The first "Libi BaMizrach" International Scientific Research Conference discussed the "Sephardic Scholars of the Later Generations- Rabbinic Leadership in the Islamic Countries in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries" was held on May 10, 2017 with an audience of 200 people. The aim of the Conference, was to accelerate and promote research into Sephardic Heritage in order to understand more fully its history, literary work, and, more generally, its contribution to the milieu of Jewish life through the generations.
Historical research concerning the past of the Sephardic communities has been sparse, and, as a result, their history has not had a significant impact on the formation of cultural identity in Israel nor in its educational system.
The "Libi BaMizrach" Annual Scientific Conferences reveal the literary dimensions and the rich religious Sephardic leadership. Following the conferences, the lectures and other articles are published by Orot Israel College in a collection that is edited by Rav Dr. Rachimi.
Please click here to view name of publication.
To read the abstracts of the following articles please click on the article.
- Halachic Rulings of the Rabbis of Istanbul, Saloniki and Izmir regarding Protestant Missionary Activities During the Nineteenth Century by Leah Bornstein-Makovetsky
- The influence of the Early and Later Spanish Sages on Ashkenazi Rabbinic Rulings at the Onset of the Modern Era Jay R. Berkovitz
- Notice of Passing Notification Letters: "Ta'aziya", According to the Tradition of Northern Yemenite Jewry Aharon Gaimani
- The Elements of Public Sephardic Discourse Shmuel Trigano
- The Institution of the Eastern Charedi T’shuva Movement and the Renewal of the Local Sephardic Rabbinate Nissim Leon
- Rabbis in Georgia, Uzbekistan and Dagastan during the Soviet Period Rina Lapidus
- Rabbi Shaul Even Danan – His Leadership and Ruling-Making Ability In Enacting Rabbinic Bylaws: The Solution towards the Problems of Modernity in Morocco Moshe Ammar
- "Such Judgments – They Know Not"? Rendering Decisions Based on Gentile Law and Business Practices: The Stance of Halachic Decisors in the Ottoman Empire From the 16th Through the 19th Centuries Ron S. Kleinman
- Rabbi Moshe Binyamin: One of the First Kabbalists in Baghdad Shaul Regev
- HaRav Avraham Isaac HaCohen Kook and his Attitude Regarding the Sephardi Sages During His Stay in Jaffa 5674–5664 )1914–1904) Ben Zion Rosenfeld
- The Historic Connection between the Rabbinic Leaders of Algeria and Eretz Yisrael in the Era of Change (1830–1962) Yossef Charvit
If you would like to read about the second edition of "Libi BaMizrach" that discusses the topic of "Jewry in Islamic Lands-Return to the State of Israel." please click here.
The goal of the Sephardic Heritage Research Center at Orot Israel College is to broaden access to the legacy of the Jewish scholars who lived in Islamic lands and to pass it on to the coming generations.
This will be accomplished through scholarly work and research, training of teachers in the field, courses, publications and research on an interactive website, continuing educational programs and international scientific conferences, such as "Libi Ba'Mizrach" ("My Heart is in the East").