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MEDIA CONTACT: Terri Berns
561-297-1164, tberns@fau.edu
FAU Presents a Dramatic Performance by
Los Pregoneros "Ladino Lives!"
BOCA RATON, FL (November 5, 2004) - Florida Atlantic University Libraries, in conjunction with The Sephardi Federation of Palm Beach County, present "Ladino Lives!" a special performance by a local group that call themselves Los Pregoneros, "The Town Criers."
This unique presentation, one of the highlights of the Libraries Kultur series, will be held Wednesday, November 17 at 3:30 p.m. in FAU's Grand Palm Room at the University Center, Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road. The performance is free and open to the public.
Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) is the language preserved by the Sephardic Jews for more than 500 years after their expulsion from Spain. Ladino, which has been called "The Yiddish of the Balkans," has as its foundation in fifteenth century Spanish, the language in which Cervantes wrote "Don Quixote." When the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, they took with them their beloved Spanish language, which they wrote with Hebrew letters. In time, many words were added from other languages including Hebrew, Turkish, Greek, French and Italian.
"Judeo-Spanish has been threatened with extinction," says Marianne Sanua, associate professor of Jewish studies at FAU. "Through groups such as Los Pregoneros, a great effort is being made to preserve and revitalize the language."
"Ladino Lives!" is written and directed by David Siman, director of education and outreach at The Sephardi Federation of Palm Beach County. The performance includes a short lecture in English on "The Evolution of the Ladino Language," followed by four skits entirely in Ladino, with a brief English introduction that illustrates the trials and tribulations of the Spanish Jews from the time of the Spanish Inquisition to their arrival as American immigrants in the 20th century. Ladino poetry, Sephardic humor, folklore and songs highlighting the traditions of this culture will also be performed.
The current members of "Los Pregoneros" are Palm Beach county seniors who are all native speakers of Ladino including, Daisy Alalouf Newell, Nancy Belets, Betty Yishoel Goldstein, Marie Siegel, and Vivian Ganon Weiser.
For additional information on this event, e-mail lysca@fau.edu, call 561-297-2116 or visit www.fau.edu/library.
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