Ancient Literature of the Jews of Iran: Mystical Epics, Poetry and Hidden Gems
Hosted By: My Jewish Learning
The Jews of Iran have been writing poetry, literature and music throughout their history. A large amount of this tradition, which includes writings in Judeo-Persian, Hebrew and Aramaic, has been preserved in manuscripts from the last several centuries.
But many of these rare texts are still being unearthed and analyzed today.
In this four-part class, linguist and scholar Alan Niku will take us through close readings of a handful of these writings, which have been gathered and translated from primary sources. Together, they illuminate a slice of the vast literary tradition of the Jews of the Middle East.
From liturgical poetry to mystical epics to local takes on the literary and musical traditions of Iranian Sufis and Jewish paytanim throughout the world, this forgotten segment of the Jewish story is meant to open doors to a new study of a Jewish literature that belongs to all of us.
