Serialized in the Hebrew newspaper “Ha-zvi” in 1910, this roman-feuilleton is part of a Hebrew translation of a German novel titled “Esther Chiera,” originally published in Maintz in 1878 by renowned German-Jewish author Marcus Lehmann. The plot centers on the life of Jews in the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, especially their involvement in Palace intrigue and the constant danger of yet another expulsion. Bar-Nissim’s version is based on an earlier Ladino translation of this novel, which was presumably based on an earlier Hebrew translation, as Hebrew was often used as a mediating language for Ladino authors and translators. Mixing kernels of historical facts with sensationalist fictionalized accounts of love, intrigue, and betrayal, this installment illustrates how the histories of Sephardic Jews found dramatic echoes in 20th century Ottoman Palestine.

The Sun Sets on All Joy

ערבה כל שמחה

Arva kol simha

April 20, 1910

Roman-Feuilleton

Marina Mayorski

Marina Mayorski

Jewish history, translation, Ottoman Empire, antisemitism, Sephardim, fiction