YITZHAK NAVON CENTER FOR A SHARED SOCIETY

CELEBRATING SEPHARDI AND MIZRAHI CULTURE

“These Jews, among whom I was raised, have their own unique character … they mitigate and do not aggravate, they are content and not sullen, they have humor and wit, knowledge and songs, and they distance themselves from over-analysis and bitterness. It seems as if they have brought all that is romantic from Spain and shed most of their memories of the Expulsion and persecution.” Yitzhak Navon Yitzhak Navon was loved and respected by all sectors of Israeli society and known to treat those of all backgrounds as equals. At the same time, among many Sephardi Israelis, he was known as “one of us” - the first Sephardi president who knew, recognized, valued, and nurtured their rich culture, which had, until he took central stage, been marginalized. Navon emphasized the fundamental characteristics of Sephardi Jewry - the combination of science and faith, moderation and the middle path, and love of the Bible, the Hebrew language and the Land of Israel. It was this culture of Sephardi Jewry and the Ladino language in which Navon was raised that was preeminent in his writings. Among his works are Romancero Sephardi , a popular production of Sephardi folksongs and liturgical compositions; Yerushalayim Shehayta Bisfarad (Out of Spain), an eight-episode television series; and Bustan Sephardi (The Sephardi Garden), describing the life of a Sephardi family in multicultural Jerusalem, which has the distinction of being the longest running play in Israel’s history, debuting in 1970 and still being performed today by Israel’s national theatre, Habima. Navon felt that with these works he had come full circle, once remarking “My soul is bound to the culture of Sephardi Jews. Their poetry, literature, and spirit are with me always […] It is an honor to take part in the celebration of this culture’s people, thinkers, and poets.” As a descendant of Sephardi exiles, Navon also worked assiduously to ensure the enactment of a law establishing the National Authority for Ladino, of which he served as chair from its inception until a short time before his death. This is yet another example of his devotion to preserving this rich culture and making it accessible to the Israeli public. Concurrently, he worked to forge diplomatic ties with Spain and obtain its official recognition of the Jewish Expulsion from its territory. The culture and values of Sephardi culture, so central to Navon’s life, will find expression in the Beit Yosef Sagol wing of the YNC.

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