By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – The Israeli documentary Egypt, A Love Song tells the story of Souad Zaki, a Jewish chanteuse who was the star of concert halls and movies in Egypt before and after the establishment of the State of Israel. Her husband, Mohamed el Akkad Zaki, was a Muslim musician, hyped as the King of the Qanun. Their son, Moshe, recognized halachically as a Jew, grew up to be a psychologist.
Souad had been scheduled to follow her husband as an immigrant to the United States when he sent notice through the American Embassy in Cairo that he had instituted divorce proceedings. He had fallen in love with Katherine, an American woman. Moreover, he wanted exclusive custody of their son, Moshe.
Rather than submit to such a request, Souad took Moshe to Israel where she knew she and her son would be safe from legal action. But in so doing, she sacrificed her career as a singer of Arabic songs. Israel Radio featured a song of hers once a week, but the pay didn’t cover her expenses, especially not the cost of a fine boarding school for Moshe. Souad worked at a variety of low-paying jobs to supplement her income.
When radio stations in Egypt learned that Souad had immigrated to the arch-enemy nation of Israel, they deleted all her songs from their repertoires. She became a non-person in her native land.
Souad lived in relative obscurity in the Tel Aviv suburb of Or Yehuda, dedicated to Moshe’s education. While still a teenager, Moshe received an invitation to visit his father and stepmother in Brooklyn. Out of curiosity, Moshe accepted. Once there, he decided that Mohamed was a “likeable guy” but one who did not appeal to him as a father.
After Katherine died, Mohamed was totally alone. Then, he invited Souad to visit him, which she did. They ended up getting remarried and moving to Haifa, Israel.
The story is told through photos, tv and movie clips, and by Moshe’s daughter, Iris, interviewing Moshe in a variety of relevant venues about her grandparents. Iris was the documentary’s director.
Egypt, A Love Song, running 75 minutes, is now available through a partnership of Jewish Story Partners and Good Docs for free showings by community groups, non-profits, schools, and religious institutions.
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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World