S5 E4: The Search for a Lost Jewish Community

Stella Levi, age 100, grew up on the island of Rhodes in a community of Sephardic Jews who had lived there for over 500 years. She survived the Italian and German occupations and the deportation of her entire community to Auschwitz. Decades later, Levi met Michael Frank, a writer living in New York City. This chance encounter led to weekly meetings for over six years. In this episode of Constant Wonder, Michael Frank tells us the story of their friendship, Stella Levi's incredible life, and the lost Jewish community of Rhodes.

Guest: Michael Frank, author of "One Hundred Saturdays: Stella Levi and the Search for a Lost World"

Music courtesy of Daphna Mor and Nina Stern and their ensemble, "East of the River," from their upcoming album “Ija Mia" (7/31/23)
The clips of Stella speaking Ladino are from the Endangered Language Alliance
Audio of Stella's speech is from NYU's Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò