THE CULTURE NEWS

American Sephardi Federation (ASF) and Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA) hosted the 2nd "Looking in, Speaking Out: Commemorating Khojaly and Standing Against Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing" Gathering 28 years to the day when 613 Azerbaijanis were murdered on 25 February 1992, the American Sephardi Federation (ASF) and Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA) hosted the 2nd "Looking in, Speaking Out: Commemorating Khojaly and Standing Against Genocide and Ethnic Clea

Jewish opera singer David Serero performs the Saudi Arabia anthem

« ANNE FRANK, a Musical » coming to Off-Broadway this September "ANNE FRANK, a musical", based on Anne Frank's life will feature 12 artists on stage to recreate Anne Frank's life filled with the touching music and lyrics written by Jean Pierre Hadida. This production marks the U.S Off-Broadway Premiere of this successful French musical which will be performed for the first time in English (adapted by Dylan Hadida). Directed and produced by David Serero, this new Off-Broadway

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO (Nozze di Figaro) by Mozart is coming Off-Broadway this July 2019, starring David Serero as Figaro.

ROMEO and JULIET coming Off-Broadway in a World Premiere Jewish adaptation this June 2019 at the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th Street New York NY 10011). This unique production is adapted and directed by David Serero, who is also starring as Romeo. One family is Sephardic and the other one is Ashkenazi, featuring classic Ladinos and Yiddish songs as well as other surprises. Instead of Verona, the adaptation takes place in Jerusalem. The Cast includes David Serero (R

The opera NABUCCO, by Giuseppe Verdi, to be performed Off-Broadway this May. Opera Star baritone DAVID SERERO to perform NABUCCO’s title role for 6 unique performances at the Center for Jewish History, New York, along with world-renowned soloists. Nabucco, the iconic Verdi opera, will be presented in 2019 at the Center for Jewish History (15 W. 16 St.) in New York City, presented by the American Sephardi Federation. NABUCCO - Giuseppe Verdi's renowned opera about the Babyloni

THE AMERICAN SEPHARDI FEDERATION’s 2019 POMEGRANATE AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT GOES TO TUNISIAN-BORN AUTHOR ALBERT MEMMI; CEREMONY AT THE 22nd NEW YORK SEPHARDIC JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL’s MOROCCAN OPENING NIGHT, 6 MARCH 2019 The AMERICAN SEPHARDI FEDERATION will award its Pomegranate Award for Lifetime Achievement to the writer and sociologist ALBERT MEMMI at this evening’s Moroccan Opening Night of the 22nd NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival. Born in Tunisia into a poor Jewi

DON GIOVANNI, opera by Mozart, will be performed this June at the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th St. New York NY 10011), starring David Serero as Don Giovanni along with an international cast. Don Giovanni is one of the most famous operas of all time, written by Mozart with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. This new production will include an international cast of world renowned opera singers: Charles Gray (Leporello), Anna Cley (Donna Elvira), Pablo Veguilla (Don Ott

The 21st anniversary edition of the NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival features compelling stories and evocative documentaries about Iraqi, Syrian, Mexican, Egyptian, Israeli, French, Tunisian, Ethiopian, and Greek communities The American Sephardi Federation’s NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival showcases contemporary voices steeped in the history, traditions, and rich mosaic culture of Greater Sephardic communities. The ten-day Festival features premiere film screenings, intri

ANNOUNCING THE IV INTERNATIONAL SHASHMAQAM FOREVER SYMPOSIUM AND YUNUS RAJABI MEMORIAL CONCERT ON CLASSICAL CENTRAL ASIAN MUSIC FEATURING MUSLIM AND JEWISH SCHOLARS AND VIRTUOSI MUSICIANS FROM UZBEKISTAN AND THE UNITED STATES The IV International Shashmaqam Forever, a two-day Festival in Queens and Manhattan, will bring together Muslims and Jews to celebrate the legacy of the People’s Artist of Uzbekistan, Yunus Rajabi. The Memorial Concert will feature virtuosi vocalists and

The JEW OF MALTA by Marlowe, starring David Serero as Barabas, to be performed in New York. On December 3rd at 8pm, the classic play the JEW OF MALTA by Christopher Marlowe will be performed in a stage-reading version, starring David Serero as Barabas. This one night only performance will feature Sephardic songs sung by actor and opera star David Serero at the Center for Jewish History (15 w 16th St. New York NY 10011). The Cast will include David Serero (Barabas), Ron Barba

The 1st Edition of the AMERICAN SEPHARDI MUSIC FESTIVAL August 24, 27 & 28, 2017 Dynamic and diverse performances by world-class artists will be heard at the first American Sephardi Music Festival. Hosted by the American Sephardi Federation and directed by David Serero, the Festival will take place on three days: August 24th, 27th and 28th 2017 at The Center for the Jewish History (15 W 16th Street, New York City). PROGRAM: August 24th: 7pm: GERARD EDERY – Three Religions, Th

Opera star and actor DAVID SERERO to perform at the ANDRE AZOULAY’s Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony in New York.

