Illuminated Aleph Bookmark by Jean-Jacques LEVI

SEBBAG family

SEBBAG (Samech-Beth-Aleph-Gimel) is a widely used surname in North Africa, particularly Morocco. (See Encyclopedia Judaica 22 Volume Set , vol. 4, p. 591.) The family originated in Southern Morocco near the oasis of Goulimine. Following the massacre of Nisfratim in Oufran (1790) the family took refuge in Mogador and then spread out into a number of cities including Meknes.

According to Les Noms des Juifs du Maroc by Abraham I. LAREDO, the names ASSABAG, ESSEBAGH, ESSEBAKH, ESEBAG, SABAG and SEBAG all from the Arab word for dyer.

Dying wool and silk was a Jewish specialty since antiquity. During the middle ages, it was a sort of Jewish monopoly to such a degree that the tax on the Jews in Southern Europe was often called Tincta Judaeorum. This tradition is still preserved in Morocco, but is disappearing in the face of modern industry. During talmudic times this occupation was used as part of a person's name in the Armenian form Tzadik-Vet-Ayin-Aleph.

Reuven SEBBAG

Reuven SEBBAG married Yacot. Reuven is related to the SEBBAG-MONTEFIORE family. They lived in Meknes.

David SEBBAG

David SEBBAG was the brother of Reuven SEBBAG (above) according to one source (?). According to David WEIC and Marc-Olivier SEBBAG, David SEBBAG was the son of Reuven SEBBAG.

David SEBBAG had four children by his first wife.

After his first wife died (giving birth), he married his second wife Freicha TOBI. Together they raised the first 4 children and they had:

My original source listed two other daughters:

Early SEBBAGs

Other SEBBAGs

Daniel E. LOEB, loeb17@gmail.com