Moroccan Jews

South African Jews and representatives of Lubyan refugees at a public apology ceremony amid the ruins of the destroyed Palestinian village of Lubya, May 1, 2015. (Sarah Levy)

New children’s book revives legacy of Jewish-Muslim coexistence

On the backdrop of rising discrimination and violence against Israel’s Arab citizens, a new children’s book invokes the spirit of friendship between Arabs and Jews, giving us at least one thing to look forward to in 2016. By Yoni Mendel (Translated from Hebrew by Ami Asher) A new children’s book, “Sweet Tea with Mint And Other Stories” is…

By +972 Magazine January 6, 2016

The Mimouna Festival, marking the end of Passover, is celebrated in a special tent in Jerusalem, April 16, 1990. (photo: Alpert Nathan/GPO)

Ten things you didn’t know about Mimouna

Mimouna, the traditional festival celebrated by North African Jews on the last day of Passover, is often overlooked when discussing the Jewish holiday of liberation. Here are 10 things you might not know about the celebration that once brought Jews and Muslims together. By Ophir Toubul 1. The name of the holiday, “Mimouna,” has several…

By Cafe Gibraltar April 10, 2015

Still from Kamal Hachkar's film 'Echoes From the Mellah.'

Longing for Jewish-Muslim co-existence in Morocco

Kamal Hachkar’s film, ‘Echoes From the Mellah,’ looks at Morocco’s history, which not long ago included Jews and Muslims living together in peaceful co-existence, and serves as an important resource for building a vision of a shared Jewish-Palestinian existence. By Ronit Chacham (translated by Noam Benishei) The January 6 screening of Kamal Hachkar’s “Tinghir-Jerusalem: Echoes From…

By Haokets April 5, 2015

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"My Daughter," a joint work by Michael and Neta Elkayam. From the "Khut Shel Zahav" exhibition. (photo: Michael and Neta Elkayam)

Searching for song and identity, from the Maghreb to the Negev

Neta Elkayam, an upcoming artist and musician based in Jerusalem, tells the story of her multi-faceted identity and presents her own personal mixtape. Café Gibraltar sat down with Elkayam to discuss her experiences growing up in a southern Israeli development town, her life-changing trip to Morocco, and the power of North Africa’s female singers. By…

By Cafe Gibraltar July 9, 2013

A Ukrainian klezmer wedding band, ca. 1925 (Menakhem Kipnis/Yivo Encyclopedia)

Mizrahi culture was suppressed, Ashkenazi culture is simply forgotten

Since the founding of the State of Israel, the Ashkenazi elite has suppressed the Mizrahi culture Jews from Arab countries brought with them. But almost without us noticing, those who led the Zionist project also erased whatever was left of the Ashkenazi traditions from Eastern Europe. By Edan Ring Family Day was no different from…

By Cafe Gibraltar April 29, 2013

Revivo's Project singing in a cafe (Photo: Screenshot)

‘Revivo’s Project’ brings Mizrahi pop back to its Arab roots

The Revivo Project’s debut album is a rare homage to the forefathers of Mediterranean pop and provides an educational introduction to the history of Mizrahi music — or at least the Yemenite part. By Ophir Toubul Israeli-Mizrahi music has, from time immemorial, been divided into two main, often competing groups. The first is comprised of…

By Cafe Gibraltar March 11, 2013