repertoires and has been described as “a kind of one-woman roving museum of her own” by The New York Times.  

Click Here to Register for the Zoom event.

Reflections on Jewish Iran – March 13, 2 PM PT (IN PERSON)

The Persian Jewish community is the oldest in the diaspora, dating to biblical times. The vast majority of the nation’s Jews left Iran during the late twentieth century, particularly during the period surrounding the nation’s Islamic revolution. A practicing Jewish population remains in Iran, although it is much smaller in size than that of Los Angeles’s expatriate Persian Jewish community.

This event will feature two unique perspectives on Persian Jewish life:

Ron Lezell will present photographs, video footage, and stories from the three trips he has made to the Jewish communities in Iran since 2014. This will be an opportunity to learn about the traditions of this ancient community, as practiced today in Iran and in the Persian diaspora. 

Shahpour (Shawn) Matloob will reflect on his experience as a teenager who was smuggled out of Iran in 1987 and how that experience informs the immigration law work he is engaged in today.

Click Here to Register for this In-Person Event.

Cooking with Doreet Jehassi – February 24, 7:30 PM

Join Beth David Women and Jewish Silicon Valley for a cooking class taught by Doreet Jehassi, owner of Ma’lawah Bar. Ma’lawah Bar offers handcrafted breads, soups and sandwiches of Yemenite origin.

During the demonstration, Doreet will show us how to make Yemenite-style matzah ball soup, lachuch bread and hilbeh sauce.

For more Information, Click Here.

Jewish Languages X JIMENA: Languages of the Jews of Iran- A series of online conversations and performances January 9th, January 30th, February 20th, and March 13th 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK / 8pm Israel / 9:30pm Iran

Jews in Iran historically spoke many languages – from Semitic, Median, and Persian language families. The languages/dialects of Jews in different cities and towns were so different that their speakers often could not understand each other. Now these longstanding Jewish languages are endangered, as most Jews shifted to standard Persian in Iran or to Modern Hebrew, English, and other languages after emigrating.

For More Information, Click Here.

HerTorah Celebrating “Hag HaBanot,” Eid al Benat: A Sephardic Celebration of Womanhood – December 6th at 5:45 PM PT | 8:45 PM ET

Hag HaBanot is an ages old Sephardic feminist Chanukah celebration of womanhood (learn more about it here) and we can’t WAIT to celebrate with you!


Our teachers are fantastic, the music is INCREDIBLE, and now? All we’re missing is YOU! Join us in exploring the rituals and traditions of this North African feminist celebration of Jewish womanhood!

For More information, click here.

The Untold Stories of Jewish Refugees from Arab Lands and Iran – December 2nd 12:00 PM PT | 3:00 PM ET | 8:00 PM UK | 10:00 PM Israel

Join JIMENA and the Consulate Generals of Israel to Los Angeles and San Francisco for a Zoom event honoring the stories of Jewish refugees from Arab countries.

Register Here.

An Evening to Mark the Departure and Expulsion of Jewish Refugees from Arab countries and Iran – November 30th IN PERSON and ONLINE 11:00 AM PT | 2:00 PM ET | 7:00 PM UK | 9:00 PM Israel

November 30 is the official memorial day in Israel to mark the departure and expulsion of more than 850,000 Jews from Arab countries and Iran in the 20th century.

This year JW3 is hosting the official commemoration in partnership with Harif, the UK Association of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa, and Sephardi Voices UK, to mark the 65th anniversary of the post-1956 Suez Expulsion from Egypt, which produced some 25,000 Jewish refugees.

We will be joined by Hen Mazzig, Sephardi activist and Senior Fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute who will be in conversation with Viviane Bowell, author of the memoir, To Egypt with Love. We are delighted to be joined by Senior Rabbi of the S&P Sephardi Community, Rabbi Joseph Dweck, senior Israeli diplomat Efrat Perri, Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl, Jewish Leadership Council chief executive Claudia Mendoza and poet Yvonne Green.

We are delighted to be screening a short film of testimonies from Egyptian Jews commissioned for the occasion by Sephardi Voices UK.

There will be a special Chanukiah lighting and the event will be followed by a light reception and a chance to connect with the community.

For More Information, Click Here.

Intimate Performance with Shai Tsabari – November 30th 10:00 AM PT | 1:00 PM ET | 6:00 PM UK | 8:00 PM IST
Shai Tsabari is a leading voice in the Indie-Levant wave in Israel. Born to a Yemenite family in the suburbs of Tel-Aviv, the music of Jewish prayers he heard in the local synagogue as a child never made it to the mainstream media. As Israel opened up to the diversity of cultures and identities of its people, Tsabari’s powerful and uplifting music brings to the forefront the chanting tradition that has been marginalized.


