Living traditions: Women’s songs in endangered Jewish languages

For most of history, well-known documents in Jewish languages were penned by men. At various points throughout time, however, Jewish women have recorded their voices in writing and in song. This initiative highlights and honors these voices across time and across the Jewish Diaspora through an online exhibit and event series, coordinated by the HUC-JIR Jewish Language Project.

To celebrate its groundbreaking online exhibit, "A Millennium of Jewish Women's Voices," the HUC-JIR Jewish Language Project proudly presents two fall events highlighting women’s literature, songs, prayers, and letters across the Jewish Diaspora. The archival materials span the 10th to the 21st centuries and are drawn from 15 languages, including Judeo-Arabic, Judeo-Berber (Morocco), Judeo-Italian, Juhuri (Mountain Jews), Judeo-Malayalam (India), and Ladino. Featuring scholars, curators, and performers, the events will honor the ways that Jewish women have contributed to textual and musical innovation. Join us to see and hear some of these astonishing cultural treasures.

Sunday, November 13, 2022

10-11:30am Pacific / 1-2:30pm Eastern / 6-7:30pm UK / 8-9:30pm Israel

Living traditions:

Women’s songs in endangered Jewish languages

Moderator: Vanessa Paloma Elbaz

Performers: Milena Kartowsky Aiach, Laura Elkeslassy

Panelists: Judith Cohen, Ruth Davis, Sara Manasseh

Cosponsors: Cambridge University Library Genizah Research Unit, Jewish Arts Collective, Jewish Music Institute, Jewish Music Research Centre, JIMENA, Jewish Women's Archive, Lilith Magazine, Mother Tongue, Oxford School of Rare Jewish Languages at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, Stroum Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Washington, UCBerkeley Magnes Museum, UCLA Milken Center.