Moments in Marseille

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Israeli Photojournalist Rafael Ben-Ari attended 3 exhibitions in Marseille France-"During the 60 years of Israel", "live in Israel" and "Jerusalem- the heart of Israel" that where organized by the Jewish organization Centrefleg and the city of Marseille for the 60th anniversary to Israel. While he attended the openings of his exhibitions in Centrefleg, Espace Culture and Park Borely. The Israeli photographer Rafael Ben-Ari documented the twin city of Haifa - Marseille through his foreign eyes. Marseille is the second-largest city of France located on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea and it is Frances largest commercial port. From the 1950s onward, the city served as an entrance port for over a million immigrants to France from North Africa and since then many immigrants have stayed and given the city a vibrant French-African quarter with a large market. Currently over one third of the population of Marseille can trace their roots back to Italy, the most represented country in the city, even beyond France. Marseille also has the largest Corsican and second largest Armenian population in France. Other significant communities include North African Arabs and Berbers ,Turks, Comorians, Chinese, and Vietnamese. The main religions practiced in Marseille are Catholicism, Islam, Armenian Apostolic Church and Judaism. Its inhabitants are called Marseillais.All photos by Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye

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