From Exile To A New Home: The “Other” Jerusalem Of The Balkans
Exiled from the Iberian Peninsula, the thousands of Sephardic Jews found shelter on the Eastern Mediterranean and gradually established a dominant cultural and religious ethnic group. Welcomed by the Muslim Ottoman Empire, they have found a rather tolerant environment. In the Greek territories, the Sephardic Jews blended with the local Romaniote Jewish communities. The Romaniote Jews formed a unique religious group who spoke Greek and followed Hebrew rituals. Keeping their cultural, religious and societal customs, the Sephardic Jews outnumbered the Romaniote Jews and prospered in the Balkans and the Levant ports. In Thessaloniki, they gradually constituted the absolute majority and coined the term for the city as the “Jerusalem of the Balkans.” This course offers a fascinating journey through time in the Mediterranean region and the rich Jewish culture that blended with the local customs and habits, but maintained its distinct character at the same time.
Instructor: Dr Andreas Bouroutis
Tuition: $125
Day/Time: Wed 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Location: This Class will be on ZOOM
Class Dates: 10/4/2023, 10/11/2023, 10/18/2023, 10/25/2023, 11/1/2023, 11/8/2023, 11/15/2023
