The Sefarad Seminar, Sephardic Studies in Barcelona, International Summer Program 2025
The Institute for Jewish Studies Barcelona (EJB) is delighted to announce the inaugural cycle of the Matanel Sefarad Seminar, a groundbreaking academic and cultural program dedicated to exploring the rich and multifaceted heritage of Sephardic Jewish civilization. From its golden age in medieval Spain to its vibrant contemporary expressions across the globe, this seminar offers an unparalleled opportunity to engage deeply with Sephardic history, thought, and culture.
Program Overview
The Matanel Sefarad Seminar is designed for students, educators, cultural activists, and anyone passionate about gaining a comprehensive understanding of Sephardic heritage and its modern-day challenges. Hosted in the historic Jewish quarter of Barcelona and featuring a traveling campus across Spain (following the “European Routes of Jewish Heritage”: Catalunya-2025 / Al-Andalus-2026), the program combines rigorous academic study with immersive cultural experiences.
2025 Fellows
Nelly Zagury (France)
Artist and educator based in Paris, Nelly explores femininity through jewelry, sculpture, and painting, exhibiting internationally while teaching at the Haute École de Joaillerie.
Kliment Ionah Bannour-Maikov (Spain)
Queer Jewish artist and philosopher based in Barcelona, Ionah merges ceramics and poetry with EU innovation design, exploring identity and transformation.
Kevin Buckland (Spain)
Barcelona-based artivist, Kevin supports climate justice worldwide through creative training, narrative interventions, and global coordination of activist networks.
Lukasz Gorniok (Sweden)
Historian and educator in Stockholm, Lukasz directs Jewish Studies programs and researches modern Jewish cultural and religious history.
Kinga Szemere (Hungary)
Curator and researcher at the Hungarian Jewish Museum, Kinga focuses on medieval Jewish heritage and museology with academic roots in Jerusalem and Budapest.
Agnieszka Baraszko (Sweden)
Project manager at Paideia in Stockholm, Agnieszka coordinates Jewish programs, teaches folklore, and bridges Jewish communities in Sweden and Poland.
Asher Barnea (Israel)
Educator and school leader, Asher integrates civic education and Jewish history to empower diverse students in Israel and abroad.
Verbena Giambastiani (Italy)
Philosopher and museum educator in Florence, Verbena merges ethics, language, and Jewish education in both academia and community work.
Anaëlle Gobinet-Choukroun (France)
Independent curator and scholar, Anaëlle explores jewelry, Orientalism, and Sephardic culture through exhibitions and academic collaborations.
Dominique Tomasov Blinder (Spain)
A New York–born architect based in Barcelona, specializing in Jewish heritage as a researcher, educator, and activist. She is known for her work preserving Montjuïc’s historic cemetery and promoting Jewish memory and community in Spain.
Yechiel Bar-Chaim (Czech Republic)
A creative and results-driven professional with a passion for innovation, design, and problem-solving. Dedicated to delivering impactful solutions through collaboration and strategic thinking.
Fernando Cardona Pons (Menorca, Balearic Islands)
Fernando Cardona Pons, aka Ego Sum Lux Mundi, is a Menorca-born tattooist and visual artist. His work fuses mythology and ancient history with modern aesthetics to create a unique artistic style.
Àngela Martín (Spain)
Musicologist and educator, Àngela researches liturgical music and manuscript digitization, blending historical inquiry with music education in Barcelona.
Lisë Stern (USA)
Rabbinical student in Boston, Lisë combines spiritual leadership with chaplaincy and a deep interest in Sephardic culture and culinary history.
Filip Belevski (Serbia)
Researcher and heritage specialist from Belgrade, Filip focuses on Jewish memory, Holocaust education, and museology through local and global projects.
Melsen Kafilaj (Albania)
Scholar of diplomacy and Jewish heritage, Melsen traces Jewish history in Albania while contributing to interfaith and cultural documentation.
Shira Kavita Huizing (Netherlands)
Jewish scholar and activist, Shira explores identity, governance, and Sephardic heritage through academic studies and personal journey.
Enric-Ernest Munt (Spain)
Catalan civil servant and Jewish culture enthusiast, Enric engages in lifelong learning through seminars, language studies, and community activism.
