Editor’s Note
In memory of Dr. Robert Nussenblatt, z"l, a brilliant man, dear friend, and enthusiastic supporter of Sephardic Horizons.
The new, Spring number of Sephardic Horizons brings readers several issues interesting for Sephardim and Mizrahim to ponder. Bension Varon’s thorough discussion of the present and future of Ladino/Judeo-Spanish does not shy away from the bad news concerning our Sephardic language and, rather than being over-optimistic, posits several approaches that could be applied to somewhat alleviate the situation. Eyal David, an Israeli sabra, sheds light on the former leisure life of the Jews of Libya, a community that is no longer in its homeland and that has undergone the most far reaching changes since the time his essay focuses on—the fifties and sixties. Addressing a related subject, my own essay presents the exile, or expulsion, of the Jews of Arab lands, as seen through their literature.
The Ladino/Judeo-Spanish section is enriched by poetry and stories by Haim Vitali Sadacca, Rivka Abiry, and Hernán Rodríguez Fisse.
Our review section presents a thoughtful review by Vanessa Paloma Elbaz of an important new interdisciplinary study by David Wacks, Double Diaspora, and I review a fascinating novel by Shalach Manot , His Hundred Years, recounting through his own voice the story of a long-lived and irrepressible Jewish immigrant to the United States from Turkey..
We are pleased to welcome with this issue our new webmaster, Altan Gabbay, a turkino and member of Vijitas de Alhad, who is taking over the posting of Sephardic Horizons.
Many thanks to all our authors! Paskua alegre to our readers!
AN APPEAL TO OUR READERS:
Though Sephardic Horizons does not have the same expenses as a print journal, it still has outlays. We are now in our sixth year of publication due to the support of generous and appreciative readers and friends. Please send us your contributions to cover our internet and web-related expenses, so we can continue to bring you the latest and best in Sephardic culture and thought! Sephardic Horizons is a trailblazer, as other publications have recently adopted our model. We continue to publish new, original creativity in all fields of Sephardi and Mizrahi culture and studies, thanks to your kind generosity. We have no subscription fees and no advertising! To contribute online via PayPal, click on the ‘Donate’ tab above or, if you would like to send a check, address it to 7804 Renoir Court, Potomac, MD, 20854. Checks should be made out to our parent organization, the Jewish Institute of Pitigliano, JIPI for short. All contributions, whether online or by check, are U.S. tax-deductible, as JIPI is a 501(3)(c) organization. Mersi muncho!
Judith Roumani
Editor, Sephardic Horizons