Several Jewish scholars in New York have decided to establish “The World Institute for Sephardic Studies.” As scholars who are close to the Sephardic culture and tradition, they have reached the conclusion that there is only one way to solve the crisis that faces the Sephardic world today.
“It will be solved only through education and organization of the Sephardic communities,” says Professor Jose Faur, president and founder of the World Institute for Sephardic Studies (WISS). The WISS was founded “precisely to meet these specific aims,” he adds.
According to Prof. Faur; who is teaching at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, education is not merely a financial function and it cannot be achieved solely by raising funds and erecting buildings. “Sephardic scholars must again become active members of the community” claims Prof. Faur. “The young Sephardim should be encouraged to further their Jewish and general studies, especially in fields pertaining to the Sephardic tradition. In time, these students will become the modern Hakhamim (spiritual leaders) who will teach, counsel and guide the future Sephardic communities.”
GOAL IS RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP
Dr. Haim Tawil, an Israeli of a Yemenite descent, who teaches Bible at the JTS, asserts that one of the main immediate goals of WISS is to “help develop a future cadre of positive and responsible Sephardic leadership.”
The WISS has established a scholarship fund on the post graduate level for needy Israeli students. The highest scholarship is $5000 a year. The WISS, according to Dr. Tawil, who is chairman of the scholarship committee, is seeking to implement an ideal Sephardic culture in American Jewry through various programs that are open to the general Jewish public.
Among these are: lectures, Sephardic festivals on Sephardic culture given on university campuses throughout the country, a program for Jewish youth of college age, and a program in adult education concerning various aspects of Sephardic Jewish culture. In addition to the publication of a journal–The Sephardic World–WISS is publishing books on Sephardic culture and books written by young talented Sephardim. The first was a book of poetry written by a young Sephardic Israeli girl, Aviva Ben-Noon.
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