Being Jewish with Jonah Platt Darwin’s Finches and “Call Me By Your Name” author André Aciman
Jun 3, 2025
In an enlightening conversation, André Aciman, renowned author of 'Call Me By Your Name', shares his experiences as a Sephardic Jew shaped by displacement across multiple cultures. He discusses the rich tapestry of his Jewish heritage and the emotional complexities of belonging. Aciman reflects on how his family's past influences his writing, particularly in his latest work, 'Room on the Sea'. The dialogue navigates themes of love, identity, and the struggles of adaptation, offering a deep dive into the interplay between personal memory and artistic expression.
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Jewish Adaptive Radiation Insight
- Jews are like Galapagos finches, diversified by adaptive radiation due to expulsion from their homeland.
- Jewish identity is deeply tied to a shared ancestry despite geographic and genetic differences.
Aciman's Sephardic Egyptian Roots
- André Aciman grew up in Alexandria, Egypt, a diverse city of many cultures including Jews.
- His family came from Turkey and Sephardic backgrounds, speaking Ladino, a Judeo-Spanish language.
Jewish Expulsion from Egypt
- Jews in Egypt felt safe and normal until political events in 1956-1960 shifted policy.
- Starting 1960, businesses were nationalized and Jews faced forced expulsions from Egypt.
