AJC Launches Asl Al-Yahud, Arabic Website on Jews and Judaism
April 10, 2008 - New York - The American Jewish Committee launched Asl Al-Yahud, a new Arabic Language website about Jews and Judaism. It can be viewed at www.aslalyahud.org.
"By providing basic information about Jewish culture and religious practices in Arabic, Asl Al-Yahud will help facilitate a deeper understanding and tolerance towards Jews," said Yehudit Barsky, director of the Asl Al-Yahud project. "We're demystifying Judaism and dispelling widespread misinformation about the Jewish people in the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond."
Asl Al-Yahud - literally, the "origins of the Jews" - focuses on Jewish history, culture and religion, connecting those subjects to the long history of Jews in Arabic-speaking lands. The website offers information about Jewish lifecycle events, holidays and religious practice.
The website also contains a timeline of Jewish history, audio and graphic components, and a special section for users to submit questions. An Asl Al-Yahud staff member will answer the questions, in Arabic, allowing users to comfortably interact in their native tongue.
The content was created originally in Arabic by Ephraim Gabbai, a descendent of the Iraqi Jewish community. The site is visually authentic to Middle Eastern design and highlights cultural practices shared by Muslims and Jews from Arabic-speaking nations around the globe.
Ari M. Gordon Assistant Director Department of Interreligious Affairs American Jewish Committee 165 E56th St. New York, NY 10022 (212) 891-6768 (212) 751-4000 x266 www.ajc.org www.engagingamerica.org