“Ombre mortal, porke duermes? Es tiempo ke roges i te konyores.” Mortal human, why do you sleep? It is time to rise and plead your case! With these stirring words, generations of Sephardic Jews have begun the famous Selihah Ben Adam, Lekha Nirdam. Recited during the month of Elul and in the days leading to Yom Kippur, its message reaches across the centuries: Wake up. Reflect. Remember who you are and consider who you still have the power to become. As we enter a new Jewish y

Community lecture in August at Congregation Shearith Israel in New York We’ve had a wonderful summer of community programming in New York! First, our partners at Kehila Kedosha Janina opened up a wonderful new exhibit: The Synagogues of Greece - Making the Invisible Visible through Architecture, Technology, and Storytelling by Greek Jewish architect Elias Messinas. In this exhibition, based on the 30-year in-situ documentation and research of Messinas, and the digitization o

Murray Perahia There are few honors more meaningful than watching one of our own rise to the very top of a field and never forget where he came from. This issue, we are proud to shine our alumni spotlight on Murray Perahia, one of the most celebrated classical pianists of our time — and a longtime member of our Sephardic Brotherhood family. From Our Community to the World Stage Murray Perahia was born in New York City in 1947 to parents who immigrated from Salonika, and it wa

Eleven years after first passing a (now repealed) law offering citizenship to people of Sephardic ancestry, a Spanish court has finally ruled that a surname once borne by Sephardic Jews and New Christians is not, of itself, evidence of Sephardic ancestry. Perhaps a little late to become compliant with genealogical standards. A ruling reported this week by Infobae is a useful reminder of where the evidential bar now sits for Spain’s Sephardic nationality law (Law 12/2015). The

Heinz Kounio z"L It is with tremendously heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Heinz Kounio, one of the last Holocaust survivors of Salonika (Thessaloniki) and one of the most important witnesses to the destruction of a Sephardic Jewish civilization that had flourished for centuries. Kounio passed away in Thessaloniki in April 2026 at the age of 98, leaving behind not only children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but an extraordinary legacy of testimony, remembra

Attendees at the Sephardic Rabbinic Conference at Congregation Shearith Israel in New York A two-day summit proudly organized by the Sephardic Brotherhood of America, the Habura, and UJA-Federation of New York brought together more than 150 rabbis, scholars, and communal leaders to strengthen the future of Sephardic Jewish life NEW YORK, NY — Sephardic Jews make up a major part of the global Jewish population, yet their voices and leadership traditions have long operated on t

The New program by the University of Miami South Florida's vibrant Sephardic community has much to celebrate this season, with milestones spanning tradition, scholarship, and national recognition. The Sephardi Federation of Palm Beach County will hold its 33rd Annual Luncheon on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 12 noon, continuing a beloved tradition that brings the community together to celebrate Sephardic heritage and support the Federation's ongoing work. Meanwhile, Temple Mos

This summer and early fall, Philadelphia's storied Sephardic community—anchored by Congregation Mikveh Israel, the nation's oldest continuous Jewish congregation—marked a historic season honoring 250 years of Jewish life in America. In July, the congregation hosted Jewish America 250, a community-wide celebration drawing neighbors from across the region for exhibits, local vendors, food, and music, along with access to Mikveh Israel's America 250 exhibition. The free, public

The Jewish Community of Thessaloniki has achieved a major milestone in preserving the history of Greek Jewry through the creation of the Yosephus (Iosipos) Digital Repository, one of the most ambitious archival digitization projects ever undertaken by a Jewish community in Greece. The initiative makes an extraordinary collection of historical materials freely accessible to researchers, educators, descendants, and the general public through its online platform at repository.jc

Rabbi Yonatan Gilbert After an extensive two-year search process, Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation (SBH) has announced the selection of Rabbi Yonatan Gilbert as its new rabbi. The congregation formally approved Rabbi Gilbert's appointment in a unanimous vote of the membership on May 19, marking the culmination of a thorough search led by the synagogue’s Rabbinic Search Committee. SBH President Jack Gottesman, who also chaired the search committee, expressed enthusiasm about

