## ***Denmark, Morocco and the Jews***## ***Bent Blüdnikow***## ***Sephardic World, Sunday 29 September 2024***Unbounded Jews is the story of Denmark's (failed) engagement and exchange with Morocco in the 18th century. The story is told through two Jewish family clans, Sumbel and Buzaglo, whose members were adventurers, cosmopolitans, merchants, and diplomats. Denmark made a trade and peace treaty with the Moroccan sultan in 1753 and played a central role in Morocco's efforts to establish diplomatic relations and trade with other European countries.The 18th century was marked by strong competition among the European powers for colonies and trade with overseas countries. The Danish king Frederik V invested heavily in trade with Morocco – both economically and militarily. Today the adventure has been forgotten. The Danish-Moroccan episode and its dramatic human consequences add significant chapters to Jewish and Danish history. Relying on a wide range of Danish and international archives, Bent Blüdnikow traces the Sephardic Jews across much of the globe to understand their motives, actions, and significance.***Bent Blüdnikow*** is a journalist, writer, and reviewer for a national Danish newspaper. He is a historian, former employee of the Danish National Archives, and co-founder of the Society for Danish Jewish History. He has authored numerous books on the subject. His new book, Unbounded Jews: The Game of Denmark and Morocco in the 18th Century is published on 30 September 2024.Amazon USA - Amazon UK - Amazon Netherlands - Amazon France - Amazon Canada - Amazon Brasil - Amazon AustraliaJoin us live on Sunday 29 September 2024, at 11am in LA, 2pm in NYC, 7pm in London, 8pm in Paris/Amsterdam/Copenhagen, 9pm in Jerusalem, and 4am the next morning in Sydney.Patrons are invited to join us on Zoom. You can become a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/sephardiThe broadcast will be available to all on 6 October 2024 https://www.youtube.com/@SephardicGenealogy***Et Sha'are Ratson***The High Holidays approach. Below is a recording of the congregational choir at Lauderdale Road Sephardic synagogue in London. Et Sha'are Ratson is a piyyut (liturgical poem) on the Binding of Isaac, written in the 12th century by Judah ben Samuel ibn Abbas of Fez. It is recited before the sounding of the shofar in Sephardic Rosh Hashana services. The melody is believed to derive from a Morisco chant from what is now southern Spain.***Can you Volunteer or Donate?***The Sephardic Genealogical Society is looking for volunteers. If you have skills and time to spare, please complete our questionnaire. We are particularly looking for people with video editing, fundraising, and web design experience.https://docs.google.com/.../1aFsubxSY.../viewform...We rely on the support of our patrons. If you can support our work by donating as little as $5/month, please visit our Patreon page. We have a number of projects that require more substantial support. Please let us know if you can help.https://www.patreon.com/sephardi***Join our new WhatsApp channel***We have set up a WhatsApp channel to better help communication with supporters. If you have WhatsApp, please follow the channel.https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaHxAjhJ93wTMhWkTF0i***From the Sephardic Archives***Balkan Sephardim in Early Modern Amsterdam. Balkan Jewish refugees from war arriving in late 17th Century Amsterdam must have been astonished. Even though connected to the resident Portuguese Jews through ethnic‐religious bonds, they were entering an alien world. Most of the Sephardim of Amsterdam were conversos. They had been living as Catholics – outwardly at least ‐ for generations before returning to their ancestral faith. They were acquainted with the most modern European ideas but had to be reintroduced to Judaism.Meanwhile, the eastern Sephardim from the Balkans had lived a Jewish life for generations. Most descended from Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 who had settled in the Ottoman Empire and North Africa. The chain of tradition in Judaism was never broken. Many had studied at famous yeshivot in the east and were well versed in Hebrew and Jewish sources, while to a certain degree, they became part and parcel of the Oriental and North African culture as well.***Tirtsah Levie Bernfeld ***discussed the experiences of the Balkan Jews upon their arrival in Amsterdam. She will focus on how the eastern Sephardim were received by the Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam and their absorption into the community. Click here.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPF2p2YsarYBest WishesTon and DavidSephardic World