English

Community life and mutual aid

Name of speaker: 
ʿAmos Ḥen (Ḥassan)
Gender of speaker: 
Male
Occupation of speaker: 
Agriculture
Age of speaker at time of recording: 
75
Year of immigration: 
1952
Speaker's country of origin: 
Speaker's community of origin: 
Language: 
Conversation topics: 
Documentation: 
Yaʿel Wecsler
Year of recording: 
2019
Translator: 
Yaffa Tobiak

Translation: 

General translation:

It was good. There was no fear. Everyone was ok. We left the synagogue. We went outside to the market, to hang out. I mean, we were free – you’re not scared.

Perish the thought that an Arab would do something terrible to a Jew, “his luck would fall” (expression). The Jews there are hot-headed and love each other very much.

We are from Tripoli and we spoke proper Tripolitanian, not like the way they speak in the villages. For instance, “Would you like something?” “We will give it to you!”. It was all good.  

The streets there were mixed – Arabs and Jews. We lived together when the majority were Jews. If someone did something bad to a Jew – they showed him alright! We were fearless.

It was good amongst the Jews. No fighting. If you fell out with someone, they would immediately make peace between you. They would say “what’s with the fighting? We are neighbours, aren’t we?.

Tripoli is a big city; there’s no chance to get to know everyone in the community. Only those who you meet on Shabbat and holidays.

We had a place called “Communita” – if there was anything you needed – they would bring it to you. All you had to do is ask, and without even knowing, you’d find it right there.

Aliya to Israel and absorption

Name of speaker: 
ʿAmos Ḥen (Ḥassan)
Gender of speaker: 
Male
Occupation of speaker: 
Agriculture
Age of speaker at time of recording: 
75
Year of immigration: 
1952
Speaker's country of origin: 
Speaker's community of origin: 
Language: 
Conversation topics: 
Documentation: 
Yaʿel Wecsler
Year of recording: 
2019

Abraham's tale ('utqul lu ya ibni')

In memroy of my parents, Sara and Kamayes Bublil and my grandmother Chmisa of Bublil

Name of speaker: 
Ḥaim Bublil
Gender of speaker: 
Male
Occupation of speaker: 
Poet
Age of speaker at time of recording: 
60
Speaker's country of origin: 
Speaker's community of origin: 
Language: 
Documentation: 
Tsila Cohen
Year of recording: 
2018

More info: 

Jews of Tunisia and Libya used to create gatherings of Haggada readings and share in Arabic the tale of Abraham’s journey to his faith in God. For further reading: Nahem Ilan, "A Midrash about the Patriarch Abraham in the Passover Haggadah of Djerba", Sefunot 6 (1992), 167-196.

Purim

Name of speaker: 
Hadassa Toledano
Gender of speaker: 
Female
Occupation of speaker: 
Executive at the Israeli tax authority
Age of speaker at time of recording: 
78
Speaker's country of origin: 
Speaker's community of origin: 
Language: 
Conversation topics: 
Documentation: 
Hodaya Toledano
Year of recording: 
2018

Songs and Piyyutim

Name of speaker: 
Hadassa Toledano
Gender of speaker: 
Female
Occupation of speaker: 
Executive at the Israeli tax authority
Age of speaker at time of recording: 
78
Speaker's country of origin: 
Speaker's community of origin: 
Language: 
Conversation topics: 
Documentation: 
Hodaya Toledano
Year of recording: 
2018

Piyyutim on Shabbat eve

Name of speaker: 
Hadassa Toledano
Gender of speaker: 
Female
Occupation of speaker: 
Executive at the Israeli tax authority
Age of speaker at time of recording: 
78
Speaker's country of origin: 
Speaker's community of origin: 
Conversation topics: 
Documentation: 
Hodaya Toledano
Year of recording: 
2018

Shabbat and holiday foods

Name of speaker: 
Hadassa Toledano
Gender of speaker: 
Female
Occupation of speaker: 
Executive at the Israeli tax authority
Age of speaker at time of recording: 
78
Speaker's country of origin: 
Speaker's community of origin: 
Language: 
Conversation topics: 
Documentation: 
Hodaya Toledano
Year of recording: 
2018