Congratulations to the 35 recipients who were honored as Sephardic Brotherhood Scholars on May 31! Celebrating its 82nd year, the Scholarship and Education Committee held our annual Irving Barocas z"L Memorial Scholarship Awards Ceremony in New York, bringing together parents, grandparents, and students from our membership throughout the United States. Each student’s achievements were highlighted and speeches were given by the top awardees. This year’s scholarship cohort was

Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has promulgated changes to the Portuguese nationality law approved by the Portuguese Parliament, including the closure of the special naturalization route for descendants of Jews of Portuguese origin. The parliamentary measure appears in: Assembleia da República – Proposta de Lei n.º 1/XVII/1. According to reports citing Decreto da Assembleia da República n.º 48/XVII, the law will only enter into force following publication in th

This past Spring, Sephardic life in the NYC Metropolitan Area thrived through vibrant celebrations, meaningful connections, and cherished communal traditions. For the first time ever, Brotherhood members and friends proudly marched in New York City's Greek Independence Day Parade on Fifth Avenue. Joining thousands of participants and spectators, we celebrated the history, resilience, and contributions of the Greek community while honoring the deep historical ties between Gree

Participants marching for their first Greek Independence Parade on behalf of the Greek Jewish Community of New York In a historic and proud moment for our community, the Greek Jewish Community of New York, led by Kehila Kedosha Janina, marched for the first time ever in the Greek Independence Day Parade on Fifth Avenue. As we celebrate the 205th anniversary of Greek independence, our participation highlights the rich and enduring legacy of Greek Jewry and our deep connection

The Holocaust Memorial of Rhodes, located in the courtyard of the old Jewish neighborhood (La Djuderia) As editor of La Djente, it is especially meaningful to introduce this issue dedicated to the Sephardic Jewish community of Rhodes, a community whose story feels deeply personal to me, even four generations later. Jewish Rhodes first existed to me as a far away dream. A word in Ladino about the kehila. A recipe of bourikitas my grandmother made without measurements. Stories

Becky Benaroya z'L Rebecca (Becky) Benaroya, the first-generation Sephardic Jewish woman whose love of the Jewish community, art, children, and the city of Seattle touched countless institutions and individuals, died on February 25th, 2026. She was 103. Becky was born at Seattle’s Providence Hospital January 14th, 1923, the second child and first daughter to Yuda (Joe) Benoun, an immigrant from the Island of Rhodes, and Dona Adatto Benoun, an immigrant from Tekirdag, Turkey.

Campers during Israel Day at Sephardic Adventure Camp When Yitzchak Hasson arrived at Sephardic Adventure Camp this summer, he had already traveled halfway around the world — not just across oceans, but across cultures and communities.A native of Cape Town, South Africa, Yitzchak joined SAC as a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) for the first time, bringing with him the warmth and pride of South Africa’s Sephardic community. “Two years ago, we had someone from Seattle visit South A

As a middle and highschooler, I have memories of my grandfather, Sol Niego z”l, a former Central Council and Scholarship Committee member, carrying around Sephardic Scholarship applications in case he had a moment to review them. He spoke highly of each applicant, in awe of all their accomplishments and happy that the future of Sephardic Jewry was in their hands. Therefore, receiving scholarships for the past two years from the Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America is an en

Keridos Ermanos i Ermanas, As we welcome the season of renewal and prepare to celebrate Passover—a time that reminds us of resilience, faith, and shared destiny—I write to you with deep gratitude and pride. This year marks a remarkable milestone: the 110th anniversary of our Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America. One hundred and ten years of tradition.One hundred and ten years of service.One hundred and ten years of unity.One hundred and ten years of familya —family. Our

We’ve had a packed Fall and Winter of activities in the NYC Metropolitan Area! Our season was highlighted by a vibrant Sephardic Young Professionals Hanukkah Party in New York City, which brought together over 100 participants for an evening of celebration, culture, and community. The program featured live Greek and Israeli music by Avram Pengas, creating an energetic and joyful atmosphere. Guests enjoyed homemade Sephardic bimuelos and keftikas, showcasing the warmth and fla