BASSATINE NEWS  the ONLY Jewish newsletter reporting directly from Egypt
A Community Chronicle put out by the Jewish Community Council (JCC) of Cairo since 1995

OUR EMAIL CHANGED IN SEPTEMBER 2014 AND IS NOW jcccairo@gmail.com

CHAAR HASHAMYIM (ADLY) SYNAGOGUE IS OPEN DURING ROSH HASHANAH, YOM KIPPUR AND SUKKOT

BASSATINE NEWS ISSUE No. 16

The JCC sends its best wishes to one and all on the occasion of Roshana
6 September 2001
We wish our readers Shana Tova.
As we enter the fast of Yom Kippour, on this sacred occasion we pray for an established and enduring peace.


FLOWERS IN BASSATINE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR DECADES

Bougainvillia along the cemetery wall
Bougainvillia along cemetery wall

vegetation along the inner wall
vegetation hugging inner wall (photos Wafik)

As a result of Carmen Weinstein's initiative over 1,000 trees and shrubs have been planted so far at the Bassatine Cemetery.

CHEHATA HAROUN


Chehata Haroun dies in Cairo at 82... story

OBITUARY
Bassatine News and the Jewish community of Cairo regret to announce the death of renown lawyer
Shehata Haroun
who was buried at Bassatine Cemetery on 19 March 2001

EGYPT HONORS LAILA MOURAD


Born in Abbassia, Cairo on 17 February 1919 Laila Mourad (also spelt Leila, Layla, Leyla) was the daughter of Ibrahim Zaki Mordechai Mourad (allegedly an Iraqi Jew) and Nueva-Gamila Salmon. Educated at a Catholic for girls school in the Zeytoun district she started her singing career at the age of 14 having learned from her father himself a baritone as well as from family friend the composer Daoud Hosni (David Levi). Her first radio concert took place in July 1934 when she sang "Ya Ghazala Zan Einoh el Kohl". 1938 saw her first movie "Yehya El Hob" (Long Live Love) co-starring her sometime mentor Mohammed Abdelwahab. She converted to Islam and married actor Anwar Wagdi in 1945 followed by marriages with officer Waguih Abaza and director Fateen Abdelwahab.

stamp of Laila Mourad
a 1999 commemorative stamp on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of diva Laila Mourad's death on 21 November 1995
Laila Mourad was chosen as the main theme character of the 14th Arabic Music Festival in Egypt in 2005 with her song "The Soul Lover" presented at the opening celebration

Laila Mourad by artist Siwi Laila Mourad record jacket
Laila Mourad by Egyptian portraitist Siwi; long play record jacket

Laila Mourad with male cast
Laila Mourad with silver screen greats: R-L husband Anwar Wagdi (standing), Youssef Wahbi, Mohammed Abdelwahab, Naguib al-Rihani

Laila Mourad movie poster Laila Laila Mourad movie poster Ward El Gharam
poster of movie "Laila" co-starring Hussein Sidky in 1942 adapted from La Dame aux Camelias; "Ward Al Gharam" with Mohammed Fawzi in 1952

Laila Mourad + Anwar Wagdi
with 1st husband Anwar Wagdi

Laila Mourad's two sons
her two wonderful sons: Ashraf and Zaki

LAILA MOURAD, LA GARBO DU NIL
by Claude Wainstain
Les Juifs dans les timbres

Quand le 21 novembre 1995 Leila Mourad s'éteignit dans un hôpital du Caire, aimable et discrète vieille dame de soixante-dix-sept ans, personne ne la remarqua. Mais quatre ans plus tard, en émettant ce timbre, l'Égypte prouva qu'elle n'avait pas oublié sa grande star des bords du Nil, sa chanteuse fétiche, adulée dans tout le monde arabe. Ils étaient faits l'un pour l'autre.

Avant de jouer les princesses vaporeuses dans les décors extravagants des productions à grand spectacle, Leila avait grandi au sein d'une famille juive, et c'est son père, Zaki Mordekhaï, un baryton réputé, qui lui avait inculqué les bases du chant classique. À quinze ans, elle chanta pour la première fois dans un gala. L'enthousiasme du public, conquis par sa voix splendide et sa beauté, fut pour elle une révélation, et pour sa famille désargentée une aubaine. Elle débuta dans des tournées en province, se fit peu à peu un nom dans le monde lyrique et à la fin des années trente fut remarquée par Togo Misrahi, métrages.

Son charme naturel ravit les spectateurs, la radio reprit ses chansons à succès et elle devint en quelques années l'actrice la plussollicitée et la mieux payée de son temps.

