Tuesday 30 September, 7:30 pm UK, 2:30 pm ET. Born in the US, Hakham Isaac Choua hails from a long line of Lebanese Jews. His family left Beirut in 1977, but their experiences as Jews in the Arab world have marked his life and work. In conversation with Harif’s Lyn Julius, Hakham Choua will tell us how, as we celebrate the High Holidays, his community’s traditions have shaped him.

Through his earlier work for the World Jewish Congress, as founding editor of the journal HaSepharadi and nowadays as a Board member and adviser to the Sephardic Brotherhood, Hakham Choua has been active in promoting Sephardi heritage and Torah wisdom ( ‘there is more to Sephardi culture than food and melodies’.)  He has devised a touring exhibition which celebrates Jewish contributions to Arab countries as well as commemorating antisemitic persecution.

Hakham Choua takes a lively interest in current affairs, being a frequent contributor to ‘X’ (Twitter). Since the 7 October massacre he writes often for his Substack column,’Struggling in the Wilderness.’

Hakham Choua earned his master’s degree in Medieval Jewish History with a concentration on pan-Sephardi Studies from Yeshiva University and holds a BA in Ancient Near Eastern Cultures and Abrahamic Religions from the CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Recording here.

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