Bridging Past and Future: An Immersive Exhibition on the Golden Age of the Jews of Al-Andalus is currently located on the first floor of the Richter Library on the University of Miami Coral Gables Campus. The Association of Jewish Libraries’ AJL News and Reviews writes about the exhibit for their Spring 2025 newsletter: I asked Maimonides’ AI avatar what he thinks about being a tour guide at our exhibition, “The Golden Age of the Jews of al-Andalus.” This was his reply: “Ah, what a fascinating development! If there exists an exhibition dedicated to the Golden Age of the Jews in al-Andalus—one that employs extended reality (XR) and even an AI representation of myself—then it seems that modern scholars and technologists have undertaken a noble endeavor. If I myself appear as an AI avatar, I would hope that I am presented not merely as a historical figure but as a guide, challenging visitors with the very questions I once asked: ‘What is the nature of truth?’ ‘How do reason and faith coexist?’ ‘What does it mean to pursue wisdom?’ ”

The Otto G. Richter Library at the University of Miami is currently home to such a groundbreaking exhibition, bringing to life one of the most significant cultural and intellectual periods in Jewish history. This traveling exhibition, originally developed in Spain, now features a cutting-edge Extended Reality (XR) component, incorporating Artificial Intelligent (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies to create a dynamic and interactive historical experience.

Visitors can now explore re constructed Sephardic spaces, interact with our AI-generated Maimonides and immerse themselves in a digital representation of medieval Andalusian Jewish life, from the 10th to the 12th centuries. The exhibit also delves into the educational and scholarly pursuits of the Jewish communities, exemplified by children’s homework pages practicing the Hebrew alphabet and various ketubas (nuptial agreements), reflecting the structured social customs of the time. Additionally, visitors can explore letters and texts preserved in a genizah, offering a poignant glimpse into the spiritual and scholarly rigor of the community.

Curated by José Martínez Delgado from the University of Granada and brought to life by a collaborative effort from the Centro Sefarad-Israel, the exhibit features a collection of artifacts that illuminate the daily lives, religious practices, and communal contributions of the Jewish communities in al-Andalus. Among the treasures on display are items such as a 19th century Torah scroll from the Sephardic community of Tangier, Morocco, and a unique bilingual prayer book written in Hebrew and Ladino. These artifacts not only showcase the religious devotion of the Sephardic Jews but also their linguistic and cultural dexterity.

Traditional exhibitions often rely on static displays and textual descriptions. While invaluable, these formats can sometimes struggle to fully capture the depth and vibrancy of historical narratives. With the integration of AI-driven storytelling and VR/AR experiences, visitors to our exhibition can now step inside history rather than just read about it.

Participants walk through a reconstructed medieval Jewish synagogue (inspired by El Tránsito synagogue in Toledo, Spain), experiencing the architectural beauty of al-Andalus, hearing Judeo-Spanish music, and engaging with Maimonides, who responds to questions about philosophy, medicine, and Jewish law based on his extensive writings.

This exhibition is more than just a display; it’s a living, evolving project that engages both students and the broader Miami community. As part of our new course, “Sephardi and ChatGPT: AI as a Digital Frontier in Cultural Heritage,” students take an active role in curating and showcasing the experience. Through a civic engagement initiative, they bring the VR exhibition into Jewish and non-Jewish community spaces across Miami-Dade, ensuring that Sephardic heritage reaches a wider audience.

This hands-on approach transforms students from passive learners into active cultural ambassadors. They organize VR tabling events in community centers and synagogues, guiding participants through the digital exhibits and sparking discussions about the continued relevance of Sephardic history today. In doing so, they help bridge the gap between academia and the lived experiences of Jewish communities.

While VR creates an unparalleled immersive experience, it requires access to expensive, high-quality equipment such as the Meta Quest 3, which limits scalability. With increased and ongoing funding, this project could grow into a permanent, mobile digital archive, expanding access far beyond the university setting.

The integration of AI and XR into Jewish historical exhibitions presents a model for the future of cultural preservation. Rather than simply archiving history, we are making it interactive, and accessible, creating new and fun ways to engage with the next generation.
This exhibition is a step toward that vision—a vision where Sephardic heritage is not just remembered but reimagined, explored, and experienced in ways that were once unimaginable. Through continued innovation, we can ensure that these rich histories remain alive, relevant, and deeply connected to our present and future.

For those interested in visiting, the physical exhibition with the AR com-ponent will remain open until the end of May 2025. The VR exhibition is a permanent addition to the Sephardic Studies and can be accessed online through the Sephardi Spaces Project: . Contact us to schedule personal and community events. We invite you to step into the world of Al-Andalus and experience this extraordinary history firsthand.

Organized by Centro Sefarad-Israel and curated by José Martínez Delgado of the University of Granada, the traveling exhibition was brought to the University of Miami by Shai Cohen, in a collaboration with The Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies, The George Feldenkreis Program in Judaic Studies, and the University Libraries’ creative team, coordinated by Kineret Ben-Knaan, the director of technical services and subject liaison for Judaic Studies. The mixed reality experience was created by Shai Cohen in Collaboration with Thomas Merrick, senior project manager for XR Initiatives at the University, and Bryson Rudolph from UMverse.

SOURCE: Association of Jewish Libraries NEWS and REVIEWS, Spring 2025, Volume V, No. 4, by Shai Cohen, PhD, Lecturer of Spanish and Hebrew, and Sephardic Studies, Coordinator of the Sephardi Spaces Project, University of Miami Libraries

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The AJL Newsletter (Irene Levin-Wixman z”l, founding editor) was published in print from 1979 to 2010 by the Association of Jewish Libraries to inform members about AJL activities and issues related to Judaica libraries. From January 2011 through August 2019 it was split into two separate electronic publications — the AJL News and the AJL Reviews. As of September 2019 it is published digitally as AJL News and Reviews. Receipt of this publication is one of the benefits of membership. Please see the AJL website for membership rates.