Tom Rousseau (France)
Business student and sustainability advocate, Tom leads environmental initiatives at IPAG Paris. As president of IPAG Green, he combines cultural curiosity with a passion for impact-driven collaboration and social change.
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Noelia Bernardez (Argentina)
Jewish educator and project manager, Noelia creates immersive cultural programs and guides Jewish learning at the Institute for Jewish Studies Barcelona. With expertise in education and heritage, she builds vibrant, inclusive communities across Europe.
Nathalie Kertesz (Spain)
Visual artist, curator, and architect. Co-founder and Creative Director of LABA Barcelona, and active in various Jewish cultural initiatives in Catalonia.
Mounir Arjdal (Spain)
Consulting engineer in aero-geospace with a PhD, MBA, and engineering background. He is also a science journalist, artist, and active leader in various Jewish and intercultural organizations across Europe.
Eyal Lally Bitton (Spain)
Eyal Lally Bitton is an audio-visual artist who explores the techno-poetics of perceptual phenomena. He uses video, amplified sounds and strobing lights to deconstruct cinema and music, creating uncanny, powerful and transformative experiences.
Margot Fuentes Kratter (Chile)
Margot Fuentes Kratter, born in Chile and living in Barcelona since 16 years. Promoter of cultural jewish initiatives as Limud Bcn, several study groups around the text, IEJC and Ze Kollel alumni, etc. Agricultural engineer by profession and more recently embroiderer.
Over 6 intensive weeks (June 2 – July 11, 2025)
Textual studies
Textual studies of Sephardic masterpieces in philosophy, theology, poetry, and Kabbalah.
Field excursions
Field excursions to key historical sites in Catalunya (Barcelona, Girona, Besalú, Pyrenees, Port Bou).
Practical workshops
Practical workshops on Sephardic arts, music, cuisine, and cultural activism.
Interdisciplinary lectures
Interdisciplinary lectures led by renowned scholars and cultural leaders.
The seminar also provides a platform for participants to develop their own Passion Projects in research, education, or cultural activism, supported by personalized mentoring and leadership training.
Curriculum Highlights
1
Sephardi History & Society
From medieval Jewish Iberia to the Expulsion and beyond.
2
Sephardi Thought & Philosophy
A journey through Sephardic intellectual history, from Yehudah Halevi to contemporary thinkers.
3
Sephardi Urban Heritage
Exploring the cultural and architectural legacy of Sephardic communities.
4
Sephardi Diaspora
Mapping the global dispersion of Sephardic Jews and their cultural contributions.
5
Sephardi Culture & Art
From medieval crafts to modern cinema, music, and cuisine.
6
Passion Project Development
Workshops and mentoring to bring your ideas to life.
Academic Accreditation
The seminar is designed to lay the foundation for a future Master’s degree in Jewish Studies/Jewish Education, with the current curriculum equivalent to 30 ECTS.
Faculty
Led by a faculty of renowned international scholars , the Matanel Sefarad Seminar offers access to the forefront of contemporary Sephardic thought and research. Our professors are experts in their fields, offering students a rare opportunity to learn from and engage with leading voices in Sephardic studies.
For who?
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Postgraduate students from all disciplines.
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Educators in formal or informal settings, cultural activists, and professionals.
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Applicants must have a good command of the English language.
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Those passionate about Jewish studies and Sephardic culture.
Registration, Fees, and Scholarships
The Matanel Sefarad Seminar offers 2 registration choices:
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Full Program (6 Weeks): Includes all courses, field excursions, workshops, and mentoring sessions.
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Partial Program (Individual Weeks): Participants may enroll in specific weeks, subject to availability.
Program Fees
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Full Program (6 Weeks): €2,700 - Scholarships available.
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Partial Program (Per Week): €700
Fees cover tuition, course materials, field excursions, and select cultural activities. Accommodation and travel expenses are not included.
Scholarships*
Full and partial tuitions scholarships are available for students enrolling in the full six-week program.
* Scholarship applications are submitted directly through the application form.
How to Apply
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Please access the application form, which provides detailed information about the program, registration options, scholarships, and more.
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Fill in the required details on the form and submit your application
APPLICATION CLOSED
Applications reviewed in order received. Early submission recommended.
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will probably find the answer to your question here.
If not, please contact us directly
via e-mail info.ejbarcelona@gmail.com