Dorot Presents
Yom HaPlitim: Remembering the Exile of Jews from Arab Lands
Tuesday, December 10, 11:00 am
As we anticipate Chanukah, come join our Dorot cohort as they learn about another holiday of freedom, Yom HaPlitim, the day that commemorates the exile of Jews from Arab lands.
Our congregant, Odette Masliyah, will be our teacher.
She will talk about the history of the Jews of Babylon (her native Iraq) and the subsequent history behind Yom HaPlitim.
She will share some of her own lived experiences, about how she grew up and her family fleeing in 1970.
Finally, she will discuss the apt connection to Hanukkah, as she experienced the darkness of being stuck, fearful and not free in a place that threatened her, and our, existence, and then felt the light as she arrived in Israel and could be among our people.
REGISTER HERE to join in person or to receive the virtual link.
$15/member, $18/non-member, with lunch and some Iraqi-inspired Channukah sweets included!
Games begin at 12:30 pm in the Schwartz/Reisman Atrium as per usual.
All are welcome.
The Dorot program is generously sponsored by Carole and Jay Sterling and Family.
ABOUT OUR PRESENTER, ODETTE MASLIYAH:
Odette was born in Baghdad Iraq. Her family fled to Iran in November 1970. From Tehran, with the help of the Jewish Agency, the family connected with her father’s and mother’s family who also fled Iraq in 1950 in Operation Ezra & Nehemia.
Odette stayed in Israel for a couple of years. The family then left for Montreal, Canada where her brother lived. After a few years, Odette moved with her husband Jacob to Edmonton where he was teaching at the University of Alberta. There the family had 3 kids. Odette taught French and Hebrew in the Public School as well as Talmud Torah School.
As a teacher, she participated in many Jewish schools’ workshop. In 2002, she visited the Pen Pal school in Lev HaEmek, Israel. Odette speaks 4 languages, Arabic, Hebrew, French and English.
In 2020 the Edmonton Jewish Community honoured Jacob and Odette at the JNF (Jewish National Fund) Negev Gala.
She was a member of Beth Shalom Synagogue Board, Edmonton Jewish Seniors Board, a member of Hadassah and Na’amat.
Odette chants Torah and any other parts of the Synagogue service. She and her family maintain speaking Judeo Arabic language at home.
