he Sephardic Curriculum Project at HUC —JIR is an initiative to incorporate Sephardic Studies into the curriculum of all programs. Funded by the Maurice Amado Foundation the aim is for students to learn the history, culture, religious life, customs and achievements of Sephardic Jews and to learn this information along side the history of Ashkenazic Jewry. As communities in America, Israel and around the world co-mingle traditions, knowing the important contributions of Sephardic Jewry will help shape overall knowledge of Judaism. In this context "Sephardic" is taken to mean "Jews from Spain and their descendents in various areas of relocation”. The term “Sephardic” is often used too broadly to describe non-Ashkenazic Jews, here we mean the ferment of Jewish culture that emanated in Spain and its various relocations over time. A term used in the 20th century is “Mizrachi” referring to Jews in Arab lands in the Mediterranean. Too often Sephardic culture is relegated to the Golden Age of Spain (10th-12th centuries) which significantly affected Jewish history. Since the Expulsions from Spain in the 15th Century Sephardic and Mizrachi Jewry has been a penetrating force in world Jewry but it is often unknown. his website supports the curricular activities at HUC—JIR for students and faculty. Information is provided in the form of core readings, guides to course content, website links, research in the form of a library guide, a Sephardic music index, and information on Sephardic music in the form of a presentation. Faculty and students can use this material to further their knowledge of Sephardic and Mizrachi Jewry in their studies for courses, for assignments and research papers. In time we will provide educational resources so that relevant curricular units will be available for students. Miniature megillah from the Levy Family Collection. Photograph by David Greenfield. Sephardic Studies Faculty Committee The Sephardic Studies Faculty Committee is comprised of faculty members in various disciplines from the three stateside campuses of HUC-JIR. The committee works both as a cross-campus team and at each individual campus in an effort to integrate Sephardic Studies into the College-Institute's curriculum and into the classroom experience, and to promote related activities. Committee Members Mark Kligman, NY Coordinator Lewis Barth, LA Martin Cohen, NY Sharon Koren, NY Barry Kogan, Cincinnati Gary Zola, Cincinnati Sarah Bunin Benor, LA Joshua Holo, LA Adam Rubin, LA