THE AMERICAN SEPHARDI FEDERATION PRESENTS THE 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF THE NEW YORK SEPHARDIC JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE HISTORY AND TRAVEL THROUGH TIME FROM BAGHDAD TO GREECE, ETHIOPIA TO SWITZERLAND, AND ISRAEL TO IRAN, MARCH 30 – APRIL 6, 2017 (NEW YORK, NY) – In its 20th Anniversary Edition, the American Sephardi Federation (ASF) today announced the programs for its weeklong celebration of diverse stories and rich histories portrayed in film at the New York Sephar

Internationally renowned baritone and actor David Serero performed for the President of Portugal Mr Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Thursday at the American Sephardi Federation located in the Center for Jewish History in New York, in tribute to Sousa Mendes. David Serero performed the famous Sephardi song « Adio Querida » from his album « Sephardi ». He was accompanied by Portuguese guitarist Pedro da Silva. Video of David Serero’s performance : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R-

The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare’s classic play on love, commerce, and bigotry, has been the subject of a great, enduring controversy concerning its depiction of Shylock, “…the Jew/ That Shakespeare drew (Alexander Pope?, 1741).” Over the course of four centuries, different readings and productions of the play have ranged from accentuating “the extreme cruelty of Shylock the Jew” (Quatro of 1600) to showing a highly sympathetic figure who is driven by Christian anti-Semiti

“From Casablanca to NYC: A Night of Moroccan Culture” was a celebratory success! An evening of education and culture was created on May 17th by AJC ACCESS NY, the American Sephardi Federation, Association Mimouna, and the Moroccan community in New York at the Center for Jewish History, New York. Photos are available here: https://goo.gl/RBsSVx THE EVENING: The event attracted more than 400 people of all nationalities and religions. The guests celebrated the love and friendshi

Baritone & Actor DAVID SERERO stars as OTHELLO's title role adapted in a Moroccan style for 5 unique performances at the Center for Jewish History, New York, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Three Sephardic-themed productions -- two Shakespeare classics and a Verdi opera – are presented in 2016 Off-Broadway in the theater located at the Center for Jewish History (15 W. 16 St.) in New York City. MERCHANT OF VENICE last January, followed by NABUCCO last

Opera Star Baritone DAVID SERERO to perform NABUCCO’s title role, from Verdi’s opera, for 5 unique performances at the Center for Jewish History, New York, in April 2016 Three Sephardic-themed productions -- two Shakespeare classics and a Verdi opera -- will be presented in 2016 Off-Broadway in the theater located at the Center for Jewish History (15 W. 16 St.) in New York City, starting with MERCHANT OF VENICE last January, followed by NABUCCO April 6-17 and OTHELLO June 16-

KUWAITI SINGER EMA SHAH to be HONORED and to PERFORM at the 19TH NY SEPHARDIC JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL on MARCH 10, 2016 CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY (15 WEST 16th STREET, New York, NY, 10011) 2016 Pomegranate Award Honors Ema Shah, the Kuwaiti Star who took a Courageous Stand for Co-Existence by Performing in Hebrew in the Arabian Gulf (NEW YORK, NY) 8 March 2016 – The American Sephardi Federation announced today that Kuwaiti star Ema Shah will be given this year’s Pomegranate Awar

David Serero is starring as Shylock from The Merchant of Venice Article by JULIAN VOLOJ Can we stage the Merchant of Venice? As last summer Argentine President Cristina Kirchner said in order to understand the economic problems of their country, one must read the "Merchant of Venice", there were protests from Jewish organizations, the Kirchner accused her allusion to the figure of Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, is subliminal anti-Semitism. It may be surprising, therefore, t

THE NEW YORK SEPHARDIC JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL 2016 EDITION MARCH 10th to 17th 2016 at the Center for Jewish History The American Sephardi Federation presents the New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival for its 19th edition from March 10th to 17th 2016 at the Center for Jewish History in New York City (15 West 16th Street). Through the poignant medium of film, the New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival (NYSJFF) provides viewers with an understanding of the rich mosaic culture o

DAVID SERERO will star in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, NABUCCO and OTHELLO at the Center for Jewish History, New York, in 2016 Three Sephardic-themed productions -- two Shakespeare classics and a Verdi opera -- will be presented in early 2016 Off-Broadway in the theater located at the Center for Jewish History (15 W. 16 St.) in New York City, starting with MERCHANT OF VENICE January 13-21, followed by NABUCCO April 6-17 and OTHELLO June 16-30. This trio of productions follows last

The American Sephardi Federation announces his Fall Program Book Talk: Nicole Dweck’s Debt of Tamar 10 September at 7PM: Kovno Room Ranging from a 16th-century harem to Nazi-occupied Paris, the Inquisition to Israel’s Independence, and the court of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent to modern-day Manhattan, bestselling author Nicole Dweck’s The Debt of Tamar weaves a tapestry of love, history, resilience, and fate. Join the American Sephardi Federation for a discussion with the