In this virtual event, moderated by Dr. Anat Balint, Shai Tsabari will share his story of finding a way to infuse contemporary Israeli music with the hymns of his childhood, collaborating with leading musicians (Idan Raichel, Berry Sakharof) and using music to create a new, hybrid Jewish and Israeli identity.

Free and open to the public. This program is presented by Jewish Silicon Valley, in cooperation with San Jose State University, and the Israeli Consulate of the Pacific Northwest.

Register Here.

Day of the Jewish refugees from the Arab world. A story of resilience and overcoming – Online Spanish Content November 30th – December 1st

Join JIMENA, HARIF, The Sephardic Community of Chile, and the Embassy of Israel to Chile in a special Spanish language event documenting the story of 850,000 refugees from Arab countries.

The Embassy of Israel in Chile is pleased to invite you to attend the central commemoration conference of the day to mark the departure and expulsion of Jews from Arab countries, via Zoom.

For More Information, Click Here.



















JIMENA x Consulate General of Israel to New England: The Untold Story of Syrian Jews: Commemoration of Jewish Exodus from Arab Lands – November 30th 4 PM PT | 7 PM ET | 12 AM UK | 2 AM Israel

In June 2014, the Government of Israel adopted a law which designates November 30th as an annual, national day of commemoration for the 850, 000 Jewish refugees who were displaced from Arab countries and Iran in the 20th century.

This year, the Consulate General of Israel to New England will be hosting a virtual program commemorating the expulsion of Jews from Syria which occurred in the wake of the establishment of the State of Israel. Our program will feature leading expert Dr. Mijal Bitton, whose research focuses on the Jews of Syria, as well as an interview with Dr. Mayer Ballas, a Syrian Jew who played a key role in the rescue of this community.

Register Here.

JIMENA x Holocaust Museum LA Farhud Webinar – November 17th 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM UK / 9:00 PM Israel

In June of 1941, a violent mob attacked the Iraqi Jewish population of Baghdad, in what became known as the Farhud. Jewish communities pre-date Islam in the region, tracing their roots to the 6th century BCE. Meaning “violent dispossession,” the Farhud was motivated by pro-German sentiment and Nazi influence and resulted in the murder, looting, and rape of Baghdadi Jews during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. Joseph Samuels, author of “Beyond the Rivers of Babylon,” was 10 years old when the mob assaulted his community and his home. Joseph will share his family’s story of survival, his subsequent escape from Iraq, and the history of Mizrahi Jews

Register Here












Harif / JIMENA – ARE THE FORGOTTEN REFUGEES STILL FORGOTTEN? with Avi Goldwasser – November 16th 11:30 AM PT / 2:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM UK / 9:30 PM Israel

Ralph Avi Goldwasser was executive producer of the award-winning The Forgotten Refugees film for the David Project. It is one of the few films to draw attention to the 850,000 Jews driven from Arab lands. We ask him what motivated the David Project to make the film. How successful has it been in raising awareness of this neglected topic? How relevant are the Forgotten Refugees today?

For More Info, Click Here.
















JIMENA x Chabad of Palo Alto – Yemenight! – November 7th 6:00 PM In Person

Join us to celebrate the rich culture of Yemenite Jewry. With Yemenite Buffet by Malawah Bar in Santa Clara, Henna Artist, Wine & Social. Indulge yourself in socializing with awesome women experiencing authentic cuisine & learning about Yemenite Jewry. 

Get Tickets Here.


JewishLearningWorks x JIMENA: How Judeo-Arabic Literature and Culture Shaped Judaism as We Know It December 12th 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM UK / 9:00 PM Israel

What is Judeo-Arabic and why is it so important to understanding Judaism today? What we know today as “the Jewish bookshelf” was strongly shaped by an enormous body of texts written in Judeo-Arabic, approximately between the tenth and thirteenth centuries.  Professor Goldstein will introduce the Judeo-Arabic language and what was written in it, laying out the massive linguistic, literary, and cultural changes that the Jewish communities of the Middle East and Mediterranean experienced following the Islamic conquests of the seventh century CE and the spread of Arabic throughout the region.

JIMENA x Holocaust Museum LA – Building Bridges – November 4th 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET

The Jewish diaspora extends around the world, contributing to a multicultural global community of rich and varied traditions and cultural practices. How can Jewish communities from different cultural backgrounds foster unity and connection? Join leaders from diverse Jewish communities for a cross-cultural dialogue about the critical issues facing Sephardic, Mizrahi, and Ashkenazi Jews. This program is part of our Sephardic & Mizrahi Stories series exploring Sephardic and Mizrahi culture, history, and experiences.

