Vanessa Performing in Tangier, Morocco

These photos show Vanessa with the accompanists on oud and percussion. The concert was for a group of young professionals and business people of Jewish Moroccan descent who were in the country to learn about the history and culture of their parents and grandparents. Maurice is also giving a talk to the group on Jewish/Arabic music.
To hear Vanessa performing her recent work, go to Vanessa Paloma on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM1qeR-NV30 That link goes to one song, but in turn it will link to others.
If you will look at the post before this one, you will see the traditional Moroccan ceremonial dress (especially weddings) used by women in the Jewish community.
For further information on what Vanessa is doing see:
http://vanessapaloma.blogspot.com

Traditional Moroccan Dress

Vanessa, Maurice, and Gloria travelled to Tangier yesterday for a concert of traditional Moroccan Jewish songs that Vanessa gave last night. It was in a palace formerly used by one of the rulers of Morocco and is used now as a cultural center. Maurice took a filming crew to make a video of the concert, and they were filming today in the Casbah. They will also film tomorrow before returning to Casablanca. Vanessa is 8 1/2 months pregnant, feeling well, and enjoying the opportunity to perform the music that she loves so well in traditional Moroccan dress and in the settings where the music would have been sung. In the accompanying photos Gloria is dressed in red. In another photo Vanessa and Maurice are seen together. In a group photo Vanessa and Gloria are seen with Sonia who is the owner/collector of some of the dresses.

Greetings from Ron and Gloria

L' Shana Tova

Vanessa the Bride

After Rosh Hashanah 2007 Vanessa wrote to us that she had met a fellow in Casablanca who was involved in music, and he was interesting. Over the following months we heard more and more about this guy, whose name was Maurice. After January of 2008 we began to hear more and more about him and eventually about his family. Now in December they were married. Although Vanessa has had a packed schedule over the last few months with concerts, conferences, and writing, we were hearing more and more about Maurice and the trust and caring that was growing between them. It has been a wonderful process to see this love grow and see the comfortable relationship that they have developed. Both of them seem to be at home.
As you will see in the accompanying photos, Vanessa was a beautiful bride. She designed the wedding dress herself, and she was truly radiant as she walked to the Chuppah between Gloria and Margo. She was spectacular in the Berberisca dress that she wore for the henna ceremony, which she obviously enjoyed. In the first several days of family Sheva Bracha dinners and lunches, we saw her and Maurice take on their roles as the new husband and wife. Mazal Tov to both of you. May your lives be filled with love, happiness, health, prosperity, and the good things that will make your lives more complete.

Welcome Maurice

Maurice is a wonderfully complex person. His self-composure and sense of humor make you trust him and like him at the same time. For me as the father, I trust him as the husband for my daughter. He and Vanessa fit together like the pieces of a puzzle. His relaxed and amiable self in the family context seems to belie the strong businessman who is a major music producer among other things. Then, of course, there is that ear massage thing. If Maurice likes you, he will give you an ear massage. Unique.
In the art of his music videos we can see his artistic flair, which also pops up with surprises in his self portraits. FTG Records is his music label, and his videos are widely available on You-Tube by searching: "youtube music Maurice Elbaz".
Maurice is top-notch. He is a warm and accepting person. We welcome him to the family of Vanessa. Enjoy this journey of life that you have started.

Introducing the Elbaz Family

Maurice Elbaz, Vanessa's husband, has a large extended family that stretches from Morocco to France and Israel. We would like to introduce his immediate family including parents and brothers and sister. In the accompanying photos are the parents, David and Margo Elbaz. David is a builder in Morocco and a businessman active in the community. He is a pillar of his synagogue and a member of the Kashrut Commission for Morocco. He is a leader in the traditional Moroccan singing style in services. He is an ever present father and is involved in the lives of his children, and he shows great love for the grandchildren.
Margo is the mother of the family and organizes Shabat lunches which is a gathering place for the family. She has social skills that make her stand out in group situations. She is a kindred spirit with Tirzah Sowa, Gloria's sister, and Gloria and Margo understood each other well. Margo has a generous spirit, and she likes to be involved. In the photo Margo is wearing traditional dress for the Berberisca ceremony.
Maurice's sister, Jocelyn, is a medical doctor living in Paris. She is married to Pascal, and they have two daughters (Alicia and Odelia) and a son (David). Jocelyn has a wonderful laugh, and she is a warm and supporting sister-in-law for Vanessa. Seeing Jocelyn and Vanessa interact made me and Gloria happy because each seems to be gaining a sister.
The three brothers are Ari, Patrick, and Richard. Ari is married and lives in Strasbourg. At the wedding he had his laptop on Skype so that his wife and children in France could see and interact with the guests. Patrick is not married and divides his time and business between Morocco, Spain, and France. He has the same quick wit that I have seen in Maurice and Jocelyn, and he seems to live with a twinkle in his eye. The youngest brother is Richard, who has a quick smile, and is also unmarried. He lives in Casablanca and owns a cheese factory. He is ready with the cellphone as are his technology savvy brothers.
The accompanying group photo shows the brothers and Jocelyn with her children (plus a friend) as they accompanied Vanessa before the Chuppah. From left to right they are Ari, Jocelyn, Vanessa, Patrick, and Richard and the children from left to right the friend, Alicia, David, and Odelia.