The Fourth and Final Lecture of Dr. Maisie Meyer’s Mini Series on the Jews of China.The Kadoorie Family is unique amongst Baghdadi commercial pioneers. One of the foremost families in Baghdad, they were “merchant farmers” in an era when the currency for trade was livestock. Eleazar (Elly) Silas Kadoorie (1865-1944) […]
SHANGHAI MILLIONAIRE-SILAS AARON HARDOON (1851-1931) JEWS IN CHINA
The Third Lecture of Dr. Maisie Meyer’s Mini Series on the Jews of China.A monopoly set named “Shanghai Millionaire” highlights how influential Silas Aaron Hardoon was. Numerous photographs, newspaper articles and biographical accounts animate this celebrity. We trace his mercurial rise from a lowly employee in David Sassoon’s firm on […]
SIR ELLICE VICTOR ELIAS SASSOON 3RD BART. (1881-1961), THE STANLEY MORGAN OF THE ORIENT – JEWS IN CHINA
The Second Lecture of Dr. Maisie Meyer’s Mini Series on the Jews of ChinaSir Victor hails from an exotic and noble lineage in Baghdad. His father Elias David Sassoon, pioneered the settlement of Baghdadi Jews in Shanghai, around 1845. Over a hundred photographs, documents, and not least extracts from his […]
ARTISTS’ CONTRIBUTION TO SPIRO ARK’S UNIQUE PROGRAMME
Ronald Stein, our favourite “House Artist” who regularly joins our cultural events is renowned for his excellent drawings of the many contributors to our programmes. Below is a typical example of Professor Ephraim Kahana, addressing a fascinated Spiro Ark audience on the topic of: NUCLEAR TERRORISM AS AN INTELLIGENCE CHALLENGE.
GET TO KNOW THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON PRESS RELEASE
Temple of Solomon Exhibition Launches in LondonA two-week exhibition on the replica Temple of Solomon in São Paulo, Brazil opens at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London’s St John’s Wood on Sunday 21 February. Called Get to Know the Temple of Solomon, its aim is to explain the cultural and […]
SPIRO ARK ARE LAUNCHING THIS BOOK ‘JEWISH PARTICIPATION IN THE FIRE SERVICE IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR: LAST VOICES’. BELLOW IS A RECENT BOOK REVIEW (COLIN SHINDLER, THE JEWISH CHRONICLE)
The firefighters of Irish heritage during the 9/11 attack on New York were lauded for their courage and resilience. The tragedy drew public attention to the Irish tradition of serving in the New York City Fire Department – to save the lives of others at the risk of their own. […]
SHANGHAI EXPRESS: FROM THE RIVERS OF BABYLON TO THE WHANGPOO – JEWS IN CHINA
The First Lecture of Dr. Maisie Meyer’s Mini Series on the Jews of China.With the world’s attention now focused on Iraq and the expanding Chinese economy, it is opportune to draw attention to a small number of adventurous Baghdadi Jewish merchants who began settling in Shanghai in the mid-19th century […]
2015 SUMMER ULPAN REVIEW BY ITS STUDENTS
– ” It was clear that a great deal of thought and preparation had gone into each session – use of English was minimal and employed only when absolutely necessary.” I would recommend this programme because Daily Lessons allow for a much more immersive experience than weekly alternatives. ” ADRIAN- […]
‘EXILE IN THE MAGHREB’ BOOK EXPLODES MYTH OF MOROCCAN COEXISTENCE
In January 2015 the Qatar-owned satellite channel al-Jazeera broadcast a programme about Jews in Morocco. “Jews first began to settle in Morocco over 2, 000 years ago,” said the presenter.”… and for centuries they and Muslims have happily co-existed there.” Now the English version of a compilation of commented original […]
FEEDBACK ON THE PREPARATORY COURSE ON THE MAJOR HIGH HOLIDAY PRAYERS, (ORGANISED BY SPIRO ARK FOR CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE)
1) “Thank you very much for this uplifting session where i have learned so much.As I am converting and have tried a few classes (Hebrew and Talmud) your session has been the best of all. You have mixed knowledge and poetic emotions brilliantly and all in the contrast defined in […]