The David Amar Worldwide North Africa Jewish Heritage Center is a cultural centre and museum in Jerusalem, that opened in 2011.
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It is located in the heart of the Mahane Israel (also Mahaneh Yisrael) neighborhood established in 1865, and is housed in the quarter's oldest building,[1] built in the mid-19th century by David ben Shimon, who founded the community of North African Jews in Jerusalem.[2]
The museum has permanent and temporary exhibitions focused on the history and heritage of the Jewish communities of North Africa, particularly Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.[3]
The restoration was funded by the Casablanca, Morocco-based businessman David Amar, and was renamed in his honour. Work took four years and required a team of Moroccan craftsmen to create the intricate zellige mosaic tile work.[2]
Reconstructing the building in an authentic Moroccan style was controversial, as some saw it as "importing foreign architecture and damaging a historic building", but it is expected to become one of Jerusalem's top tourist sites.[2]
It was opened in June 2011 in the presence of President Shimon Peres and former President Yitzhak Navon.[2]
References edit
- ^ "North Africa Jewish Heritage Center | The Jerusalem Hotel Association". En.jerusalem-hotels.org.il. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d Bennyesterday, Aluf (9 June 2011). "A touch of Morocco in the heart of Jerusalem - Haaretz - Israel News". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "המרכז העולמי למורשת יהודי צפון אפריקה |".
External links edit
- Official website
Media related to The Worldwide North Africa Jewish Heritage Center at Wikimedia Commons- Media related to North Africa Jewish Heritage Center at Wikimedia Commons
31°46′35″N 35°13′17″E / 31.7763°N 35.2215°E
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