Ladino Day Program and Judeo-Spanish Culture Week at SMU, Jan. 25-29

Ladino Day Program and Week of Judeo-Spanish Culture at SMU

 

The Second International Day of Ladino, to be marked in Dallas on January 25, 2015, will be the first of a series of programs of a week focusing on Judeo-Spanish history and culture. The series is sponsored by Jewish Studies of Southern Methodist University with the enthusiastic support of its director, Dr. Shira Lander. The public is invited to all the programs free of charge.

Sunday, January 25, 2-5 pm: 2º Dia Internasional del Ladino

The first program of the Sephardic Culture series, marking the Second International Day of Ladino, will take place on Sunday, January 25^th, 2015, 2 to 5 p.m., at McCord Auditorium, 3^rd floor of Dallas Hall, 3225 University Blvd. It will feature lectures, music, and personal stories related to the Judeo-Spanish language, history, and culture. Dr. Devin Naar, Director of the Sephardic Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle will address the audience via video. Rachel Amado Bortnick, native speaker and scholar of Ladino, will speak on the basic differences between Spanish and Ladino, and Dina Eliezer, Educational Director at Congregation Shearith Israel and also a native speaker of Ladino, will speak on Ladino in rabbinic responsa and other manuscripts. The present and future state of Ladino will be revealed through presentations by various Dallasites, and the day will honor the memory of Sarina Elias de Waisbuh, Monastir-born Sephardic Holocaust survivor, through the words of her daughter Ghita Torrico. Music will bring a joyous atmosphere with audience participation. The program has been prepared by Rachel Bortnick and Dina Eliezer. Disability parking is available directly behind Dallas Hall on University Blvd. General parking is available in Lot E behind Dallas Hall off Daniel Ave.

Monday, January 26, 12-1 pm: The Art of Jewish Iberia 

Dr. Pamela Patton, Professor and Chair, Department of Art History at SMU, will lecture on her slide show of Jewish art in medieval Spain. This will take place at the Owen Fine Arts Center, Greer Garson Theater Screening Room 3531, 6101 Hillcrest Avenue, on Monday, January 26, 12-1 p.m. Parking is available in the Binkley Avenue Parking Center.

Wednesday, January 28, 5-6:15 pm: U.S. Premier of Film, “Saved by Language” 

Saved by Language tells the story of Moris Albahari, a Sephardic Jew from Sarajevo (born 1930), who spoke Ladino/Judeo-Spanish, his mother tongue, to survive the Holocaust. The 55 minute-long film, made by Ladino students Bryan Kirschen and Susanna Zaraysky, will have its American premier when it is shown at SMU’s Garson Theater Screening Room 3531 in the Owen Fine Arts Center, 6101 Hillcrest Avenue, on Wednesday, January 28, at 5 pm. The film will be introduced by RachelBortnick and a discussion will follow the screening. Parking is available in the Binkley Avenue Parking Center.

Thursday, January 29, 4-5 pm: Judeo-Spanish books and Manuscripts at the Bridwell Library

Dr. Eric White, Curator of Special Collections at the Bridwell Library, will present manuscripts and early Ladino books in the Library’s collection. Gather at 4 pm in the Benefactor’s Room, 2^nd floor of Perkins School of Theology’s Bridwell Library, 6005 Bishop Boulevard. A reception following the program will be held in the Parlor of Kirby Hall. Parking is available in the Binkley Avenue Parking Center.