Sephardic

SEPHARDIC HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL (SHIN) DC hosted our II Congressional Holocaust Commemoration dedicated to the memory of Sephardic & Romaniote experiences on January 30th with Congressional Sponsor Rep. Jamie Raskin, who made remarks, as well as partners The Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America & Kehila Kedosha Janina. Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs Eliot Engel also spoke. Mrs. Mamica Tosca from the Albanian Embassy to the US spoke about the extraordinary acts of resistance on the part of Muslim Albanians which saved Jews during the Holocaust. SHIN’s F. Afraim Katzir spoke about the resistance of King Mohammed V of Morocco in helping to protect Jews from the discriminatory antisemitic measures imposed by the Vichy regime and expressed gratitude as he acknowledged Mr. Hatim El Fethouni of the Embassy of Morocco. Keynote speaker Mr. Harry Ezratty spoke about Jews in resistance movements in Greece and N. Africa. The contribution of partisans was also noted by Susan Barocas and Mrs. Paulette Nehama whose late husband Isaac Nehama, of blessed memory, fought with the partisans during the Nazi occupation of Greece. ADL Director for International Affairs Mr. David Weinberg spoke about standing together against antisemitism and hate today. We also heard from Holocaust survivors and children of survivors from Greece, Libya, Tunisia and France. As we lit flames to commemorate those who perished in the Holocaust and survivors no longer with us, world-renowned concert pianist Renan Koen played the piano and Rabbi Nissim Elnecavé said the Hashkaba prayer with Kaddish, in their memory. Thanks to our emcee SHIN’s Leila Levi and volunteers. Also, thank you to the Embassy of Germany, the Embassy of Bulgaria, the Embassy of Israel and the Embassy of Greece in Washington for honoring this Congressional Holocaust Commemoration with their presence. @ Congressional Gold Room