2026
Sephardic Studies in Barcelona,
International Summer Program 2026
The Institute for Jewish Studies Barcelona (EJB) is delighted to announce its 2026 edition 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.
2026 Fellows
Karl David Buzaglo (Sweden)
Teacher and activist from Sweden, David brings 14 years of Civic Education and a lifelong commitment to the labour movement and Jewish-Palestinian peace to his deep interest in Sephardi folklore, Kabbalah, and Halakhah.
Samson Karapetyan (Armenia)
Journalist and community builder of Armenian and Mountain Jewish heritage, Samson co-founded the Yerevan Jewish Home and explores Jewish identity, cultural memory, and diaspora through media and cultural programming.
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Evgeniia Kempinskaia (Israel)
Tour guide and educator based in Barcelona, Evgenia has spent over 15 years leading Jewish heritage tours across Russia and Eastern Europe, and now lectures on Jewish history in the diaspora.
Kinga Rudicka - Piertz (Poland)
Psychologist and cultural coordinator living between Poland and Italy, Kinga combines backgrounds in Clinical Psychology and Jewish Studies through work in culinary and tourism projects, with plans to pursue a doctorate.
Leonid Dobchinskiy (Kazakhstan)
Holding a B.A. in Jewish Theology from the Russian State University for the Humanities and a certificate from Paideia, Leonid leads youth programs and Shabbatons across Eastern Europe, teaching Hebrew, Jewish history, and Tanakh.
Lizaveta Mardukhovich (Belarus)
Jewish educator and community leader from Belarus, Liza has spent a decade building youth programming across Eastern Europe through the JDC's AJT network. A graduate of Beit Chana and Paideia, she leads camps, festivals, and conferences connecting Jewish teens across the region.
India Bianchi (Italy)
Passionate about medieval Jewish history, India has studied Jewish heritage across Bologna, Rome, and Stockholm's Paideia. She is heading to Heidelberg for a second M.A., with a doctorate on Southern Italy's Jewish communities on the horizon.
Doctoral student in Religion at Columbia University, Celie researches Jewish theology and modern thought with a deep commitment to interreligious dialogue and faith-based justice between Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities.
Cecelia Fischer (US)
Historian and archivist passionate about Sephardic heritage, Stephanie is completing dual master's degrees at the University of Maryland, researching how food practices became tools of both persecution and resistance among converso families under the Spanish Inquisition. She hopes to expand this work to Sephardic communities across the Mediterranean and the Americas.
Stephanie Zager (US)
Justin Goldner (US)
Filmmaker, musician, and language advocate, Justin uses audio-visual media to document and revitalize minority languages, with a particular focus on bringing vernacular Yiddish to new audiences.
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Marta del Pozo Ortea (Spain)
Poet, scholar, and founding editor of Quantum Prose, Marta teaches Spanish at UMass Dartmouth and moves fluidly between award-winning poetry and research on literature, science, and visual culture.
Nataliya Tolok (Ukraine)
Community organizer and dancer based in Lviv, she preserves Jewish cultural heritage through traditional shtetl dance, education, and advocacy, and founded the NGO Lemberik dedicated to Jewish cultural memory in Ukraine.
Shanit Edri (Israel)
Educator and mother of four based in Barcelona for the year, Shanit brings twenty years of teaching and community work to a growing passion for Jewish studies, inspired by her family's roots in Kabbalist tradition.
Ismail Atia (Morocco)
Moroccan researcher based in Qatar, Ismail's fascination with collective memory and historical identity has led him to the history of Sephardic Jewish communities in Morocco. He holds an MA from the Doha Institute and is preparing a doctorate tracing Moroccan Sephardic mobility and culture between 1415 and 1798.
Valentin Marcos (Romania)
Theater director and scholar, Valentin has studied across Iași, Stockholm, and Heidelberg, weaving together European Jewish history, Romanian-Jewish literature, and the history of Jewish theater both on page and on stage.
Martin Alejo Pablo Orloff (Argentina)
Political scientist and researcher from Argentina, Martin has worked across government and cultural institutions while developing a fascinating research focus on Jewish communities in border regions
exploring how cemeteries serve as anchors of diasporic identity and belonging.
Raquel Lida Crivillé (Barcelona)
Anthropology student and musician, Raquel founded Kehilot Sharot Sefarad, a project dedicated to reviving communal Sephardic singing and piyut traditions across diverse communities.
Program Overview
The Matanel Sefarad Seminar is designed for students, educators, professionals in cultural / Jewish heritage and 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 Spain on the “European Routes of Jewish Heritage” - Catalunya, the program combines rigorous academic study with immersive cultural experiences.
Over 4 intensive weeks (June 1st – June 26th, 2026)
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 Cultural Heritage
Exploring the cultural legacy of Sephardic communities.
4
Sephardi Culture & Art
From medieval crafts to contemporary cinema, music, and cuisine.
Academic Accreditation
The seminar is designed to lay the foundation for a future Master’s degree in Jewish Studies/Jewish Education.
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.
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Professional in cultural / Jewish Heritage.
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Cultural and social activists.
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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 (4 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 (4 Weeks): Full 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 four-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 deadline April 25th, 2026
Reservation of accommodation closes April 1st.
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
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