THE AMERICAN SEPHARDI FEDERATION CELEBRATES JEWS FROM
EGYPT WITH LEON LEVY LEADERSHIP AWARD TO
NINA WEINER, DAVID RIBACOFF AND VICTOR SANUA z"l

Spain's Consul General in New York, the Honorable Fernando Villalonga,
to receive Maimonides Friendship Award - Marking the Program Launch
of 'The Jews From Spain - Past and Present'.

Author and Distinguished Professor André Aciman, Ph.D.
to provide Keynote Address

Contact: Stanley A. Urman, ASF Exec. Dir.: 212-294-8350

New York, NY (October 26, 2009) - In keeping with its mission to preserve and promote the rich cultural traditions, spirit and history of all Sephardic Jewish communities, the American Sephardi Federation (ASF) is planning to honor three prominent Jews from the Egyptian community at their annual benefit dinner on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, in New York City. The event will also mark the kick-off of a year-long cultural program -- "The Jews from Spain - Past and Present" -- with special recognition and thanks to Spain's Consul General, the Honorable Fernando Villalonga.

Named after ASF's late President, the three Leon Levy honorees have played leadership roles in the Sephardic Jewish community. Nina Weiner, president and co-founder of the International Sephardic Education Foundation (ISEF), is being recognized for her extraordinary commitment and dedication in support of higher education for Israel's underserved communities. David Ribacoff, a businessman and community leader is being honored for his many contributions to the Egyptian and Bukharian Jews, paying particular attention to the needs of newly arrived immigrants. The late professor and psychologist Victor Sanua, Ph.D., z"l, whose passion was recording the history of the Egyptian Jewish community, is being honored posthumously for his life's work, including the founding of the International Association of Jews from Egypt.

"We are proud to honor such esteemed colleagues who have been role models and pillars of the Sephardic Jewish community -- dedicating their lives to uphold Jewish values of charity, service and education," said David Dangoor, President of the ASF. "It is also gratifying to mark this occasion with the launch of two significant ASF program initiatives - examining the legacy of the Jews of Spain, and our extraordinary Sephardic Jewry in the US Oral History project."

At the dinner, ASF will debut the first video installments of the Sephardic Oral History Project that preserves the personal testimonies of Sephardic Jews about life in their countries of origin and their resettlement in the United States. This initiative will ensure that the legacy of 20th century Sephardic American Jewish experience will be preserved for future generations.
Founded in 1973, the American Sephardi Federation preserves and promotes the rich cultural traditions, spirit and history of all Sephardic communities as an integral part of the Jewish experience and heritage. The ASF maintains the Western Hemisphere's only public Sephardic Jewish Library and Archives, as well as the only public exhibition gallery dedicated solely to Sephardic Jewish subjects and artists. The ASF is one of five founding members of the Center for Jewish History in New York City.