eSefarad Noticias del Mundo Sefaradi
Experience LearningFest 2012—LOL Love Of Learning!
Presenting Keynote Speaker
Jeffrey Swartz, former CEO of Timberland!
February 1, 2012 @ Congregation Shearith Israel
Dina Eliezer, Education Director of the Weitzman Family Religious SChool at Congregation Shearith Israel
Rachel Amado Bortnick, Researcher
Monday, January 30, 2012, 7–9 PM
Session one: The Izmir Project, Presented by Dina Eliezer
Izmir, in Turkey, has the world’s only grouping of adjacent synagogues dating from the 16th century. Of the 34 synagogues built in Izmir, just 13 remain. Once one of the world’s most vibrant Jewish communities, Izmir is now home to only 1,200 Jews. Its 1,700 surviving religious books, historic documents in Hebrew and Judeo-Spanish, ceremonial objects and textiles provide important insights into the history of this once thriving community. Dina Eliezer, who worked for seven years with the community on the restoration of the library and other cultural artifacts, will talk about the treasure and the work that is being done today to preserve the Jewish heritage of Izmir and share it with the world.
Session two: The Ladino Project, Presented by Rachel Bortnick
After a period of dormancy, Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) has had a vigorous rebirth in the last decades, with an unprecedented surge in its literacy and musical creativity, publication, academic attention, internet websites and more. Since 1999, the language has been kept alive as a daily means of communication on “Ladinokomunita,” an online chat group founded by Rachel Bortnick. This class will include an overview of some of the most significant activities in this revival and focuses on transmitting some of the language itself. Class participants will engage in hands-on activities with Ladino proverbs, so that they can understand and appreciate their Jewish wisdom and humor, and learn some basics about
the language and its various forms of writing.
All classes are held at the Aaron Family JCC, 7900 Northaven Road, Dallas, unless otherwise noted.
