Season 3, Episode 6
In this fourth of our five-episode series in partnership with the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University, we explore The Book of Tahkemoni, a collection of tales written in Hebrew in the early 13th century. Authored by Yehuda Alharizi, who was born in Toledo, Spain in the middle of the 12th century, the book uses the structure of the Arabic literary form known as maqama.
Dr. Jonathan Decter, the Edmond J. Safra Professor of Sephardic Studies, discusses the history of Jews in medieval Spain and shares about the cultural influences and experiences present in Alharizi’s work.
This episode is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
Read the transcription for "The Book of Tahkemoni."
THE TEAM
Hosted by Aaron Henne
Scholarship provided by Jonathan Decter, PhD
Edited by Mark McClain Wilson
Story editing by Julie A. Lockhart with Aaron Henne
Featuring the voice of Bill Ratner
Theme music composed by Michael Skloff and produced by Sam K.S.
Transcription by Dylan Southard
"The Book of Tahkemoni" Learning Resources
Learn more about:
The Book of Tahkemoni as translated and edited by David Simha Segal
The maqama literary form
Referenced in the episode:
The Guide for the Perplexed by Maimonides
Watch with captions on YouTube:
ABOUT OUR EPISODE PARTNER
One of the largest and most diverse departments of its kind, the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University (NEJS) is dedicated to the critical investigation of the history, literature, and religion of Jews and Judaism, as well as adjacent cultures in the ancient and modern world (the ancient Near East, Christianity, Islam and modern Israel).