Mais sa réussite éclatante -mille deux cents chansons et vingt-huit films entre 1938 et 1951- suscita des jalousies. Les journaux à scandales rivalisèrent de scoops sur ses amours tumultueuses avec l'acteur et producteur Anouar Wagdi, dont elle divorça trois fois, de rumeurs sur sa richesse supposée fabuleuse et d'insinuations sur ses origines. Car bien qu'elle se soit convertie à l'islam en 1946 pour épouser le réalisateur Fatin Abdel Wahab, et qu'elle ait été choisie à la place d'Om Kalsoum pour galvaniser la foule lors des célébrations officielles de la Révolution, en juillet 1953, on la surnommait «l'étrangère» et on doutait de son patriotisme.

L'agitation fut à son comble quand la Syrie, prétextant qu'elle avait fait don à Israël de 50 000 livres égyptiennes, interdit ses chansons et ses films. Leila se répandit en démentis, mais quelques mois plus tard, tandis qu'Oum Kalsoum était revenue en grâce, elle fit ses adieux définitifs au public. «Pour pleurer la mort d'Anouar Wagdi», déclara-t-elle. Elle quitta pour toujours la scène publique et vécut en recluse, refusant systématiquement photos,invitations et interviews.

COMME GRETA GARBO

On chercha une explication à cette retraite subite, en pleine gloire, à trente-sept ans. Certains évoquèrent une jalousie entre divas, d'autres imaginèrent les retombées d'une manœuvre diplomatique: Nasser était alors en pourparlers secrets avec Israël et, en la choisissant pour incarner la Révolution,il aurait voulu envoyer un message indirect prouvant que l'Égypte nouvelle ne nourrissait aucune inimitié envers les Juifs (1). Mais Joseph Assouline, le neveu de Leila Mourad, est formel. Dans le documentaire qu'il prépare sur sa tante, il nous révèle les véritables raisons de sa décision: en digne émule de Greta Garbo, elle avait voulu rester à tout jamais, pour les foules égyptiennes, le symbole de l'éternelle séduction, la femme au visage sans défaut miraculeusement épargné par les ravages du temps. Préservée du temps, peut-être - mais du dessinateur du timbre.

obituary in Time Magazine

Letters About Laila Mourad

Name : Paula
Last address in Egypt : none
Present address : Chile
Date : 19/05/03

Hello Im interested in knowing more about Leyla Mourad, she is my dads aunt...and I dont know much abouut her thanks!

Name : Gamila
Last address in Egypt : 11 Midan Talaat Harb, Cairo
Present address : 2077 NE 1st Street, Deerfield Beach, Florida, USA
Date : April 24th, 2003

I want to thank the people that were dedicated enough to take the time and write about one of our most beloved women of the Egyptian History. She also happened to be my Aunt and I will be coming out with a book about her life in the early spring of 2004.

THE MAREK REPORT


While Christian and Muslim graves have been shifted from the Cairo ring road's path, the Jewish ones could not be moved without gravely offending Jewish law. Eventually a compromise was reached. Though the graves could not be moved, the rabbis ruled that their markers could be pushed aside to make way for construction, provided they were put back afterward. The two ends of the highway, long poised like two hands kept apart by Bassatine, finally came together... story

VISITS AND EVENTS


  • Maggie and Bill Kaplen of the Kaplen Foundation, USA, were among the first to witness the planting of new trees and flowers in Bassatine Cemetery.
  • Maadi Temple (Meyr Biton) was the venue for the new millennium's first Bar Mitzvah in Cairo. This took place on Saturday, April 28. Congratulations Ehad!
  • Following the recent sandstorm which uprooted the oldest tree in the Maadi temple garden, the JCC planted 10 new ones including five jacarandas. We would like to thank Mark and Marsha Slivka from Ontario who made this possible with the donation made during their recent visit to Maadi.
  • The contractors working on the rising water table problem in the Old Cairo district have promised to repair the damages sustained by the Ben Ezra annex as a result of the deepening of the nearby well.
  • Early January visitors to Bassatine's Mosseri vaults were two grandsons of Nessim Mosseri Bey and Elena Yacoub Cattaui. Claude and Gerard Mosseri-Marlio are the sons of Jacques N. Mosseri who died in Cairo on 7 May 1934.
  • The traditional Passover Seder was held on Saturday night, April 7 in the garden of the Israeli embassy residence in Maadi with 120 guests. The food, strictly kosher, was brought from the Princess Hotel in Eilat. For the first time, the Alexandria community joined their Cairene brethren. Sadly, the JCC president, Esther Weinstein, was too weak to attend and her absence was sorely missed.
  • The JCC is producing a bilingual booklet on the history of the Rav Haiim Capucci synagogue located in Cairo's Jewish Quarter.

    LETTER FROM AMERICA


    Leon Wahba family at pyramids

    He returned to Egypt with his family for the first time since his departure as a teenager back in the 1950s. Leon Wahba's visit was full of surprises... story

    THE CAIRO AND ALEXANDRIA JEWISH COUNCILS IN 1917


    Back in 1917, when Egypt was a British Protectorate with Sultan Hussein Kamel (son of Khedive Ismail) on the throne, the Cairo and Alexandria Jewish Councils (separate entitites) were thriving concerns. Here is the full list of those who were in charge.

