Ancient Literature of the Jews of Iran: Mystical Epics, Poetry and Hidden Gems
4 Wednesday sessions at 7 p.m. ET
Aug. 6 - 27
All classes will be recorded and sent to registrants.
Explore a world of Jewish text rarely studied before in this new My Jewish Learning course.
The Jews of Iran have been writing poetry, literature and music throughout their history. A large amount of this tradition, which includes writings in Judeo-Persian, Hebrew and Aramaic, has been preserved in manuscripts from the last several centuries.
But many of these rare texts are still being unearthed and analyzed today.
In this four-part class, linguist and scholar Alan Niku will take us through close readings of a handful of these writings, which have been gathered and translated from primary sources. Together, they illuminate a slice of the vast literary tradition of the Jews of the Middle East.
From liturgical poetry to mystical epics to local takes on the literary and musical traditions of Iranian Sufis and Jewish paytanim throughout the world, this forgotten segment of the Jewish story is meant to open doors to a new study of a Jewish literature that belongs to all of us.
Have questions? Email [email protected].
There are no refunds for this course.
About Your Teacher
Alan Niku is a filmmaker, writer and scholar of Mizrahi culture from San Luis Obispo, California, based in Los Angeles. A native speaker of Persian, he spends his time learning related Jewish languages, deciphering Judeo-Persian manuscripts and interviewing community members about their stories. He is also a musician and an amateur chef, teaches history and Jewish heritage at various levels, and seeks to educate the world about the underrepresented cultures of the Middle East through his writing and films.
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About My Jewish Learning
My Jewish Learning is the internet's leading pluralistic Jewish education resource. We offer thousands of articles, videos, live classes and other resources to help you navigate all aspects of Judaism and Jewish life — from Jewish ritual and practice to texts to history and culture.
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