Researcher of Jewish folklore and Jewish art. Teaches in the Graduate Program in Folklore and Folk Culture Studies and the Department of Art History. His research addresses the following topics: Jewish art and folk art; material culture and ephemera; the role of material objects in the life cycle and the year cycle; ritual and custom among Jewish communities in Europe and in Muslim countries (especially the Jews of Italy and post-expulsion Sephardic communities in Europe), the image of the Jew and Hebrew writing in art in general. Has published over 200 articles and books on these topics. His private collections encompass Judaica and Israeliana; he lectures and guides at Jewish sites in Europe, North Africa, India and Central Asia.