Collage of old photographs and Soletreo writingSephardic Studies

Research, Teaching & Community

The Sephardic Studies Program of the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Washington is a world-renowned program for the research, teaching, and recuperation of the histories, cultures, and language of Ladino-speaking Sephardic Jews.

The program engages undergraduate and graduate students, scholars, and diverse publics locally, nationally, and internationally through public events like Ladino Day; digital projects and online exhibitions; innovative courses; a robust social media presence; and the Sephardic Studies Digital Collection – one of the largest online open-access repositories of Ladino books and Sephardic artifacts in the world.

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About Sephardic Studies

Learn more about the Sephardic Studies Program

Latest in Sephardic Studies

Muestras Konsejas, “Our Tales” — International Sephardic Essay Competition 2023-2024

Presented in partnership with the Sephardic Brotherhood of America, the 2023-2024 “Muestras Konsejas” writing contest opened a new space for the telling of Sephardic stories. We received stories from all over the world and our expert panel of judges selected four finalists (across both “General” and “Student” submission categories) as the inaugural winners. We hope you enjoy reading ‘Muestras Konsejas’ from these accomplished writers!

The Sephardic Studies Digital Collection

Explore the collection

Read in-depth essays about artifacts

About the collection

The world's largest online collection of Ladino books and Sephardic artifacts

The word 'Ladino' written in black Hebrew square characters against a parchment background with notebook lines.Learning Ladino

Explore digital resources to begin your Ladino language journey, and read reflections from students and faculty who have studied the language at the University of Washington and beyond. Learn Ladino >

Ladino Day at the University of Washington

Ladino Day is an annual educational and celebratory program centering the Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) language through the performance of stories and songs, and through lectures by scholars, activists, students, and community members. Learn more about Ladino Day >

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Collage showing historic texts, portraits, and stamps Contribute Artifacts

Do you have an old wedding photo from Izmir, immigration documents from Istanbul, or a Ladino book from Salonica? Consider preserving and sharing your artifact with the Sephardic Studies Digital Collection. Learn more >

Envelope addressed to Pepo Allalouf at a New Jersey address. Envelope is distressed on top right corner. Paper is parchment colored with a red and blue border, typical of international Air Mail letters in the late 20th century. Blue stamp at bottom left with yellow star of David (from Israel).

Request a Translation

Get connected with qualified translators for documents in Ladino (including those written in soletreo), Greek, Ottoman Turkish, French, and more. Translation form >

Collage featuring snippets of text in Hebrew from historic sources, along with prices and numbers, on a golden background

Support Sephardic Studies

Make a gift to support the Sephardic Studies Program at the University of Washington and its wide range of projects and programming. Make a gift >

Ashley Bobman at Ladino Day

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 >

Holocaust Conference participants

The Sephardic Studies Program hosts a variety of events exploring Sephardic culture and history and the Ladino language. View past events >

Devin E. Naar, Sephardic Studies Program Chair & Isaac Alhadeff Professor of Sephardic Studies

Devin NaarDevin 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, Professor Naar graduated summa cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis and received his Ph.D. in History at Stanford University. His first book, Jewish Salonica: Between the Ottoman Empire and Modern Greece (2016, Stanford University Press) explores the impact of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of modern Greece during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries on the Jews of Salonica (Thessaloniki). It was awarded the 2016 National Jewish Book Award in the category of Writing Based on Archival Material; the 2017 Edmund Keeley Book Prize, sponsored by the Modern Greek Studies Association; and was a finalist for the 2016 National Jewish Book Awards in the category of Sephardic Culture.

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