The Program has energized student, faculty, and community involvement in Sephardic history and culture through innovative research opportunities, courses, and lectures. Learn more >
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François Azar brings folktales and the French Sephardic revival to Seattle Ladino Day
François Azar, a leader of the French Sephardic revival, on writing his own Ladino folktales, censorship, and why he is confident about the future.
Shem Tov de Carrión: How a Jewish poet from medieval Spain speaks to us today
Shem Tov de Carrión's "moral proverbs" about human nature and right rulership are surprisingly relevant today, Graduate Fellow Vivian Mills writes.
Exploring Ladino’s past, present, and future at the ucLADINO Symposium
The Ladino language is a fusion of old and new. Graduate Fellow Molly FitzMorris reports back on a UCLA conference that explored just this idea.
Sephardic Studies Collection at UW Libraries
View digital versions of original Ladino books and other documents composed in Ladino, Ottoman Turkish, Hebrew and French, and listen to audio of classic Sephardic ballads and folk songs. Learn more >
International Ladino Day
International Ladino Day is an annual program celebrating the Sephardic language Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) through the performance of stories and songs and through short lectures. Learn more about past programs by year >
Digital Projects
Sephardic Ballads Collection
A collection of over 140 audio recordings gathered by Dr. Rina Benmayor in Seattle and Los Angeles during the 1970s.
A Sephardic Lighthouse Museum Exhibit
Enter the world of Albert D. Levy (1896-1963), one of the leading Sephardic thinkers of 20th century, and explore writings, photographs, and documents.
Write Soletreo
Devin Naar and David Bunis teach viewers how to write in Soletreo and discuss the history of the Sephardic script.
Support Sephardic Studies
Make a gift to support Sephardic Studies at the University of Washington and its wide range of projects and programming. Learn more >
In the News
The UW Sephardic Studies Program has captured the attention of local media, national news outlets, and international venues from the UW Daily to The Jerusalem Post and Spanish radio. See recent stories >
Sephardic Treasures
“Another year, another piece of wisdom”: The Sephardic Studies Program 2017 recap
Three Years of the Sephardic Studies Program at a glance.
The paradox of Hanukkah in Greece—and in Auschwitz
Professor Devin Naar explores Greek-Jewish identity through letters from the Holocaust and prayers from Salonica.
Crossing the Red Sea in Ladino: A Rare Sephardic Passover Ballad
A rare Ladino ballad for the last day of Passover sung by Mr. Leo Azose a native of Mármara.
Student Research
Both graduate and undergraduate students engage in a wide range of original research projects in Sephardic Studies through coursework, independent studies, senior theses, master’s theses, and Ph.D. dissertations. Read More >
Events
The Sephardic Studies Program hosts a variety of events exploring Sephardic culture and history and the Ladino language. View past events by year >
Dr. Devin Naar, Sephardic Studies Program Chair & Isaac Alhadeff Professor of Sephardic Studies
Dr. Devin E. Naar is the Isaac Alhadeff Professor in Sephardic Studies, Associate Professor of History, and faculty at the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies in the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. Born and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Naar graduated summa cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis and received his Ph.D. in History at Stanford University. His forthcoming book with Stanford University Press, Jewish Salonica: Between the Ottoman Empire and Modern Greece, based on his prize-winning dissertation, explores the impact of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of modern Greece during the 19th and 20th centuries on the Jews of Salonica (Thessaloniki).
In recognition of the contributions he has already made to the study of Sephardic history, Dr. Naar was recently elected to the Academic Advisory Council of the Center for Jewish History in New York. He is the only assistant professor to receive this prestigious post, where he will represent the American Sephardic Federation.
Read more about Professor Naar at his Jewish Studies faculty page.
Sephardic Studies Founders’ Circle
Our program is deeply grateful for the support of the Sephardic Studies Founders’ Circle:
| Ike Alhadeff Foundation | Eli & Rebecca Almo | Joel & Maureen Benoliel |
| Harley & Lela Franco | Richard & Barrie Galanti | Marty & Sharon Lott |