Tudor Parfitt

Dr. Tudor Parfitt is a Distinguished University Professor and Yitzhak Navon Professor of Sephardic-Mizrahi Studies at Florida International University (FIU), holding dual appointments in the Religious Studies department and SIPA (School of International and Public Affairs). He previously served as Director of the Global Jewish Studies Program and held leadership roles at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, including founding and directing its Centre of Jewish Studies (1993–2006, 2010–11).

Education includes a D.Phil. from Oxford University (1969–72) under David Patterson and Albert Hourani, focusing on the Old Yishuv in Palestine, and a Goodenday Fellowship at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His academic career spans roles at the University of Toronto, Southampton University, and SOAS, alongside visiting appointments at Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Cape Town.

Research interests center on marginalized Jewish communities in Muslim-majority regions, genetic identity discourses, Judaising movements, and Jewish-Muslim interactions. Notable work includes investigations into the Lemba tribe of southern Africa and collaborations with geneticists. His documentaries for BBC/PBS and 26 authored/edited books, including the Wingate Prize-winning Journey to the Vanished City, highlight interdisciplinary approaches to Jewish history.

Professional accolades include the Hayter Scholarship and Pusey Travelling Prize. He has held leadership roles in organizations like SOSTEJE and ISSAJ, and currently chairs FIU's Global Jewish Studies initiatives. His work bridges historical scholarship, genetics, and cultural anthropology, addressing themes of diaspora, identity, and colonial legacies.