Registration Link



















JewishLearningWorks x JIMENA: Jewish Barcelona in the Middle Ages (Online) October 31st 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM UK / 9:00 PM Israel

The presence of Jews in Barcelona is documented from the mid-9th century through the end of the 14th century. This presentation will focus on Barcelona’s historic Jewish community, its occupations, its scholarly figures, and their relation to the rest of society and its power structures. Tomasov Blinder will show the remaining architectural sites in the old Jewish quarter and other relics that offer a hint of Barcelona’s Jewish past.

Register Here.














JIMENA x JMI Online: Jerusalem Orchestra East West – Strasbourg

The program will take place on the following dates: November 4th, November 11th, November 18th, and November 25th

Time: 11:30 am PT / 2:30 pm ET / 7:30 pm UK / 9:30 pm Israel

Jerusalem Orchestra East-West performs a very special concert for the World Forum of Democracy in Strasbourg Cathedral.

The program will feature instrumental music from all over the Mediterranean, performed by the soloists of the Orchestra. The repertoire will include pieces of music written over a century. The Orchestra’s Artistic Director Tom Cohen: “We try to imagine the Middle East as it could be if we all lived together in harmony, like an orchestra.”
The Jerusalem Orchestra East & West radiates strength and energy that translates into unparalleled musical and cultural quality. Eastern rhythms merge with Western tones and harmonies. They bring to life an original blend that echoes the musical traditions that have existed in the holy city for generations. This program is part of the events celebrating the contribution of Jewish artists and musicians to the cultural heritage of Maghreb, Arab and Muslim countries over centuries.

This online program will be broadcast on the JIMENA Facebook page. No registration is needed! For more info visit JMI website. For More Information, Click Here.










The Jewish Maghreb: A Musical Journey (virtual) – October 24th 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET

Jewish Learning Works and JIMENA present a unique virtual event with Samuel Torjman Thomas (Ph.D.). He will explore different areas of Moroccan and Algerian Jewish musical life, including liturgical, para-liturgical, and secular performance in a hybrid lecture–demonstration.

Sephardic singer Sam Thomas with his New York Andalus Ensemble at “Young Traditionalists: Rocking Their Roots” at the Brooklyn Music School, Photo by Anna Mulé.














Register Here.

JIMENA x HARIF: Jews of Central Asia- Tuesday October 12th 11:30 AM PT / 2:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM UK / 9:30 PM Israel

Jews have lived  in Central Asia for over 2,500 years. Many believe they are descended from the Lost Tribes. Why did they go there? Where are they now? We will take a  look at their lives and culture over the centuries. The talk will be based upon a study tour the lecturer took to Uzbekistan and the area a few years ago, plus research into the lives and activities of long-distance merchant Jews.

Our speaker Andrée Aelion Brooks is a journalist, author and lecturer specializing in Jewish history. Formerly a contributing columnist for the New York Times, she is an Associate Fellow, Yale University, and founder of the Women’s (political) Campaign School at Yale. Her award-winning books include a comprehensive biography of Doña Gracia Nasí.

Join the Zoom here.


JIMENA’s Virtual Tour through Iraqi-Kurdistan. – October 5th, 7th, & 12th

Our final virtual journey through the Middle East and North Africa has just opened for registration! Join #jimenavoice on October 5th, 7th, and 12th for a cultural, historical, and culinary experience of Iraqi Kurdistan. We will be hearing from some of the leading figures in the Yezidi freedom movement, taking a tour through Nachum cemetery in Iraq, and learning about Kurdish-Jewish cuisine from a phenomenal chef. This is a program you don’t want to miss out on!

Register Here ASAP!



















How can Middle Eastern Jews Reclaim Their Heritage? September 14th 11:30 AM PT / 2:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM UK / 9:30 PM Israel

What does international law say on the subject of Arab governments claiming exiled ethnic minority groups as part of their national heritage? What are the chances that Jewish heritage will be restored to its rightful owners, and what avenues  –  legal or otherwise – are open to them? 

Panel discussion with Carole Basri, an activist on behalf of the Iraqi Jewish archive, Yves Fedida, campaigner for the Egyptian-Jewish heritage, Bruce Montgomery, academic expert on lost archives, as well as several prominent legal experts.

More information can be found here.


Tashlich at Ocean Beach – September 7th, 2021 at 5PM PT

Reset your system with our modern spin on a 600-year-old Rosh Hashanah ritual called tashlich. This custom of ridding ourselves of all our bad vuggum (karma) from the previous year and getting a fresh start for the new one is traditionally enacted by tossing crumbs into the ocean. Join us on Tuesday, Sept. 7 by the shore at Ocean Beach for a brief, engaging ritual. Bring a shofar, if you have one, to blow along with some of San Francisco’s finest players from the Jazz Mafia, the Irish Pipers Band, Luther Dickinson, and The Church of John Coltrane. 

