Festival Sefardí 16
May 16-18, 2025
Centering Indigenous Experience in NM Jewish History
Tickets | Schedule
Programa en Español (coming soon)
Read Guest Artist Bios (coming soon) | Volunteer
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
Art Opening and Gallery Talk
Sones jarochos y canciones de Sefarad: Laura Rebolloso y Las Flores del Valle In Concert
Saturday Morning Shabbat Service with members of the Sephardic community and Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb. In Spanish and Hebrew with English translation.
Shabbat Vegetarian Potluck Dinner with Honored Guests led by Stephanie Sofie Shefia Cohen
Festival Sefardí, New Mexico’s only annual celebration of the unique history and culture of the Sephardic Jews in the Southwest, enters its 16th year with a focus on the Indigenous experience in early settler Jewish history in New Mexico and its continued impact on contemporary society. The festival, which runs from May 16 to 18, will feature music, dance, poetry, art, and lectures by scholars, diving into the complex intercultural dynamics that continue to weave the fabric of New Mexico’s cultural tapestry.
The descendants of Jews who arrived in New Mexico in the late 16th century fleeing the Spanish Inquisition—known today as the "Conversos," "Anusim," "crypto-Jews," or "Hidden Jews"—constitute a significant but often overlooked portion of New Mexico’s Hispanic population.
During the weekend, an extraordinary group of artists and scholars will help illuminate this profound history and identity that is part of New Mexico’s multicultural fabric. Original research by scholars deeply knowledgeable about this history will explore topics such as Indigenous slavery, the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, and the Genizaro community near Albuquerque.
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb will also present Creating a Culture of Repair: Accountability and Renewal in a Jewish Framework.
The schedule includes ample time for reflection, conversation, movement, and creativity, encouraging participants to share and process their feelings and insights throughout the weekend. Writing and creativity breaks are planned, along with a community movement workshop featuring UNBOUND, a dance group made up of descendants of enslaved Indigenous people. UNBOUND will also perform during the festival.
Other highlights include personal stories from descendants of Conversos and enslaved Indigenous people, a bilingual poetry reading by Indigenous poets, and a unique concert featuring Jarocho and Sephardic music.
Festival Guests:
Jon Ghahate (Laguna/Zuni)
Dr. Roger Louis Martínez-Dávila
Dr. Enrique Lamadrid
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb
UNBOUND
Laura Rebolloso y Las Flores del Valle
and more.
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. This festival is open to all, and nobody will be turned away due to a lack of funds.
For more information and a complete schedule, visit the Festival Sefardí webpage or follow us on Facebook (@sefardimizrahi) and Instagram (festival.sefardi).
This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Mexico Humanities Council, and the Stratton-Petit Foundation.
About Casa Sefarad:
Casa Sefarad is dedicated to programming that reflects the experiences of Sephardic/Mizrahi Jews, particularly the “crypto” or “hidden” Jews of New Mexico. Casa Sefarad also hosts monthly Shabbat services, poetry readings, and the annual Festival Sefardí.
Event Details:
What: Festival Sefardí 2025: Centering Indigenous Experience in New Mexico Jewish History
When: May 16–18, 2025
Where: Congregation Nahalat Shalom, 3606 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107.
Cost:
Suggested donation of $80 for the entire weekend. Concert tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Luncheon is $20. Friday events are free; attendees are encouraged to bring a potluck vegetarian dish for the dinner. All are welcome—no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Tickets can be purchased here.
For more information, contact: hershel@hershelweiss.com