Ketubah (marriage contract), 1879
Iran, Isfahan, Isfahan
Paper, ink, pigment
The Paul C. Johnson, Jr. Fund 98.156.3

Way of the Sephardim: Judaica from the Sephardic Tradition

Saturday, May 28, 2011—Sunday, July 8, 2012
Harold and Mickey Smith Gallery of Jewish Arts and Culture 362
Free Exhibition

The Sephardic tradition refers to Jews whose heritage dates back to Spain before the fifteenth century. After being expelled from Spain by rulers Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492, Spanish Jews emigrated to Northern Africa, Italy, the Ottoman Empire (today's Turkey), and back to the Middle East. The term Sephardic is also sometimes used to refer to Mizrachi ("from the East") Jews, those who originated in the Middle East and have never left. Because of its long history in these parts of the world, Sephardic culture tends to reflect African and Arab cultural influences, to include the design of ritual objects. This exhibition includes objects of Sephardic origin from the MIA's collection.