RSVP Here.

Pre-Rosh Hashanah Sephardic Community Seder – Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 5:00 PT / 8:00 ET

Join JIMENA and The Sephardic Educational Center for a special community Rosh Hashanah Sephardic Seder with Rabbi Bouskila and vocalist/oudist Asher Shasho-Levy.

Register here

Mizrahi Women Founders in Conversation – Thursday, August 26th, 2021 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM UK / 7:30 PM Israel Join three prominent Middle Eastern and North African Jewish women founders in conversation about antisemitism, feminism, identity, and building an international movement for recognition and Justice.
RSVP Here: https://bit.ly/3xE9PYq

Greek Jewish Block Party – August 15th 12:00 PM ET- NYC, IN PERSON

Join the Greek Jewish Block Party as we celebrate the unique Romaniote and Sephardic heritage of Kehila Kedosha Janina. Experience authentic kosher Greek foods and homemade Greek pastries, traditional Greek dancing and live Greek and Sephardic music, fun kids activities and more! RSVP Here.

Iraqi-Jewish Music Series

Thursday, August 12th, 11:30 AM PT / 2:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM UK / 9:30 PM Israel: Remember Baghdad screening introduced by Edwin Shuker

Thursday, August 19th, 11:30 AM PT / 2:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM UK / 9:30 PM Israel: Iraqi Jewish music concert with Lafalfula Groove, David Regev Zarur, and Yair Dalal

Thursday, August 26th, 11:30 AM PT / 2:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM UK / 9:30 PM Israel: Conversation with Hazzan Moshe Habusha and Dr. Merav Rosenfeld-Haddad

September TBD: Iraq’n’Roll screening and interview with Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis. Stay tuned!

Harif, Jewish Music Institute, Jewish Renaissance, Jewish Chronicle, JIMENA, and Sephardi Voices UK present this exciting program which will be simultaneously broadcast on the JIMENA Facebook page.

Instagram Live Event with Author Viviane Bowell – August 17th 10:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM UK / 8:00 PM Israel

To Egypt With Love – Memories of a Bygone World was recently published by author Viviane Bowell. JIMENA is excited to highlight her experience on Instagram live. Be sure to join us for this unique conversation about Egyptian Jewry, journeys of refugees, and rebuilding home in a foreign land. Join our Instagram here.

Gili Yalo on The Chapel’s Outdoor Stage – August 11th 7:30 PM PT, IN PERSON EVENT. Gili Yalo’s music embodies his own personal story: Operation Moses was the covert evacuation of Ethiopian Jews from Sudan during a famine in 1984. These Ethiopian Jews fled from their native land on foot to refugee camps in Sudan. Gili’s success is a testament to the limitless tenacity of the human spirit and of musical creativity.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here .

A virtual journey through Yemen – June 29, July 1st, and July 6th. The tour will interact with the Jewish history and culture of Yemen, meet with the lead singer of the internationally acclaimed Yemenite group A-WA,@Tair Haim , meet leaders of the INSAF organization, whose mission focuses on minority rights in Yemen. Plus, we will learn how to cook a traditional (and delicious) Yemenite meal! All participants will receive a JIMENA care package in the mail!

A virtual journey through Tunisia – May 12th, 20th, and 25th
IMENA invites Bay Area young adults (21-35) to join us on a virtual journey through Tunisia! On our journey, we will be exploring the Jewish history and culture of Tunis, Tunisia’s capital, taking a guided tour through a few of Tunisia’s synagogues (including the famous El-Ghriba), and learn how to prepare a festive Tunisian meal with a Middle-Eastern recipe preserver. 


A virtual journey through Morocco – April 12th, 22nd and 28th.
Participants will meet with Moroccan Jewish and Muslim musicians in Essaouira, Visit an active synagogue in Morocco, learn about contemporary Muslim – Jewish relations with a Moroccan Rabbi, and receive a complimentary JIMENA care package!