    CAIRO RABINATE
    Grand Rabbi: Rafael Bensimon
    Deputy Grand Rabbi: Massoud Haim Bensimon
    Hebrew language secretary: Chemtob Hajhin
    Clerks: Elias Debbah, Jacques Peron
    Counselor: Alfred Orebi

    JCC Co-Presidents of the Community: Moise Cattaui Pasha and Youssef Cattaui Pasha
    Vice-President: Eli Mosseri Bey
    Offices: Bank Cattaui & Figli

    BOARD MEMBERS
    Youssef Mosseri bey, Mark Bialobos bey, Adolphe Cattaui, Rene Adda, Samuel Orebi, Zaki Eli, Eli Galico, M. Garboua

    PRINCIPAL CAIRO SYNAGOGUES
    Chaar Hachaim (Adly) with Vita Mosseri rector
    Neve Chalom, Abbassia with Samuel Orebi and Mosie Iskinazi rectors
    Issa Haiim, Abbassia, Behor Bialobos rector
    Nessim Iskinazi, Daher, with Nessim Iskinazi, rector

    THE ASHKENAZI JEWISH COUNCIL IN CAIRO
    President: Ephraim Liebovitch
    Vice President: Aaron Goldenberg
    Secretary: Jacques Blau
    Treasurer: Moise Goldenberg
    Counselors: Abraham Zuckerman, Maurice Ornstein, Marco Cozuel, Samuel Goliger, Victor Bercowitz, Emanuel Greenfield, Moise Grunstein
    Synagogue rector: Abraham Zuckerman

    THE RABBINATE IN ALEXANDRIA (No. 18 Nubar Pasha Street)
    Grand Rabbi: Rafael de la Pergola
    Deputy Grand Rabbi: Abraham Ebhezer and Daniel Gaon
    Counselor: George Sciama
    Accountant: Adolf Argi, Eliza Benias

    THE ALEXANDRIA COUNCIL
    President: Edgard Suares
    Vice President: Jules Cuzer
    Treasurer: Felix Tuby
    Secretary: Richard Levi bey
    BOARD MEMBERS:
    Isaac Aghion, Eli Cattaui, Joseph de Picciotto, Alfred Tilches, Eduard Sasson, Robert Rolo, Victor Naggar, Youssef Aghion, Clement Castro, Elie Toriel, Joseph Riches
    ALEXANDRIA SYNAGOGUES:
    Eliahou Halevi (Nabi Daniel Street), Menashe (Menashe Street), Zaradiel (Midan Street), Green (Moharram bey district), Ezra, (Game'a Terbana Street), Marakesh (No. 31 Midan Street)


    FROM THE PHOTO ALBUM


    Pardo-Bivcas wedding
    1948 Victor Pardo- Becky Bivas wedding at Adly Street "Chaar Hachamaim" Synagogue in Cairo

    A droite Mlle Benrey notre professeur, a gauche Mr.Alfillenotre professeur d'Hebreu.
    Abraham Btesh School: A droite Mlle Benrey notre professeur, a gauche Mr. Alfille notre professeur d'Hebreu

    Classe 1936, a droite Mme Taranto notre professeur.
    Abraham Btesh School: Classe 1936, a droite Mme Taranto notre professeur.
    (photos courtesy Becky Bivas)

    If you recognize anyone in above two photos pls e-mail Becky Bivas


    CHECK OUT EARLIER ISSUES OF BASSATINE NEWS

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    Issue 32  | Issue 33  | Issue 34  | Issue 35  | Issue 36  | Issue 37  | Issue 38  |

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    C O N T A C T

    Jewish Community Council (JCC) of Cairo
    # 13 Sabil El Khazindar Street
    Midan al-Geish, Abbassia, Cairo
    Egypt

    tel: +20 2 2482-4613 - tel/fax +20 2 2736-9639
    mobile: 0122 2115915
    from outside Egypt call
    +20 122 2115915
    or
    e-mail: jcccairo@gmail.com

    Shaar Hashamayim Synagogue @ 17 Adly Street, downtown Cairo
    open daily 10:00 to 15:00
    Friday 10:00 to 17:00
    Sunday closed

    Ben Ezra Synagogue in Fostat (Old Cairo)
    open daily 09:00 to 16:00

    For visits to other Cairo synagogues or Bassatine Cemetery contact JCC


    The JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL of ALEXANDRIA (JCCA president: Youssef Ben Gaon) can be reached by email at:
    alexandriajewishcommunity@yahoo.com
    and by telephone on +20 3 484-6189 or +20 3 486-3974 or by ordinary mail at
    No. 69 Nebi Daniel Street, Alexandria, Egypt

    please note the Jewish Community Council of Alexandria is an independent entity separate from the Jewish Community Council of Cairo


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