Shmuel Refael-Vivante is the Director of the Salti Institute for Ladino Studies at Bar-Ilan University, Israel. His main subject of interest is Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) literature, language, ritual life ,and culture. Since the early days of my university studies, I have sought to delve into the Judeo-Spanish culture of Ladino-speakers. I completed my B.A. studies in Hebrew literature and general philosophy at Tel Aviv University. I began my M.A. studies at Tel Aviv University and completed them at Bar Ilan University. My M.A. thesis laid the groundwork for the study of Judeo-Spanish romance literature, and my Ph.D. thesis focused on the study of the Romancero Poetry of Salonican Jewry, on the background of its Spanish roots. The advisors for my Ph.D. dissertation were Prof. Judith Dishon and Prof. Edwin Seroussi.