The secret Jewish history of Layla Murad, Egyptian superstar
A new book highlights Murad’s conversion story — and the complex Arab culture that helped guide it
Jews of Egypt
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Opinion ‘No beer on Passover, okay?’ —Jerusalem to Jewish soldiers in Egypt, 419 BCE
One fine day in the spring of 419 or 418 BCE, a Jewish soldier opened up an official missive sent to him and his fellow troops stationed in upper Egypt. The author of the letter was Hananiah, a Jewish official in Yahud, the name the Persians assigned to the former region of Judah. As…
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Culture The big (un)stuck boat is a big Passover metaphor
Each year, at Seders around the world, kids perform skits of the Passover story, acting as Moses begging for freedom, or the Pharaoh stubbornly refusing to budge. This year, however, the whole world acted out the Passover story. The part of Pharaoh was magnificently played by Ever Given, an enormous cargo ship that blocked the…
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Fast Forward Egypt doubles down on ban of Jewish pilgrimages to grave of Baba Sali’s grandfather
The Egyptian government has confirmed a ban on Jewish pilgrimages to the grave of Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira, who is buried in Beheira Governorate, just east of Alexandria, according to the Egyptian newspaper, Al-Ahram. Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira is the grandfather of Rabbi Israel Abuhatzeira, better known as the Baba Sali, who was a leader of the…
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Fast Forward Only 5 Jews Are Left In Cairo Following The Death Of Jewish Matriarch
(JTA) — Marcelle Haroun, mother of the current president of Cairo’s Jewish community, has died at the age of 93. Her death, announced on Saturday, leaves five Jews known to be living in Cairo, Watani International reported. The five remaining are her daughter, Magda, and four granddaughters. The AFP news service reported in March 2017…
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News ‘Jews of Egypt’ Rides Bumpy Road to Premiere
A controversial documentary on Egypt’s expulsion of its long-resident Jewish population opened despite an initial effort by the Egyptian government to block its release. “Jews of Egypt” opened on March 27 at three movie theaters in Cairo and Alexandria after official permission was first granted, then withdrawn and then granted again. When the initial scheduled…
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Fast Forward Egypt Lifts Ban on Film About Jews
Egyptian authorities rescinded a ban on the screening of a documentary about Egyptian Jews. “Jews of Egypt” will be screened in theaters beginning March 27, director Amir Ramses said in a tweet. “We won the war against National Security. We got the permit,” Ramses said on Twitter and Facebook. The film had been banned earlier…
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Fast Forward Film on Egyptian Jews Banned by Government
Egyptian authorities have failed to issue a permit to screen a historical documentary about the country’s Jewish community, the film’s producer said on Wednesday, one of a series of disputes over freedom of expression under the Islamist government. Egypt already had restrictions on film makers under president Hosni Mubarak, requiring them to seek approval from…
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