Sephardic and Mizrahi Identities: Beyond Ashkenormativity
Hadar Cohen
3 weeks
Wednesdays: 9-10:30 am PT / 12-1:30 pm ET, beginning May 1st
This class is open to students of all backgrounds.
Ready to dive into an exciting exploration of Sephardic and Mizrahi identities? This course is a journey through the vibrant cultures, traditions, and stories that make these communities so unique.
We'll be delving into everything from customs and languages to rituals that set Sephardic and Mizrahi experiences apart from the more well-known Ashkenazi Jewish traditions. We'll also be shining a light on Ashkenazi dominance in Jewish narratives and making space for Sephardic and Mizrahi voices to be heard loud and clear.
Throughout the course, we'll be mixing things up with readings, videos, and group chats, so you'll get a feel for the diverse journeys of Sephardic and Mizrahi communities. From the expulsion from Spain to the spread across the Middle East and North Africa, we'll be covering it all.
By the end of this course, you'll be equipped to challenge the status quo and embrace a more inclusive view of Jewish identity—one that celebrates the rich contributions of Sephardic and Mizrahi communities.
Sliding Scale
This course is available at a sliding scale cost of $126 (the true cost), $99 or $72.
If you can afford the full price, we hope you will choose that option, which allows us to continue to offer lower rates and scholarships to those who otherwise would not be able to access this learning because of financial barriers.
Financial Aid
If you need financial aid beyond the sliding scale, please fill out this simple form, and we will get right back to you.
**Please register each student separately. Your registrations will appear in your shopping cart and you may pay for multiple students together at checkout**
Hadar (she/her) is an Arab Jewish scholar, mystic and artist whose work focuses on multi-religious spirituality, politics, social issues, and community building. She is the founder of Malchut, a spiritual skill-building school teaching Jewish mysticism and direct experience of God. Malchut’s capstone offering is God Fellowship, a curriculum on the cosmology of creation delivered via group classes and a self-guided online course. Malchut is also home for her Jewish Mystical School, which includes a library of her classes and a community platform for connection. Her tarot readings are also available to book through her website. Her dedication to Jewish education translates to her organizing work, cultivating multifaith gathering opportunities such as Jewish-Sufi Muslim prayer groups. She led the first Sephardic Jewish mystical retreat to Andalusia, Spain in summer 2023. She is the founder of Feminism All Night, a public gathering space for feminist spiritual discourse and possibility. Hadar teaches and consults in a variety of settings and formats, from one-on-one coaching to online group classes and in-person retreats. Hadar’s artistic works include Prostrations, a visual art show compiling fiber art, film, audio, scripture and poetry in reflection of Jewish devotional prayer practice; and The Selichot Project, a collection of her grandfather’s tapes singing Sephardic Jewish liturgical prayers in preparation for the High Holidays. Other artistic avenues include hand-woven prayer rugs, poetry books, and filmed performance art. Hadar is a 10th-generation Jerusalemite with lineage roots in Syria, Kurdistan, Iraq and Iran. She is currently pursuing her MFA at Transart Institute for Creative Learning. Her podcast, Hadar’s Web, features community conversations on spirituality, healing, justice, and art. She has written for The New Arab, JTA, Lilith, +972 Magazine, DoubleBlind and more. Subscribe to Hadar’s Substack for access to her latest writings, offerings, and media appearances. To learn more about her work, visit hadarcohen.me or malchut.one. // @hadarcohen32
