Who were the Sephardic Jews of the Ottoman Empire? What lasting lessons does their spiritual life provide for future generations?

"How did the Judeo-Spanish-speaking Jews of the Ottoman Empire manage to achieve spiritual triumph? To answer this question, we need to have a firm understanding of their historical experience.... We need to be aware of the dark, unpleasant elements in their environments; but we also need to see the spiritual, cultural light in their dwellings that imbued their lives with meaning and honor."
--from Chapter 1, "The Inner Life of the...