Sunday, May 30th 9:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM Israel – Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Farhud – The Farhud is the name given to the Shavuot massacre of Jews in Iraq on 1 & 2 June 1941. It sounded the death knell for the Jewish community and was the first of many violent episodes leading to the displacement of ancient Jewish communities from the Middle East and North Africa. We will hear witness testimonies; and from Irwin Cotler, former Canadian Justice Minister, Rabbi Joseph Dweck, Senior Rabbi of the UK Sephardi community, and poetess Yvonne Green, among others. More than a dozen organizations are supporting this event. 
RSVP here: https://www.thespanish.org/event/commemoration-of-the-80th-anniversary-of-the-farhud.html

Boureka Cooking class with Chef Einat Admony- May 16, 2021 Cook along with chef Einat Admony as she dishes on how to make her savory Shavuot treat – chard and four cheese boureka
RSVP HERE: https://bit.ly/32TyCux

The Memory Work of Jewish Spain – April 25, 2021 The 2015 Spanish law granting nationality to the descendants of Jews expelled in 1492 is the latest example of a widespread phenomenon in contemporary Spain, the “re-discovery” of its Jewish heritage. This talk examines the implications of reclaiming the memory of Jewish Spain through the analysis of some of these emerging cultural practices, initiatives, and institutions in the context of the long history of Spain’s ambivalence towards its Jewish past
RSVP here: https://jewishlearning.works/event/jewish-spain/



Mimouna Festival, Sunday, April 4th 12:00 pm pst
join us for a celebration of the North-African Jewish culture filled with dancing, music, and prizes! You will get a sneak peek inside the Moroccan tradition, get one of the best traditional recipes and drop in for a fun Mizrahi dance class. See you there!
RSVP Here: https://bit.ly/3w0R7us



Mimouna, The Next Generation
Mon, April 5, 2021 3 pm PT | 6:00 pm ET
RSVP: https://bit.ly/3d6XLX9


Bringing Yemenite Groove Back with Tair Haim from A-WA April 1, 2021 1pm pst | 4 pm ET
RSVP: https://bit.ly/3vX4f3C



Yom HaShoah Commemoration Ceremony: Sephardic Victims of the Shoah Apr 11, 11:00 AM PT | 2 pm EST
RSVP here: http://bit.ly/3tDMzb8



The Farhud Massacre & the Jews of Baghdad: Through the Eyes of A Child Survivor. Mar 23, 2021 06:00 PM pst |8 PM CT | 9 pm EST
RSVP here:https://vanderbilt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YhSgGYK2SK-wRguttQAEVA



JIMENA AND HARIF PRESENT: Jews in Kurdistan: Past and Future, Tues 23 March 12:30 am PT/ 3:30 pm ET
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87940234566?pwd=YlBOV1NmaGI1ME4wYUNMcUJqL3RUdz09
Meeting ID: 879 4023 4566 Passcode: Barazani



Instagram LIVE – Join @jimena_voice on Instagram Live Monday, March 22, 2021 11:30 AM PDT | 2:30 PM EDT
Link: https://www.instagram.com/jimena_voice/



Tuesday, Feb 23th 4pm pst | 7pm est A Conversation with Mizrahi and Israeli Voices– Join us to a conversation with Mizrahi and Israeli voices about Jewish identity, Jewish diversity, and their connections to Israel.
RSVP: http://bit.ly/3kdoapy



Thu, Dec 17, 2020 3:00 PM PT | 6PM ET Chag Habanot: A North African Chanukah Celebration of Women Chag Habanot is a holiday celebrated by Mizrahi communities on Rosh Chodesh of the Jewish month of Tevet. The festival takes place on Chanukah, which according to various traditions the miracle occurred there by a woman. During the festival, we honor the story of the Jewish heroine Judith and the important role of women in Jewish life. It is customary to sing, dance, and light the night’s menorah candle in honor of women. We will celebrate with Lala Tamar, a world-renowned Israeli singer, that will be streaming concert from Morocco accompanied by local female musicians, Hind Ennaira. And Jackie Barzvi will be leading us in celebratory dance to Jewish Mororocan music, where anyone can follow along without any previous dance experience.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/chaghabanot



Monday, November 30h, 2020 12:00 PM PT | 3 PM ET –  The Untold Story of Jewish Refugees from Arab Lands and Iran. Join us for a special commemoration event, the Untold Stories of Jewish Refugees from Arab Lands and Iran on November 30th at 12 PM PST! Featuring a panel discussion with Sharon Nazarian, Abraham Sofaer, and David Suissa. Special musical performance from the internationally acclaimed artist, Tair Haim from A-WA!
RSVP Here: https://bit.ly/3peyhws


Monday, November 30th, 4:00 pm PT | 7 pm ET Leaving, never to return with Dana Avrish Join us for an online event, dedicated to November 30th the official Israeli commemoration day, marking the departure and expulsion of Jews from the Arab countries and Iran.Dana Avrish, will present the special exhibition she curated at the Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv. This exhibition featured selected artifacts from the cultures of 11 Jewish communities in the Muslim sphere. Avrish invites viewers to share the journey that brought these communities to Israel.
RSVP Here: https://bit.ly/3fk6MNi

