Festival Sefardí 16
May 16-18, 2025
"Centering Indigenous Experience in NM Jewish History"
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Roger Louis Martínez-Dávila: Indigenous Slavery and Religious Identity in Colonial New Mexico
Jon Ghahate: The Pueblo Revolt of 1680
UNBOUND: A community movement workshop and performance
Enrique Lamadrid: The Genizaros
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb: Creating a Culture of Repair: Accountability and Renewal
Journeys: Personal History Tellings
Bilingual Poetry Reading of NM Indigenous Poets
Bilingual Writing Break with Héctor Contreras López and Hershel Weiss
Creativity Break with Roxie Ehlert
Creating Sanctuary in Challenging Times: Art Opening and Gallery Talk with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb
Sones jarochos y canciones de Sefarad: Laura Rebolloso y Las Flores del Valle In Concert
Saturday Morning Shabbat Service with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb
Shabbat Vegetarian Potluck Dinner with Honored Guests led by Stephanie Sofie Shefia Cohen
Albuquerque’s only annual celebration of the unique history and culture of the Sephardic Jews in the Southwest USA enters its 16th year with a focus on the Indigenous experience in early settler Jewish history in New Mexico and its ramifications for contemporary society and individual lives. Using music, dance, poetry, art and lectures by scholars, the festival will dive deeply into the complex intercultural dynamics that continue to weave the fabric of New Mexican society.
The descendants of the Jews who arrived in New Mexico at the end of the sixteenth century fleeing the Spanish Inquisition variously known today as the “Conversos,” “Anusim,” “crypto-Jews,” or “Hidden Jews,” though little discussed, make up a significant percentage of New Mexico’s Hispanic population.
During the weekend of May 16-18, an extrodinary group of artists and scholars will help us to understand a complex and profound history and identity that makes up one strand of the beautiful tapestry of cultures that is New Mexico.
Original research by scholars who carry deep knowledge of this aspect of New Mexico will examine Indigenous slavery, the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, and a Genizaro community near Albuquerque. Additionally, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb will give a presentation entitled Creating a Culture of Repair: Accountability and Renewal In a Jewish framework.
The schedule allows time and context for reflection, conversation, movement and creativity in order to allow participants to share expression of feelings that may surface during the course of the weekend.
Writing and creativity breaks are planned, as as well as a community movement workshop with UNBOUND, a dance group made up of descendants of Indigenous slaves. UNBOUND will also give a dance performance during the festival.
Also featured: personal stories by descendants of Conversos and indigenous slaves, a bilingual reading of poetry by Indigenous poets, and a one of a kind concert of Jarocho and Sephardic music.
Guests include Jon Ghahate (Laguna/Zuni), Dr. Roger Louis Martínez-Dávila, Dr. Enrique Lamadrid, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, UNBOUND, Laura Rebolloso y Las Flores del Valle, and others.
Festival Sefardí will take place at Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque’s North Valley from the evening of May 16 to the night of May 18. The This festival is open to all who wish to attend and nobody will be turned away due to lack of funds.
This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts, by the New Mexico Humanities Council and by the Stratton-Petit Foundation.
About Casa Sefarad: Casa Sefarad is dedicated to creating programming that reflects the experiences of Sephardi/Mizrahi Jews, focusing on the “crypto” or “hidden” Jews of New Mexico. Casa Sefarad also hosts monthly Shabbat services and poetry readings alongside the annual Festival Sefardí.
Cost: Suggested donation is $80 for the entire weekend. Concert tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Luncheon is $20. Friday events are free but bring a potluck vegetarian dish to share if you are coming to the dinner. Everyone is welcome and invited and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
More info: hershel@hershelweiss.com