Hosted by the University of Washington since 2013, Ladino Day is an annual educational and celebratory program that centers the Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) language through story and song, and with lectures and reflections from scholars, activists, and community members.

For Ladino Day 2027, join us on a curated tour through the Adatto collection – in both digital and physical form – with presentations by Sephardic Studies chair Devin Naar and other special guests.

The first scholars of Sephardic Studies at the University of Washington–and among the very first scholars in the field anywhere in the United States–siblings Albert and Emma Adatto completed their masters degrees in the 1930s focusing on Seattle Sephardic history and culture, respectively. Since then, Albert Adatto amassed one of the largest private collections of Ladino books from the Ottoman Empire located anywhere in the United States. Now digitized by the UW Sephardic Studies Program with the originals housed at UW Special Collections, the Adatto bookshelf offers an unprecedented glimpse into the astounding literary and cultural creativity among Sephardic Jews over the centuries that has been hidden from public view until today.

This event will be held in-person on the 5th floor of the Suzzallo Library or online on Zoom. More details forthcoming. Registration links will be posted soon. 

This event is hosted by the Sephardic Studies Program and the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Washington, made possible by the Lucie Benveniste Kavesh Endowed Fund for Sephardic Studies.