Community members are invited to support Williams College students and join in Havdalah through the rich musical and linguistic heritage of Morocco's Jewish community as we say good-bye to Shabbat. Led by musician and educator Yona Elfassi, PhD, we’ll explore traditional and contemporary Moroccan songs, learn to sing in Darija (Moroccan Arabic), and discover the stories, rhythms, and cultural expressions behind the music. This experience will offer an immersive journey that bridges language, spirituality, and sound - a soulful way to end Shabbat and welcome the new week. To register, please email Rabbi Seth Wax at [email protected].

The Williams College Jewish Association is thrilled to welcome everyone to the northern Berkshires for this special opportunity that will be featured in the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce's annual Holiday Walk.

Sponsored by the Williams College Jewish Association and Jewish Federation of the Berkshires. 

About Yona Elfassi:

Dr. Yona A. Elfassi, educator, researcher, and content creator was born in Morocco, lived in France and Spain, and has been based in Israel for the last ten years. Yona holds a dual PhD in Middle East Studies (Ben-Gurion University, Israel) and Sociology/Anthropology (Sciences Po Bordeaux, France).  Yona founded Limud Darija, a movement dedicated to reviving Moroccan Arabic (Darija) and Jewish-Moroccan musical heritage through workshops, lectures, and communal singing and he co-founded Global Mimouna, an initiative launched in 2019 to celebrate and share the rich traditions of Moroccan and North African Jewish communities through the Mimouna festival.  His work has taken him around the world, where he has lectured at leading universities and institutions. His academic journey transcends traditional boundaries. Fueled by the conviction that research ought to forge connections and deepen understanding, he extends his impact through academic endeavors, social initiatives, and short films. His mission is to contribute valuable insights to the dynamic fields of Muslim-Jewish relations, the plurality of identities, and the preservation of indigenous cultures.