Sephardic Jewish History and Culture in Spain and Beyond (Posen Library)
High School (Grades 9-12)
College/Adult
A four class module by Ronnie Perelis of Yeshiva University that uses primary sources from the Posen Library to trace Sephardic Jews from medieval Spain to Amsterdam and the Atlantic world.
Overview
From the multicultural court of thirteenth century Castile to the grand synagogue of Amsterdam and the Jewish merchants of Curaçao and Newport, Sephardic Jews shaped the history of three continents. In this four class module from the Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, Professor Ronnie Perelis of Yeshiva University pairs short essays with primary sources: poems, inscriptions, synagogue architecture, engravings, tombstones, and letters, including George Washington’s 1790 letter to the Jews of Newport.
Questions Students Explore
- What did coexistence (convivencia) among Jews, Christians, and Muslims in medieval Spain look like, and what were its limits?
- How did synagogues express power and identity?
- How did Sephardic Jews rebuild their communities after the expulsions of 1492 and 1497?
What Students Do
- Read a short essay for each class.
- Analyze primary sources from the Posen Library.
- Discuss the questions provided for each class.
At a Glance
Level: College and adult learners; adaptable for grades 11 and 12
Time: Four classes
Source: Ronnie Perelis, Yeshiva University, for the Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization
About this resource
This module was created for the Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization. It is not a JIMENA lesson. The essays and questions are free online; some primary sources require a free Posen Library account.
View the module on the Posen Library Opens on posenlibrary.com
Procedures
Before You Teach
- Create a free account on the Posen Library to open the restricted primary sources.
- For high school, choose one or two classes; Class 3 (Amsterdam) and Class 4 (the Atlantic world and the Washington letter) adapt most easily.
Body of Lesson
The Four Classes
- Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Thirteenth Century Spain
- Medieval Spanish Synagogues and the Aesthetics of Power and Identity
- The Making of the Western Sephardim
- Sephardic Merchants and Synagogues in the Atlantic World
Conclusion
Reflection
Students respond to a question from the module: What message does a place of worship near you send about the community that built it?
Extension Activities
- Early America. Pair Class 4 with ICS’s Jewish Voices in Early America.
- East as well as West. Balance the Western focus with the Ottoman, North African, and Middle Eastern Sephardic story in JIMENA’s Cultural Heritage pages.
- Literature and memory. Continue with the Posen module Sephardic Journeys.