  • Monday, November 30th 6:00 PM Israel, 8:00 AM PT, and 11:00 AM ETEretz Zion and Live Event From Jerusalem Live from Israel
    Together with Jewish communities worldwide, we will celebrate the rich culture and history of Jews from Arab countries and Iran. Featuring: Eliad Nahum | Gila Bashari | Yuval Dayan | Liron Amram | Liraz Charhi | Nitai and Ilai Tzarfati | Subliminal | Amos Tamam | Amir Benayun | Shiri Maimon | Shlomit Buchnik | Sarit Hadad | Raphael Ohayon | Tamar Shauki | Shimi and Dorit Shauki and guest speakers from around the world!
    RSVP HERE: https://www.30november2020.com/en



  • On Monday, November 30th Spilling The Tea is an experiential Israel program designed to spotlight the history, stories, and experiences of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews. During the program, StandWithUs students will host 30 minutes Instagram live videos called spilling the tea, where they will have the opportunity to interview JIMENA members of Sephardic or Mizrahi descent while enjoying tea preferred by the relevant community.  Join us LIVE on Instagram on November 30th, with Justin Feldman member of JIMENA’s Young Professionals Board and Community Engagement Manager for the IAC college program, Mishelanu. Justin will share his family story from Morocco and Israel as well as explain how he uses social media to employ his Mizrahi voice.


  • Monday, November 30th 10:00 am PT | 1:00 pm ET| 8:00 Israel time Transforming Trauma: How Jewish Voices from Arab Lands & Iran Can be a Bridge to Peace Please RSVP by emailing mcw.knesset@gmail.com. The vent will also be livestreamed on Facebook.

  • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 4:30 PM PT |7:30 pm ET Mizrahi Stories: Voices From Syria, Yemen, Turkey, Iraq, and Dagestan.
    RSVP HERE: https://bit.ly/3kKBqAN


  • The Forgotten Refugees: Movie Screening and Talk with Carole Basri Join us on Thursday, November 11th, 10:40am PT| 1:40pm ET for a Movie Screening of The Forgotten Refugees, followed by a conversation with Iraqi Jewish leader and advocate Carole Basri.  Carole is a lawyer of Iraqi Jewish descent and Author, Most of her productions focus on the History of the Jews in Iraq as she documents her ancestral roots and discusses Jewish traditions in Iraq.
    RSVP here: https://bit.ly/2IrCpbq


  • Friday, November 13th Francisco Moishe House Mizrahi Shabbat Dinner – Moishe House Silicon Valley and Moishe House Nob Hill – San Francisco have partnered with JIMENA to celebrate Mizrahi heritage with this young adult Shabbat. Hear stories of the past, learn about Mizrahi heritage, and take part in celebrating Mizrahim worldwide
    RSVP Here: https://bit.ly/3kYDCWf

  • Uncompromising: Yarden GerbiNovember 17th, 2020 5pm ET | 8pm PT Don’t miss this very special lecture by 2013 Israeli gold-winning Judo world-champion, 2016 bronze medalist, Mizrahi, and business entrepreneur, Yarden Gerbi!
    RSVP HERE:https://bit.ly/2Un9cRu
  • November 18th, 2020 8 pm PM ET | 5 pm PT Join Hillel International and JIMENA for an informative and timely panel on what it means to celebrate Mizrahi identity within the Jewish Community. We will be discussing important aspects of Mizrahi history, culture, and identity that help us elevate these important voices within the Jewish community.
    RSVP HERE: https://bit.ly/32hvOaN

  • October 28th Sephardi Women’s Songs with Judith Cohen Most of the Judeo-Spanish or Ladino Sephardi song repertoire was traditionally sung by women. This presentation will explore the main genres of these songs in the Sephardi cultures of the old Ottoman region (Turkey, Greece, and the Balkans) and the western Mediterranean, specifically Morocco. Romances (narrative ballads), songs for the Jewish calendar cycle, life cycle songs, songs about love, and topical songs—all had their integral place in daily life. Judith Cohen will discuss the women singing the songs, as well as the endlessly varied stories of the women portrayed in the songs, and will include both recorded and live musical examples.
    RSVP here: https://forms.gle/qiBFePWpuH53qH7v8


  • September 17th Sephardic Rosh Hashanah Seder
    Join JIMENA and OneTable to ring in the new year with a Sephardic Rosh HaShana Seder! Get a taste of holiday traditions from Jewish communities across the Middle East and North Africa. Rabbi Tsipi Gabai, the world’s first Moroccan female rabbi, will lead us in blessings and singing sacred ancient Sephardic song cycles known as Piyyutim, with percussionist Katja Cooper. We’ll learn Sephardic and Mizrahi rituals for the High Holidays that you can recreate the next night at your Rosh HaShana Seder!
    RSVP here: http://bit.ly/sephardicrosh

