BOOK SIGNING by MARC D. ANGEL

Author: Marc D. Angel
Title: Foundations of Sephardic Spirituality

DATE: Thursday, April 19, 2007
TIME: 7:00 pm
LOCATION: 560 Lexington Ave. 16th Fl. New York, NY 10022

   On April 19, 2007 as part of the “meet the author” series, Turkish Cultural Center held a book signing by Rabbi Marc D. Angel for his book “Foundations of Sephardic Spirituality: The Inner Life of Jews of the Ottoman Empire” During his speech, Rabbi Angel stressed the important role that Sephardic Jews played during the Ottoman Empire after they were forced out from Spain in 1492. He stressed the democratic approach of the Ottoman social system in which each cultural group was able to live at peace and protect their identities. After his speech, Rabbi Angel signed copies of his book for the guests in attendance.

The Inner Life of Jews of the Ottoman Empire

   In this groundbreaking work, Rabbi Marc Angel explores the teachings, values, attitudes, and cultural patterns that characterized Judeo-Spanish culture over the generations and how the Sephardim maintained a strong sense of pride and dignity, even when they lived in difficult political, economic, and social conditions. Along with presenting the historical framework and folklore of Jewish life in the Ottoman Empire, Rabbi Angel focuses on what we can learn from the Sephardic sages and from their folk wisdom that can help us live stronger, deeper spiritual live

About Author

Marc D. Angel (1945-) is Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel, the historic Spanish and Portugese Synagogue in New York City. Born in Seattle's sephardic community, his ancestors are sephardim from Turkey and Rhodes and grew up speaking Ladino at Home.

He received his B.A., M.S., Ph.D., Th.D. honoris causa and his rabbinal semicha from Yeshiva University and also has an M.A. in English Literature from the City College of New York. He is a recipient of the Bernard Revel Award in Religion and Religious Education. He was president of the Rabbinical Council of America, and a member of the Editorial Board of 'Tradition.'

Works

A Sephardic Haggadah: Translation and Commentary (Hoboken, 1988).
The Jews of Rhodes, The History of a Sephardic Community (New York, 1978)
La America: The Sephardic Experience in the United States (Philadelphia, 1982)
The Rhythms of Jewish Living: A Sephardic Approach (New York, 1986)
The Orphaned Adult: Confronting the Death of a Parent (1987)
A Sephardic Passover Haggadah (Hoboken, 1988)
Voices in Exile: A Study in Sephardic Intellectual History (1991)
The Essential Pele Yoetz: an encyclopedia of ethical Jewish living (1991)
Loving Truth and Peace: The Grand Religious Worldview of Rabbi Benzion Uziel (1999)
Remnant Of Israel: A Portrait Of America's First Jewish Congregation (2004)
Losing the Rat Race, Winning at Life (2005)
Choosing to be Jewish: The Orthodox Road to Conversion (2005)

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