The 14th-century El Transito Synagogue of Toledo, Spain, 2017. Photo: David Blazquez
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KF7WPWEVMJE27IPA2RBEGDKJBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d8d69aad96207d0f4955e2997e9731b6e56c030ad78dfbcb266d4d00b43b5aa1&width=400&height=225)
A still from 'Yemenight', (2020), which is part of the Jews of the East (Juifs d'Orient: Une Histoire Plurimillenaire) exhibition at Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. Photo: Talia Collis
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/34CP3QPR4ZDPFIHNRZVLRFXVX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b99e419261af5d1a8b845a377313c1e6b1167a4d041341e6d3d124133a2b97c4&width=400&height=225)
Felix Bonfils (1831-1885), 'Courtyard of the Lisbona House, Damascus' from the Pierre de Gigord Collection, Paris. Photo: Collection Pierre de Gigord
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDWZ2HBTOVAVTBKN3AGT5ITJNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f803e804fad13fcf5fac8859462cfa3865b6785cca4554a84e736a0ecb684b8&width=400&height=225)
Funerary stela for Joseph, son of Rabbi Volubilis (Morocco), fourth century, from the Museum of History and Civilisations, Rabat. Photo: Musee de l'Histoire et des Civilisations, Fondation N
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LGDFXZO5JBEJFNFXIZC4K5DIWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab8b26ed7ade0a98c53152de0c6fae6fe2038002c7f777fa366bc6a28504bb77&width=400&height=225)
'Shiviti Adonai l'Negdi Tamid Meditation', Morocco, circa 1850. Ink and print on paper, from the private collection of William L Gross, Tel Aviv. Photo: Gross Family Collection Trust
A silver tiara, Taj Boubratel from Fes (Morocco), 1920, from the Paul Dahan Collection, Brussels. Photo: Collection Dahan-Hirsch Bruxelles
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JH2WJZ4DLZAYZGTKHYG72QNJQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a1f5dd6ae3bdb6169a4c6f7fbe3aa347d96ea21b6336fe03386c52b79c9eac2f&width=400&height=225)
Jean Besancenot, a young Jewish woman in Tafilalet costume, Erfoud (Morocco), 1934-1939. Photo: Institut du Monde Arabe
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RRKHP6WADJE2FL4TSDNSTY4ZDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d82c5874e25ccd3a570e5ffc19d968c66740919c94d01bfe8f6815784051899a&width=400&height=225)
A marriage contract known as the ketubah from Morocco, circa 1855, ink and gouache on paper. From the Private Collection of William L Gross in Tel Aviv. Photo: Gross Family Collection Trust
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GUAVPYJIMRF67APHK5OHV7YR74.jpg?smart=true&auth=553298a38976d12e077e66eb35e3466a952b9e2c66629111ca2dfe9244d75921&width=400&height=225)
The 'Jewish Bride of Rabat-Salé', Morocco, 1934-1939. Photo: Intistut du Monde Arabe
The 14th-century El Transito Synagogue of Toledo, Spain, 2017. Photo: David Blazquez
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KF7WPWEVMJE27IPA2RBEGDKJBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d8d69aad96207d0f4955e2997e9731b6e56c030ad78dfbcb266d4d00b43b5aa1&width=400&height=225)
A still from 'Yemenight', (2020), which is part of the Jews of the East (Juifs d'Orient: Une Histoire Plurimillenaire) exhibition at Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. Photo: Talia Collis
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/34CP3QPR4ZDPFIHNRZVLRFXVX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b99e419261af5d1a8b845a377313c1e6b1167a4d041341e6d3d124133a2b97c4&width=400&height=225)
Felix Bonfils (1831-1885), 'Courtyard of the Lisbona House, Damascus' from the Pierre de Gigord Collection, Paris. Photo: Collection Pierre de Gigord
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDWZ2HBTOVAVTBKN3AGT5ITJNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f803e804fad13fcf5fac8859462cfa3865b6785cca4554a84e736a0ecb684b8&width=400&height=225)
Funerary stela for Joseph, son of Rabbi Volubilis (Morocco), fourth century, from the Museum of History and Civilisations, Rabat. Photo: Musee de l'Histoire et des Civilisations, Fondation N
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LGDFXZO5JBEJFNFXIZC4K5DIWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab8b26ed7ade0a98c53152de0c6fae6fe2038002c7f777fa366bc6a28504bb77&width=400&height=225)
'Shiviti Adonai l'Negdi Tamid Meditation', Morocco, circa 1850. Ink and print on paper, from the private collection of William L Gross, Tel Aviv. Photo: Gross Family Collection Trust
A silver tiara, Taj Boubratel from Fes (Morocco), 1920, from the Paul Dahan Collection, Brussels. Photo: Collection Dahan-Hirsch Bruxelles
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JH2WJZ4DLZAYZGTKHYG72QNJQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a1f5dd6ae3bdb6169a4c6f7fbe3aa347d96ea21b6336fe03386c52b79c9eac2f&width=400&height=225)
Jean Besancenot, a young Jewish woman in Tafilalet costume, Erfoud (Morocco), 1934-1939. Photo: Institut du Monde Arabe
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RRKHP6WADJE2FL4TSDNSTY4ZDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d82c5874e25ccd3a570e5ffc19d968c66740919c94d01bfe8f6815784051899a&width=400&height=225)
A marriage contract known as the ketubah from Morocco, circa 1855, ink and gouache on paper. From the Private Collection of William L Gross in Tel Aviv. Photo: Gross Family Collection Trust
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GUAVPYJIMRF67APHK5OHV7YR74.jpg?smart=true&auth=553298a38976d12e077e66eb35e3466a952b9e2c66629111ca2dfe9244d75921&width=400&height=225)
The 'Jewish Bride of Rabat-Salé', Morocco, 1934-1939. Photo: Intistut du Monde Arabe
The 14th-century El Transito Synagogue of Toledo, Spain, 2017. Photo: David Blazquez
Paris exhibition explores Jewish history in Middle East and North Africa
The Institut du Monde Arabe's new show runs until March 2022
![Lemma Shehadi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Ff3cbce33-ef9a-47e3-8961-9d2ef99b6a14.png?smart=true&auth=6fa3bd1481dafbad5ca749f9f061e630a98aff7127ad3e0ee814f051c5796b1d&width=70&height=70)
Lemma Shehadi
28 November, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic