Dr Isaac Amon shares how his diverse Sephardi, Mizrachi, and Ashkenazi heritage have shaped his sense of identity. From Istanbul to the American Midwest, Isaac reflects on how his family's stories, languages, food, and community influence his connection to Jewish life. 

Our Guest

Dr. Isaac Amon is an attorney and counselor at law, Adjunct Professor at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, and Director of Academic Research at Jewish Heritage Alliance, an educational platform dedicated to promoting the legacy of Sefarad, or Iberian Jewry.  Isaac is also Director of Academic Research at the Jewish Heritage Alliance, which aims to preserve and share the history of Sephardi and Mizrachi Jews. 

Key Topics

• Navigating Identity: How Isaac’s family history blends diverse Jewish roots, creating a rich but often challenging sense of belonging.
• Language and Culture: The role of multilingualism within Isaac’s family and how language shapes identity
• Challenging Normativity: The experience of living as a Sephardi Jew in predominantly Ashkenazi spaces and the ongoing struggle for inclusion

Your guide

Short definitions of terms mentioned in this episode:

• Ladino: A Judeo-Spanish language spoken by Sephardi Jews.
• Kaddish: A prayer recited in memory of the dead, with variations between communities.
• Burekas: Savory pastries filled with cheese, spinach, or potatoes, common in Sephardi and Mizrachi Jewish cuisines.
• Shakshuka: A dish of poached eggs in a spicy tomato and pepper sauce, popular in Sephardi and Mizrachi cultures.
• Passover Brown Eggs: Eggs boiled in onion skins, a Sephardi Passover tradition.

Want to learn more? Listen to previous episodes where we discuss identity.

• S2E1: Discussing diverse Jewish national identities with Yaacov Yadgar 
• S1E7: Languages and Identities challenged by Ophira Gamliel

References & Resources

• Jewish Heritage Alliance - An organisation preserving and promoting Sephardi and Mizrachi Jewish history
• ARTICLE “Five-Hundred Years in the Life of the Amon Family: From the surrender of Spain to the court of Suleiman the Magnificent and beyond, they were there” – Published, National Library of Israel Blog, December 2020
• VIDEO: “Crossroads of Sefarad: In the Footsteps of the Crypto-Jews,” created jointly by Jewish Heritage Alliance and ANU Museum of the Jewish People

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Show credits

Host / Producer: Eylan Ezekiel

Post-production: Communicating for Impact

Artwork: Emily Theodore

Music: Aleksafor utransndr Karabanov

Sound effects: Serge Quadrado

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