Virtual Mini-Course: The Saint, the Queen, and the Joker: A Brief Introduction to Sephardic Folklore
This three-part mini-course will offer an introduction to Sephardic folklore by presenting three folk heroes of early modern Sephardic Jewry, i.e., the descendants of Jews who were expelled from Spain and Portugal between 1492–1497 and settled mostly in the Mediterranean Basin and Western Europe. Taught by visiting scholar Dr. Ron Lasri, the course will explore the beliefs, stories, and customs associated with these heroes, as well as consider their role in Sephardic culture. By analyzing these figures, participants will also gain a better understanding of everyday life in major Sephardic communities, such as Constantinople, Salonica, Safed, and Amsterdam.