Prof. Richard Ayoun a"h - Sephardic Studies Professor

by Shelomo Alfassa

It is with great sadness that I have learned from colleagues in Paris that Prof. Richard Ayoun, Jewish historian and lecturer in Sephardic language and civilization has passed away. He was a professor at University of Paris / Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO). He also held the Alberto Benveniste Chair in Sephardic Studies, Faculty of Letters, at University of Lisbon.

Richard Ayoun was known for his hundreds of written works, on topics including the Jews of France, Jews of Morocco, Spanish Jews in Algeria, Portuguese Crypto-Jews, the rabbis of France, the Alliance Israélite Universelle as well as others.

His three most well known books include: Typologie d'une carriere rabbinique L'exemple de Mahir Charleville, Nancy, Presses Universitaires de Nancy, 1993, 2 vol. 2004 /  Les Juifs de France de l'emancipation a l'integration (1787-1812), Paris, L’Harmattan, (coll. Judaismes), 1997 / Un Grand rabbin au XIXe siecle : Mahir Charleville 1814-1888, Paris, Cerf, 1999.

His contributions to the greater Jewish world, and specifically on Sephardic studies, will live on to educate others in the future. I know many of my friends involved in Jewish studies are also mourning his sudden loss, and I wish them only comfort in this time of sadness.

Photo of Prof. Ayoun: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72881954@N00/93817367/

/SA