The Diplomat
Published in 1553, this biblical translation into Sephardic Spanish emerged in the context of the Jewish exile following the expulsion of 1492. Its value transcends the religious, becoming an essential testimony to the linguistic and cultural preservation of the Sephardic communities scattered throughout the Mediterranean. It preserves 15th-century Spanish with features of Ladino, making it a key source for the historical study of the language.
Its importance also lies in its identity dimension: it represents the continuity of a textual and spiritual tradition under conditions of diaspora. Published in Ferrara, it reflects the dialogue between the Hebrew world, Renaissance Europe, and the Hispanic heritage, situated within a hybrid cultural space that fostered the transmission of sacred texts in vernacular languages.
Paloma Díaz-Mas, writer, member of the Royal Spanish Academy, university professor, and researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), will offer an expert analysis of the literary and historical value of the work, highlighting its contribution to the construction and preservation of Sephardic memory. Darío Villanueva, academic director of the Castro Library, will also participate, and the event will be attended by its president, Juan Manuel Urgoiti, who will offer brief remarks introducing the collection of classics.
May 13 – 6:00 PM
Sefarad-Israel Center (Calle Mayor, 69 – Madrid)
Free admission until capacity is reached
