The Armoza family arrived in the Land of Israel about 50 years before the Spanish Inquisition, from a village of the same name, in Catalonia, Northern Spain. It is assumed in the family that three brothers left Spain: one arrived in Jerusalem, and he is the father of the Armoza Family that mostly lived in the Old City (some in Hebron). (The name of those first arriving in Israel is not known, however it is assumed to be Eliyahu, Avraham or Yitzchak- as those were the most common names in the family throughout the generations. Moreno and Yaakov were also common names.) The second son emigrated to Haleb in Syria and his descendents came to Israel about 270 years ago. The third brother immigrated to Holland. Most of his descendants were killed in the Holocaust. Some of those who survived eventually came to Israel. This faction of the family changed their name to Yaffe or Yoffe. Many of the fathers of the families that came to Israel served as Mukhtars in Jerusalem during the Turkish rule. The members of the Armoza Family were mostly employed as ritual slaughterers and in the transporting and sale of fresh meat. This was based on a 'kushan' (certificate of ownership) of exclusivity from the Ottoman rulers of the time. The largest slaughter house in Jerusalem was owned by their family. Raising cattle and sheep was not allowed to anyone other than Moslems. Therefore the family bought the animals from Moslem growers and then slaughtered and sold the meat. The same was true for milk and dairy products. It was required to by them from and Arab and then make cheese. In addition, the family members were senior members of the Sephardic Committee, which constituted the "government" of the Old Yishuv in the Old City and beyond. Prominent Family Figures Eliyahu Armoza (1864-1944) the son of Avraham, was married to Salcha Sarim (a relative who came, most likely, from Haleb). He built a dairy in the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem under the Hurva Synagogue. The dairy was founded due to the dietary restrictions of the Jews in the city. They made cheeses and yogurt as well. Eliyahu Armoza continued to work in the dairy until his old age. By that time he lived outside of the walls of the Old City, in Yemin Moshe. Eliyah was a member of the Chevrah Kadisha, was the gabbai of the Eliyah Hanavi Synagogue in the Old City and collected donations for charities. He was the Mukhtar of Yemin Moshe. His brothers were Yitzchak and Yaacov. Members of the Armoza (Irmoza) family were involved in their community and aided needy community members. One example is the observance of Miranda Day once a year, in cooperation with the Chief Rabbis of their time, Rabbi Meir Ya'akov and Rabbi Meir Uziel. Families cooked rice pies, beans and meat donated by neighborhood women and invited the poor to eat for free. Yitzchak Armoza, the son of Avraham (passed away in 1955), married Flor Mimran, whose family was most likely from the Magreb. Yitzchak worked as a butcher, pastry maker and owner of a restaurant in the Old City and in Mahane Yehuda and was a leader even in his youth. He was the Mukhtar of Ohel Moshe, Mazkeret Moshe, Even Yisrael and other neighborhoods. In 1882-1883 he initiated, with emissaries of Moses Montefiore, the construction and populating of the Mishkenot Yisrael Bet neighborhood, which was unsuccessful, with Spanish families from the Old City. Thus they joined the few Ashkenazi families already in the neighborhood. The name of the neighborhood was changed, according to the agreement, from Mishkenot Yisrael Bet to Mishkenot Moshe (when Moses Montefiore was still alive) and was changed again after his death to Mazkeret Moshe. In 1925 Yitzchak Armoza entered a residential building that was owned by the Cheshin Family. It was used as a tavern. He evicted the people, based on an edict that forbade trade and unfavorable activities, and turned the building into a synagogue for the Sephardic community. It was called "Grace and Mercy" as was a charitable fund that was founded the same year by Sephardic families from the Old City. The synagogue is situated at the entrance to the Mazkeret Moshe neighborhood from Agripas Street. Under the auspices of the synagogue and the association they founded a kindergarten called "The Great Kindergarten" under the direction of Yitzchak Alexandroni, soup kitchens, kupat holim "Mazor" where there was a staff of volunteer doctors and nurses that treated people with eye disease for no charge, and extensive assistance concerning the slicks in the water cisterns of the synagogue belonging to the Etzel and Lehi organizations. The couple had 13 children, 9 of whom died in infancy due to disease. 4 children survived: Rachel, Avraham, Moreno (1905-1988) and Rosa. Their son David, born in 1943, married Edna Alaof and moved to Katamon. The son, Mony Moreno Armoza,, born in 1969, continued the family tradition of active work in the community. He lived in Mazkeret Moshe, where he served as the Gabai in the Grace and Mercy Synagogue which was privately owned by the family. Mony Morena Armoza was one of the founders of "Lev Ha'ir Community Center which serviced the 32 neighborhoods in Nachlaot. He was the director of the Lev Ha'ir Community Center for many years. During those years he developed the program of conservation of the neighborhoods and their heritage. In addition he was dedicated to promulgating the Ladino language and culture which he did while serving as the personal assistant to Mr. Yitzchak Navon, the 5th President of the State of Israel. Moni Moreno Armoza was given recognition for his extensive work for the preservation of the ladino heritage. The Spanish Court also recognized his contribution which in turn greatly assisted in promoting the issue of returning the privilege for a Spanish passport to the descendents of Spaniards. His commitment extended to tutorials, lectures, poetry evenings and concerts. Most of the families maintained their original name, Armoza. However there are some families that changed their names to Hebrew names such as; 'Yaffe', 'Chen' and 'Maxim'.
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