  • 2 for Seder: In the Sukkah Fight Back Against Anti-Semitism with Love and a Safe Sukkah! 2 for Seder: In the Sukkah focuses on the traditional values associated with the Jewish holiday Sukkot, encouraging hospitality, transition, and gratefulness. Simply set up a Sukkah (or your version of the Sukkah) and invite 2 friends (in person or virtually) of another faith to share a COVID-safe meal. Start a dialogue! sharing a meal with a friend of another faith gives people a first-hand experience of Judaism, cutting through the noise of anti-Semitic tropes and news.
    For more info: https://2forseder.org/in-the-sukkah/


  • July 23, 2020 Arab Voices Revive a Lost Jewish Heritage: Meet JIMENA’s Arabic Program
    In this special Zoom event you will meet members of JIMENA’s Arab fan base— live from Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya — who are working locally to spread awareness of their countries’ indigenous Jewish history and heritage. Through Arabic translation, they will describe their work, the challenges they face, and their hopes for the future. . This event will be hosted by journalist Yair Rosenberg, a senior writer at Tablet magazine, and facilitated by Joseph Braude, President of the Center for Peace Communications and JIMENA’s Arabic Program Director.
    RSVP HERE: https://bit.ly/jimenaarabicprogram


  • July 14th Online Tour of the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot Live! The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot and JIMENA invite you to join an innovative and groundbreaking online tour, led by a museum educator. In the online live sessions, groups from around the world are able to tour the museum in Tel Aviv from the comfort of a smartphone or computer. As part of this special program developed with JIMENA, we will explore the Jewish world, and participate in an interactive tour of our Hallelujah! Assemble, Pray, Study – Synagogues Past and Present along with an introduction and exploration of our renewing online museum databases, focusing on the stories of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa.
    RSVP: https://bit.ly/beithatfutsotjimena


  • June 26th, 2020 Persian Jewish Music and Pre-Kabbalat Shabbat with Galeet Dardashti Join us for a special Kabbalat Shabbat with Galeet Dardashti. We will explore the Judeo-Persian musical tradition through both recorded and live music examples (some of which you will learn!). This session is part of JIMENA’s Iranian Jewish Women’s Series
    RSVP: https://bit.ly/Shabbatiniran

  • June 28th, 2020 | Sunday – Join us for an engaging conversation about the current realities of global anti-Semitism with Dr. Sharon Nazarian. Together we will explore how recent events, are contributing towards the growth of anti-Semitic attitudes both nationally and internationally. We will learn how Dr. Nazarian’s background as an Iranian Jewish woman has influenced her work as a foreign policy expert and defender of the Jewish people at the Anti Defamation League. This session is part of JIMENA’s Iranian Jewish Women’s Series
    RSVP:https://bit.ly/globalantisemitism

  • June 23th, 2020 From Miniskirt to Hijab: A Girl in Revolutionary Iran with Jacqueline Saper
    Jacqueline will share with us her memories from Jewish life in Iran, her personal journey, and insights from her new book “From Miniskirt to Hijab: A Girl in Revolutionary Iran”. This session is part of JIMENA’s Iranian Jewish Women’s Series. Watch the event here.

  • June 1st, 2020 | Monday – Remembering the Farhud with Joseph Samuels – Join us together with Iraqi Jews around the world as we honor the victims of the Farhud and hear the personal story of a survivor. Jos Samuels was born in the Jewish quarter of the old city of Baghdad and was 11 years old when the Farhud took place. In 1948, Joseph fled from Baghdad to Basra by train and was smuggled to Iran and then to Israel. In 1953 Joseph finished his service in the Israeli navy and pursued his dream of higher education in Montreal, Canada. Joe will share with us his memories of Iraq, the story of the Farhud, and insights from his new book “Beyond The Rivers of Babylon”. Watch the Farhud Commemoration by clicking here.



  • Thursday, June 18th 11 AM PT – Justice for Jews from Arab Countries with  Dr. Stanley Urman
    With expert, Dr. Stanley Urman, we invite you to join us as we explore the history of efforts to pursue recognition, justice, and redress for former Jewish refugees from Arab countries and Iran. Where are we today and where are we going as we work to pursue policy and official recognition for the losses of Jewish refugees from the Middle East and North Africa? Dr. Stanley A. Urman is the Executive Vice-President of Justice for Jews from Arab Countries, an international coalition seeking rights and redress for Jews displaced from Arab
    countries Since 2002. Watch the event and learn more about Justice for Jews from Arab Countries by clicking here.



