Sefardi Herbalism

Sefardi Herbalism: An Introduction to Earth, Water and Plant-Based Folk Traditions of the Sefardim by Naomi Spector explores the earth-based folk culture and healing tradition of the Jews of Spain and Portugal. Weaving together diverse sources, such as Judeo-Spanish medical texts, memoirs, interviews, testimony from inquisition records, poetry, songs, and folk tales, Sefardi Herbalism brings us a taste of everyday life in the homes and kitchens of Sefardi Jews, who journeyed into various diasporas following the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. Written for those new to plants and herbalists alike, this book explores Sefardi relationships to the ocean, folk beliefs about the evil eye and the practice of crafting amulets for spiritual protection, herbs and ingredients that were common to the Sefardi kitchen and medicine cabinet, herbalism and amulets for birth, and finally, Sefardi end-of-life herbalism. 

This is a 6x9-inch, black and white, paperback book that features original cover illustrations, and nearly 200 pages of Sefardi earth-based traditions and resources.