Moroccan Judaism:

History and Culture

Thursday, April 24

USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET

UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm

The talk will last approximately 90 minutes

About this talk

Morocco is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the Diaspora, with a heritage spanning over 2,000 years. This rich history reflects an intersection of various civilizations and traditions, including Berber, Andalusian, and Arab influences.

In this talk, we will explore the historical and contemporary context of Moroccan Judaism, tracing the migrations of Jewish communities to and from Morocco and their integration into the fabric of the country. We will discuss regional, linguistic, and cultural differences, as well as the unique characteristics of certain local traditions.

About Vanessa

Dr. Vanessa Elbaz's work focuses on the cultural histories of sound in the diasporic regions of 1492's expulsion. She is described as "a kind of one-woman roving museum of her own" by The New York Times and was featured in a 2022 New York Times feature on Judeo-Spanish women's music. She has also written extensively on Judeo-Muslim relations through the culture and public diplomacy of popular music.

Dr. Elbaz is the Chair of the Mediterranean Music Studies Group of the International Council for Traditional Music and Dance (ICTMD) and her work is regularly featured in the international press such as BBC, Al Jazeera, i24, France24, L'Express, NPR, PRI, Radio Pompidou, and is a frequent consultant for documentary film projects and media pieces. She is also an internationally known performer of Sephardi repertoires.

You may also be interested in:

The Musical Traditions of Moroccan Jews on April 27