Videos & Podcasts

JIMENA's Oral History Project preserves and shares the personal stories of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa, documenting their rich cultural heritage, diverse experiences, and journeys of displacement, migration, and resilience. Through firsthand testimonies, we safeguard the memories, traditions, and histories of Sephardic and Mizrahi communities, ensuring their voices and legacies are preserved for future generations.

Yemen

Yehuda Tassa

Yehuda Tassa of Jerusalem shares his family’s story of Yemen, where Jewish orphans were often forced to convert to Islam, and the craft of Yemenite filigree. His parents made their own way to pre-state Israel without any organized help.

Yemen

Ravid Kahalani

Israeli musician Ravid Kahalani, founder of the band Yemen Blues, speaks about his Yemenite Jewish identity and how music carries the culture forward.

Yemen

Margalit Oved

Margalit Oved grew up in Aden, a vibrant Jewish community until the 1947 pogrom, when Jewish homes and synagogues were burned and at least 82 Jews were killed. After leaving for Israel she became a founding member of the Inbal Dance Theater and a celebrated choreographer and storyteller.

Yemen

Mally Mazal Davidoff

Mally Mazal Davidoff was born in Kfar Hashiloach (today’s Silwan) to a Yemenite and Sephardic family rooted in Jerusalem for five generations. She remembers Jerusalem before 1948 and serving as an emissary to Yemenite Jews during Operation Magic Carpet.

Yemen

Etti Tassa

Etti Tassa describes the henna ceremony of Yemenite Jewish brides, one of the community’s most cherished wedding traditions.

Yemen

Eliezer Jehassi

Eliezer Jehassi grew up in the Yemenite community of Herzliya, where his father, who came from Yemen, worked in the orange groves and a falafel shop. He recalls Israel’s independence and Operation Magic Carpet, which brought nearly 50,000 Yemenite Jews to Israel.

Previous slideNext slide

Explore JIMENA's collection of webinars, lectures, and conversations featuring scholars, community leaders, artists, and other voices illuminating the histories, cultures, and contemporary experiences of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews. From historical perspectives and cultural traditions to identity, education, and pressing issues facing Jewish communities today, these recorded programs offer opportunities to learn, engage with diverse perspectives, and deepen understanding of the Jewish experience.

From a Life in Jewish Libya to Human Rights Advocacy with Gina Bublil-Waldman

The story of a Libyan Jewish refugee who became a lifelong human rights advocate.

Justice for Jews from Arab Countries with Dr. Stanley Urman

Dr. Stanley Urman on the campaign for recognition and redress for Jews displaced from Arab countries.

Uprooted: How 3,000 Years of Jewish Civilization in the Arab World Vanished

A book conversation with Lyn Julius on the disappearance of Jewish communities across the Arab world.

Saving the Iraqi Jewish Archives: A Journey of Identity

The story of the Iraqi Jewish archive, rescued from a flooded basement in Baghdad, and why it matters to Iraqi Jews.

Remembering the Farhud with Joseph Samuels

On the anniversary of the 1941 pogrom in Baghdad, survivor Joe Samuels shares what he witnessed as a child.

Sephardic Responses to Antisemitism with Dr. Sharon Nazarian

Dr. Sharon Nazarian and fellows explore how the experiences of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa can inform responses to antisemitism.

Previous slideNext slide

Explore JIMENA's collection of talks and interviews featuring scholars, community leaders, advocates, artists, and individuals sharing their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives on Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish life. Through personal reflections, expert insights, and engaging discussions, these videos illuminate the histories, identities, cultural traditions, and contemporary issues shaping Jewish communities from the Middle East and North Africa and their diasporas.

Sephardic Jews and the Holocaust, with Dr. Devin Naar

Professor Devin Naar on how Sephardic Jews of the former Ottoman world were swept into the Holocaust.

Explore JIMENA's collection of educational videos, classes, and learning resources designed to deepen understanding of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish history, culture, traditions, and identity. Featuring expert-led lessons, historical insights, and engaging educational content, these videos provide accessible opportunities for students, educators, and lifelong learners to discover the diverse experiences and enduring contributions of Jewish communities from the Middle East and North Africa.

Iranian Jewish Women Across Three Generations, with Dr. Saba Soomekh

Dr. Saba Soomekh explores how religion and identity shifted across three generations of Iranian Jewish women.

Explore the rich cultural heritage, holiday traditions, and religious customs of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish communities through JIMENA's collection of videos. From music, food, and storytelling to holiday celebrations, rituals, and lesser-known communal traditions, these videos illuminate the diverse ways Jews from the Middle East and North Africa have preserved and passed down their cultural and religious heritage across generations.

Egyptian Jewish Cooking with Levana Zamir

Levana Zamir shares Egyptian Jewish recipes and memories of Cairo.

Explore JIMENA's collection of documentaries and films that bring the histories, cultures, and lived experiences of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews to life. Through compelling storytelling, archival footage, and personal testimonies, these films illuminate the rich heritage of Jewish communities from the Middle East and North Africa, their experiences of displacement and migration, and their enduring cultural contributions. Together, they offer powerful perspectives on Jewish identity, memory, resilience, and the importance of preserving these stories for future generations.

The Forgotten Refugees, 20 Minute Version

A shorter version of the documentary, ideal for classrooms.

Explore JIMENA's collection of podcasts featuring engaging conversations, personal stories, and expert perspectives on Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish history, culture, identity, and contemporary life. Through interviews, storytelling, and thought-provoking discussions, these episodes amplify diverse voices and illuminate the experiences, traditions, and contributions of Jewish communities from the Middle East and North Africa and their diasporas.

Episode 119: Erez Zobary Sings Her Yemenite Roots

A Toronto musician talks about how her Yemenite Jewish heritage shapes her music, recorded to open Mizrahi Heritage Month.