Bernard-Henri Lévy

Lévy in 2016, photo by Denis Makarenko/Bigstock.com

Place of Birth: Béni Saf, Oran, French Algeria (now Algeria)

Date of Birth: 5 November, 1948

Ethnicity: Sephardi Jewish

Bernard-Henri Lévy is a French public intellectual, media personality, and author. Often referred to in France simply as BHL, he was one of the leaders of the “Nouveaux Philosophes” (New Philosophers) movement in 1976. He also directed the 1997 film Night and Day, starring Alain Delon and Lauren Bacall.

Bernard-Henri is the son of Dina/Ginette (Siboni) and André Lévy, who founded and managed a timber company, Becob. Bernard-Henri is married to actress and singer Arielle Dombasle. He has a daughter, novelist and writer Justine Lévy, with his former wife, Isabelle Doutreluigne; and a son with his former wife Sylvie Bouscasse.

Bernard-Henri’s paternal grandfather was Joseph Guy Lévy (the son of Mardoché Lévy and Messaouda Albo). Joseph was born in Oran, Algeria. Mardoché was the son of Joseph Lévy and Esther Bénichou/Bénnichou. Messaouda was the daughter of Isaac Albo and Messaouda/Myriam Cohen Scali.

Bernard-Henri’s paternal grandmother was Rachel Benguigui (the daughter of Maklouf Benguigui and Aziza/Elisa Karsenti). Rachel was born in Oran, Algeria. Maklouf was the son of David/Daoud Benguigui and Rachel Haziza/Aziza. Bernard-Henri’s great-grandmother Aziza was the daughter of Mandill/Mandil Karsenti and Khamira/Kamra/Khambra/Camera Benichou.

Bernard-Henri’s maternal grandparents were named Shalom Siboni and Myriam.

Sources: Genealogies of Bernard-Henri Lévy (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.geni.com
http://gw.geneanet.org
https://plus.google.com

7 Responses

  1. mycarf123123 says:

    You know the drill-

    Sephardi Jews whose ancestors hail from the Middle East and North Africa consider themselves as Mizrahi Jews as well.

    Add that ‘Mizrahi Jewish’ tag.

  2. andrew says:

    Bernard-Henri’s maternal grandparents were Shalom Siboni and Myriam

  3. andrew says:

    tag: “Pied-Noir”

  4. andrew says:

    he has an ancestor with the surname “Mayer”, back in the 1800s.

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