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north-africa-jewish-heritage-center
Venues

North Africa Jewish Heritage Center

The David Amar Worldwide North Africa Jewish Heritage Center in Jerusalem is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. It rises proudly facing the Old City walls as a living testament to the yearnings and dreams of countless generations of North African Jewry.
 
Visitors to the center can expect a rare experience – at once spiritual, visual, cultural and artistic. The atmosphere within the building preserves the ancient, original character of the structure and is further enhanced by the exquisite Andalusian garden and the Moroccan-Moorish art, in the style of the Alhambra Palace in Granada.
 
The Center in Jerusalem was founded in order to preserve, nurture, teach and pass on the culture and legacy of North African Jewry to the next generation here in Israel and abroad. Located in the heart of the Mahaneh Yisrael neighborhood established in 1865, the Center is housed in the historic quarter’s oldest building, which in the past served as a "Kolell" for men of North African descent, a hostel, a Jewish house of study for the general public and a synagogue. Declared a historic and architectural heritage site, the renovated premises were designed by artists brought to Jerusalem from Morocco who worked closely with architect Elie Mouyal of Marrakech under the artistic supervision of artist David Soussana.
 
Today, the structure functions as a cultural and heritage center, and features spectacular exhibition halls hosting both permanent and temporary exhibitions of art, unique items and photographs of Jewish communal life in North Africa. The Center also has an extensive research library with original manuscripts, studies, monographs and other texts, and which, together with academic institutions, also hosts seminars devoted to the heritage of the Jews of North Africa.
 
In addition, the David Amar Worldwide North Africa Jewish Heritage Center holds various activities, such as evening literary and study sessions, poetry readings, musical and liturgical evenings, training events, lectures, classes in liturgy and cantorial music, oud playing classes, and more.
 
The Center is open Sunday through Thursday, from 08:00 to 15:00 (8 AM to 3 PM). Visits are by appointment only.
 
Address:

16 King David Street, Jerusalem
Tel.: +972-2-623-5811
Fax: +972-2-625-0970
Website: www.north-africa-jewish-heritage-center.org.il