  • Friday MAY 29th Mizrahi Shavuot with JIMENA and OneTable  Join JIMENA and OneTable to celebrate Shavuot, a Jewish harvest festival, led by the wonderful Rabbi Tsipi Gabai. Tsipi Gabai is the first Moroccan female rabbi and currently one of only four female Mizrahi/Sephardic rabbis worldwide. We’ll welcome in Shabbat together singing sacred ancient Sephardic song cycles known as Piyyutim with percussionist Katja Cooper, and learn about Moroccan Jewish traditions & culture of Shavuot. Come with questions or stories to share! Watch Mizrahi Shavuot by clicking here.

May 6h, 2020 | Wednesday – Saving the Iraqi Jewish Archives: A Journey of Identity Join us for a fascinating conversation on the Iraqi Jewish Archive with film-maker, Adriana Davis and Iraqi Jewish leader and advocate, Carole Basri. Their latest film, “Saving the Iraqi Jewish Archive” explores the history and stories of the Iraqi Jewish Archive which consists of over 4,800 books and artifacts that were stripped from Iraqi Jews starting in 1952. Rescued by US soldiers in 2003 from a flooded basement of the Iraqi secret police, the archive was brought to the USA for restoration and exhibition. Watch Saving the Iraqi Jewish Archive by clicking here


May 14th, 2020 | Thursday – UPROOTED: How 3000 Years of Jewish Civilization in the Arab World Vanished Overnight with Lyn Julius, British-born daughter of Iraqi-Jewish refugees, journalist, blogger and the founder of Harif, the UK Association of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa. Watch Uprooted by clicking here.


Friday | April 17th, 2020 Mimouna 2020 – JIMENA X ONETABLE
Celebrate Mimouna with JIMENA and Onetable! Mimouna is a festival celebrated by Moroccan Jews the day after Passover, marking the return to eating chametz (leavened foods). Families traditionally open their homes to neighbors and friends, and fill their kitchen tables with delicious sweets symbolizing joy, health, and abundance.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/Mimouna2020

Sunday | April 19th, 2020 Mimouna Festival – A Taste of Mizrahi Culture:
11AM PST | 2pm EST – The day will start with a Mizrahi feminism panel – moderated by Mor Homri, UGA Israel Fellow. Speakers: Gina Walden, founder and President of JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa) Lipaz Ela, Jewish Agency Israel Fellow for Hillel at UCLA Reut Naggar, Israeli producer, cultural entrepreneur, social activist and founder/co-owner of WDG.
12pm PST | 3pm EST – Mizrahi Dance Class with Miriam Peretz: Yemenite and Moroccan style
1pm PST | 4pm EST – Open Dance Session with DJ
RSVP:  http://bit.ly/mimounafestival


Sunday | April 12th, 2020 The Interfacing of COVID-19 and Jewish Tradition – Rabbi Elie Abadie, M.D. follows will help guide the JIMENA community as we navigate the challenges posed by Covid-19. Together we will learn about the Rabbinical and Jewish precedent for confronting disease during uncertain times. You can watch the talk here.



Sunday | April 19th, 2020 Join us for a LIVE Mizrahi dance class with Miriam Peretz. Learn traditional Yemenite and Moroccan dance, celebrate Mizrachi tradition and heritage, and move your body! 
RSVP: bit.ly/Mizrahidance



Sunday | April 5th, 2020 – Book talk and discussion: Spies of No Country Secret Lives at the Birth of Israel with journalist and award-winning author, Matti Friedman. YOU CAN VIEW THE TALK BY CLICKING HERE



Thursday | March 26, 2020 – Online Yemenite Cooking Class with Doreet Jehassi, owner and founder of The Ma’lawah Bar. Doreet will demonstrate the process of making Jachnun, a sweet rolled bread that’s slowly baked overnight. YOU CAN VIEW THE RECORDED COOKING DEMONSTRATION BY CLICKING HERE.
RSVP: bit.ly/yemenitejimena


Sunday | March 29, 2020 – Social Media Training Pro-Israel and Mizrahi Activism with Hen Mazzig. Hen is an Israel-based writer, international speaker, and social activist from Tel Aviv. As one of The Algemeiner’s top 100 most positively influential Jewish people in the world, Hen has single-handedly driven and shaped social-media conversations around contemporary Mizrahi and Sephardic identity and history. YOU CAN VIEW THE RECORDED SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING BY HERE.
RSVP: bit.ly/henmazzigjimena


Wednesday | April 1st, 2020 Multilingual Passover – Passover offers a great opportunity to learn about the diversity of the Jewish Diaspora. The haggadah has been translated into many languages, and Jews have discussed the holiday using similar but distinct phrases. Join us for A conversation with Dr. Sarah Bunin Benor (Professor, Hebrew Union College) demonstrates this diverse linguistic history. Music by Asher Levy and Chloe Pourmorady
RSVP: bit.ly/multilingualpassover