"Estorias de Izmir - Stories from Izmir" Seen Worthy of Jury Special Prize

The 2023 winners of the "Respect for History Local Conservation Awards", organized by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality to encourage works protecting the historical and cultural heritage, spread conservation awareness, and increase positive examples, have been announced. In the 19th edition of the event 27 applications were seen worthy of award.

In the event, the book "Estorias de Izmir/Stories from Izmir" was seen as worthy of the Jury Special Prize in the Contribution Award Category for "Preservation of Historical Environmental and Cultural Heritage".

Albert N. Contente had compiled his memories of Jewish life in 1930-1940s Izmir, adding his illustrations, in a book titled "Mis Memorias Illustradas".

This book published as a special copy in 2004, has been recompiled by Selim Bonfil to keep alive the Izmir Jewish culture. Translated from Ladino into English by Kenan Cruz Çilli, prefaced and edited by Karen Gerson Sharhon, "Stories from Izmir" was published in both Ladino and English by Gözlem Journalism Press and Publishing, with the contributions of Sentro Sefaradi de Estambol (Sephardic Center of Istanbul).

The "Stories from Izmir" was created with Selim Bonfil's recompiling and preparing for publication of the prior work, "Mis Memorias Illustradas", by Albert N. Contente, a former resident of Izmir living in New York today. The stories came to life again with photographs from Selim Bonfil's archive reflecting old times and today. These stories written with Contente's humorous expression, thus could reach a wider readership.

The "Stories from Izmir" was hereby added to various studies previously accomplished by Sarit-Selim Bonfil to conserve Izmir Jewish Heritage.

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