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According to the tradition of the original settlers in North Africa, the meaning of the name Ochayon is "live son" which according to the later Hebrew tradition means "the Son of David", therefore those named Ochayon are the descendants of King David. Asher was born in 1930 in Casablanca, Morocco. His parents, Shlomo Ochayon (1904) born in Safi and his mother Rivka nee Fachima (1907) born in Melila, Morocco. Shlomo was a marketing agent of beverages and food products. Rivka was a mother and housewife. In 1940 the couple separated and Rivka worked for her livelihood as a seamstress of women's clothing. The father remarried. Rivka also, after making aliyah to Israel married Moshe Dessah. Shlomo Ochayon's parents (Asher's paternal grandfather and grandmother), were Masoud Ben David (1854) and Sa'ada nee Attias. Massoud was a merchant working under German auspices. Sa'ada raised the children. Masoud was a wealthy man and was well known in his community. After WWI, Massoud had to destroy the documents that proved his connection to Germany. The parents of Rivka Fachima (Asher's maternal grandparents), were Moshe Fachima (1882), born in Stet and Pricha (Simcha) nee Chazan (1892). After their marriage they they moved to Melila in Spanish Morocco. They had three daughters. Their Eldest daughter, Rivka, married Shlomo Ochayon. Moshe was a Shochet and a Mohel and a teacher in the community. Asher Ochayon studied in Casablanca and joined the Zofim (Scouts) Youth Movement (The Bilu Shevet). The Movement was founded as part of the Charles Natar Movement, first in Casablanca and afterwards in other cities in Morocco. There he absorbed Zionistic philosophy, first as a camper and then as a counselor. At the age of 18 (December 1948), he began his journey of 'aliyah' to Israel, passing through Algeria and arriving finally in Marseilles, France. Asher left Morocco on his own, leaving behind his mother Rivkah, his brother Moshe (Morris), and his sister Odette (Dalia). (His brother Michael made aliyah to Israel in 1947 on the ship Exodus.) His journey to Israel took 5 months. In March 1949 Asher arrived in the port of Haifa. Upon debarkation he wrote in his diary: "Aliyah for me was the fulfillment of my deepest wishes that I absorbed in my home." That same night he was drafted in the IDF (Israel Defense Force). Upon his release from his military service he joined a 'garin' of the Scouts from North Africa and France, for training in Kibbutz Sedeh Eliyahu in the Beit She'an Valley. After a short stay on the kibbutz, the Jewish Agency sent Asher on a short mission back to Morocco (June-December 1951). The goal was to convince young Jews living there to make Aliyah to Israel. Upon his return to Israel and with the garin in Sde Eliyahu moving to Nir Etzion, Asher chose to settle in Be'er Sheva. His brother Michael and mother, Rivka, who had by then come to Israel, lived there. After his move to the Negev he was appointed to the position of Forestation Inspector for the JNF (Jewish National Fund). Asher writes in his memoirs: "I loved the open desolate space and the sand dunes within the safe borders. I enjoyed planting the cypress seedlings, eucalyptus and acacia plants. I was excited by the idea that in the near future the area will turn green and flower." (From: "The Path I Chose-Chapters in Life". written and edited by Ira Cohen. 'Life in a Book- Memorial Albums Edition). Asher again is sent to Morocco (1954-1956). With the worsening of the situation, the uprising of the people against the French occupation, and the imminent independence of the country, Asher and all the other emissaries were forced to leave the country immediately. Upon his return to Israel in 1956 Asher went to learn in Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh and later was appointed to the World Jewish Congress as a representative of the Zionist Moroccan Federation. During that same year, 1956, Asher was appointed as Director of the Azata Immigrant Camp ( later the town of Netivot) in the Negev, where her served as the first Head of the Local Council (1956-1960). Asher traveled to France during the year 1965-1966 as a representative of the Aliyah Department of the Jewish Agency, to encourage the Jews there to make Aliyah to Israel. In addition he worked in the Welfare Ministry planning and establishing institutions. In 1980 he is elected to Directorate of the Zionist Agency as a representative of the Sephardic Federation. He was the CEO of the Ministry of Welfare and Labor from 1980-1984. Afterwards he was appointed the Chairman of the Directorate of 'Amigur'. He also served as the Head of the Department for Sepharadic Communities in the Zionist Organization. His main responsibility was to develop contacts with the Sephardic communities in North and South American and Europe. As part of this job he served as a member of the Committee for Project Renewal. In the '80's and '90's Asher was a partner in the establishment of the World Center for the Legacy of North African Jewry and served as Director of the Gaon Fund for the Encouragement of Research. He was active in the Yaldenu Fund, the School for the Blind and other charities. In 2010, when he turned 80, Asher was awarded the Medal of Honor of the city of Jerusalem. In proximity to his birthday, a grove was planted in the forest in Netivot, by the JNF, a contribution of the family, his wife, children and grandchildren, in honor of his 80th birthday. Asher married Evelyn Berger who was born in France and made Aliyah in 1961. The couple lived in Jerusalem and had 4 daughters: Dorit, Chagit, Moriah and Shomriah. Those interested may read the book of Asher Ochayon, "The Path on Which I Walked- Chapters in Life", written and edited by Ira Cohen. ("Life in a Book- Memorial Albums Edition). In this photographic collection one gets a peek into the private and public life of Asher Ochayon, starting from his childhood in Morocco, his aliyah to Israel, his years as a counselor in the Scout Movement, his life in Kibbutz Sde Eliyah, his activities in the Sephardic Federation, his work in the Azata Immigrant Camp, in Netivot, the Ministry of Welfare and Labor and more.
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