Sephardi-Mizrachi conference, Nov. 16-18

"Integrating Sephardi & Mizrachi Studies: Research and Practice" is a major conference to take place in Los Angeles, November 16, 17 and 18 at several city venues, sponsored by the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion.

While this field has significantly increased in recent decades, it has not integrated the diversity of contemporary Jewish experience.

The conference event will demonstrate today's Sephardic studies, provide scholarly research and models of integration for teachers. Public programs feature scholars and members of the Los Angeles Jewish Community.

Activities include lectures, panels, lunch, reception, concert.

I'm especially delighted that Divahn - headed by cousin Galeet Dardashti - will perform with Galeet's father, Hazzan Farid Dardashti in a "Jewish Voices of the East" concert at 7pm, Sunday evening, November 16. See below for details.

The event is sponsored by The Maurice Amado Foundation in conjunction with UCLA Center for Jewish Studies, USC Casden Institute for the Study of the Jewish Role in American Life. Programs will take place at Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel, Stephen S. Wise Temple, USC's Davidson Executive Conference Center, HUC-JIR, Sinai Temple, UCLA's Royce Hall and UCLA Hillel.

Sunday, November 16
Who are the Sephardim and How Have They Been Studied

12:30-2:30pm
Panel: Intellectual Issues of Sephardim/Mizrachim Today
3-4:30pm
An Assessment of Sephardic Studies
7pm, Concert
Jewish Voices of the East: Divahn and Hazzan Farid Dardashti

Monday, November 17, USC
Sephardic Cultural Studies Today

9-10:30am
Sephardi/Mizrachi Cultural Interaction
10:45 am-12:15pm
Distinctness in Sephardi/Mizrachi Jewish Languages
12:30-2pm (HUC-JIR near USC)
Speaker and art exhibit
2:30-4pm
The Diversity of Sephardi/Mizrachi Culture
7pm
Rise of the Persian Jewish Community in Los Angeles

Tuesday, November 18,UCLA
Promised Lands? Israel, America, Los Angeles
9–9:45am
Where are the Sephardi/Mizrachi Jews?
10–11:45am
Sephardic Jews in Los Angeles
noon-2.30pm
"Future Directions." Lunch/Discussion Panel
2.30pm
Centropa Exhibition: "Witness to a Sephardic Century: Images of a World Destroyed"

Registration required by October 31. Full conference, $150; One day (include's evening session), $65; Sunday evening, $25; Monday evening, $15; Students should email here.

An excellent guide to Sephardic Internet resources is here.

Read the conference brochure here. For expanded details, click here.