Last Century of a Sephardic Community: The Jews of Monastir, 1839-1943
Through the use of unpublished archival documentation, rare illustrations and photographs, and original translations of Monastirli folklore, Cohen presents a fascinating story of the Monastir Jews' traditional culture, their Westernization, and destruction in the Holocaust. Last Century offers a portrait of a hitherto neglected Jewish culture that is a pleasure to read." Prof. Sarah Abrevaya Stein, UCLA
"An important addition to the study of Sephardic Jews." --Alana Newhouse, The Forward
"This is a welcomed contribution." --Rachel Simon, Princeton University Library, Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter
"Encyclopedic biography of a unique Jewish community during its last century of existence." --Prof. Steven Bowman, Jewish Studies Network
"In-depth study that delves into a variety of archival and published sources to bring together a coherent story of a community. A good addition to the growing literature on Sephardic Jews." --Annette B. Fromm, Journal of American Folklore
Book Talks
Etz Chaim Sephardic Congregation, Indianapolis. Nov. 12, 2005. "Long Live the King: Women in Power in Sephardic Folk Tales."
Indiana University. Nov. 10, 2005. "How the West Won: The Victory of the Alliance Over the Talmud Torah in the Sephardic Community of Monastir."
Association of Jewish Libraries Conference, Oakland, Calif. June 21, 2005. "How I Wrote My Lost Family History."
Shomrei Torah Synagogue, West Hills, Calif. March 11-12, 2005. Scholar-in-Residence.
MID Lecture Series, Temple Beth Sholom, San Leandro, Calif. March 3, 2005. "Long Live the King: Women in Power in Sephardic Folk Tales."
Magnes Museum, Berkeley, Calif. January 27, 2005. "Long Live the King: Women in Power in Sephardic Folk Tales."
Jewish Community Agency, Sonoma County, Calif. Dec. 6, 2004. "Long Live the King: Women in Power in Sephardic Folk Tales."
California State University, Northridge. Oct. 26, 2004. "Long Live the King: Women in Power in Sephardic Folk Tales."
Berkeley/Richmond JCC's, "Kol Sippur: A Festival of Jewish Storytelling." Oct. 10, 2004. "The Unorthodox Lessons of Sephardic Folk Tales."
Marin Osher JCC, San Raphael, Calif. Oct. 8, 2004. "Long Live the King: Women in Power in Sephardic Folk Tales."
Marin Osher JCC, San Raphael, Calif. Aug. 19, 2004. "Writing My Lost Family History."
Stroum JCC, Seattle. April 25, 2004. "The Destruction of the Sephardic Jews of Monastir."
Jewish Community Library, Los Angeles. March 23, 2004. "Long Live the King: Women in Power in Sephardic Folk Tales."
Contra Costa JCC, Walnut Creek, Calif. March 9, 2004. "Long Live the King: Women in Power in Sephardic Folk Tales."