Most of our religious observances are indoors--in our homes, in our synagogues. We generally do not like to create a public spectacle of our religious experiences, but we behave modestly and try not to call attention to ourselves as we perform mitzvoth. There are some exceptions to this. On Hanukkah, it is a particular mitzvah to publicize the miracle by placing our hanukkiyot where they can be seen by the passers-by. Sukkoth also has some aspects of taking our religious obse

Venice, Italy Over the years, Fern and I have traveled through Europe on vacation, and some of our strongest memories come from the times we've unexpectedly run into fellow Sepharadim along the way. This past June we were in Venice, Italy. On our visit, we made a point of walking through the Jewish Ghetto. Of the five synagogues still standing there, only two can currently be toured: the Turkish and Greek, and the larger Spanish and Portuguese. Our guide mentioned that she he

An artistic rendering of Don Isaac Abravanel August 1492. An armada of sorts anchors in the port of Naples. Nine Spanish caravels of the same class that will soon carry Columbus to the New World. However, these ships are laden with adventurers of another kind: a thousand Sephardic refugees, packed up like sardines in a can. A sympathetic onlooker watches them disembark. “They were like wraiths,” he will recall. “resembling corpses in all but the power of motion.”[1] Their I

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

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

Participants at our Spring public event, the Golden Age of the Jews of Al-Andalus, at the Embassy of Spain Our newest Brotherhood chapter has been busy this Spring with some exciting programs. In the Winter, we launched a four week Ladino 101 course for the local chapter co-taught by myself (Eitan Danon) and my colleague Aaron Shapiro. This small group met every two weeks or so to learn some of the basics of language, vocab, syntax, grammar, and gets a chance to snack on some

Al Benoliel - The Rabbi Ascher Murciano Memorial Scholarship Award Recipient Several students were asked to share a few words about themselves and the importance of their Sephardic identities at this year’s award’s ceremony. Below you can find a few speeches from some of our student recipients Thank you so much for these scholarship awards and for the opportunity to share a few words. First, a little bit about my background. I grew up in the Sephardic community in Seattle, Wa

Seahorse fountain La Kay Ancha in the heart of the historic Juderia (Jewish Quarter) of Rhodes Visiting the island of Rhodes has always given me a sense of longing. There’s something in the air, especially in the early hours before the sun rises, when a cool breeze moves through these empty, quiet streets. The place feels suspended in time, it seems. It’s hard to explain, but there’s a lingering absence that cannot be replaced, as I take a deep breath and begin my morning wal

A photo of a young Rhodian Jewish boy of the Angel family, wearing the Star of David on the lapel of his coat. The Nazi menace decimated European Jewry, and its tentacles of hatred and violence reached even to North Africa and the Middle East. Jews of all backgrounds were victimized, and many stories about murdered family members remain as the heritage of Jews throughout the world. In our family-whose roots were in the Sephardic community of the Island of Rhodes-we also have

An original handwritten fragment of Maimonides’ Mishne Tora, held at Cambridge The Greek word mythos, from which we get ‘myth’, ultimately means ‘storytelling.’ It embodies a more emotional experience. Such impassioned retelling contrasts with logos, rational thought. Myths are stories that are accorded a higher significance by people’s belief in them, factual or not. The Jewish tradition is full of mythic stories, from the biblical to the contemporary, and the communal to th

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

Sephardic Community of Indianapolis member celebrating the new Sefer Torah Dedication at Etz Chaim Sephardic Congregation The Sephardic Community of Indianapolis has experienced a season of remarkable growth, celebration, and spiritual strength throughout the winter and into the spring. Our year began with an especially historic and moving occasion: the dedication of a new Sefer Torah this January. The celebration brought together families, friends, and community members for

Rabbi Eliyahu Benamozegh (1822-1900) Nineteenth century Livorno was home to a unique thinker whose life work centered on unity. Rabbi Eliyahu Benamozegh (1822-1900), whose parents were natives of Fez, Morocco, was orphaned at an early age. His guardians saw to it that this precocious child received a well-rounded education in Jewish and general subjects. Although as a young man he entered a business career, his real love was for religious and scientific thought. He went on to

Rabbi Daniel Bouskila (far left) and Neil Sheff (far right) at the LA Sephardic Film Festival There's been a meaningful and impactful season of programming for the Los Angeles Sephardic Community, highlighted by the continued success of the spectacular Los Angeles Sephardic Jewish Film Festival, presented by the Sephardic Educational Center (SEC). Established in 1997, the festival has become a cornerstone cultural event that showcases the beauty and diversity of Sephardic Jew

The cover from the 1917 Brotherhood Gala brochure (Courtesy of David Saffan) The common answer today is: Yes. Even the Brotherhood’s own website indicates that the organization was established as a “volunteer mutual aid and burial society.” But Ladino publications of the era tell a slightly different story. During the early twentieth century, economic challenges, political changes, and war compelled many Sephardic Jews to leave the Ottoman Empire. Between 1908 and 1924, a

The Ladino-speaking Jewish community of Rhodes was once a world of vibrant color and intimate tradition. Moving between pre-war La Juderia and the present, The Girl in the Oil Painting follows a mother’s fragmented memories and a son who slowly uncovers the trauma she never spoke aloud. Through family kitchens rich with familiar aromas, sea light over Mandraki Harbor, Shabbat songs, and recipes passed down like treasures, the book brings back to life a community whose world w

Benoun Torah Crown from the Kehila Grande of Rhodes For decades, artifacts and photographs related to the Jewish community of Rhodes have been carefully collected as part of a personal and communal mission to preserve its rich history for future generations. And despite the tragic deportation and murder of nearly all its Jews to Auschwitz, it is our role as their descendants to honor and remember their life stories, thus preserving the community’s legacy now and forever. Tha

Professor Samuel Torjman-Thomas (center) performing at a special Sephardic Musical Evening in August We’ve had a packed Summer of...

Rabbi and Rubissa (Rabbanit) Eliatuv, nominees for the new spiritual heads of the S&P Sephardi Community of the United Kingdom The S&P...

Four years ago, I arrived at Sephardic Adventure Camp (SAC) not just as a counselor—but as someone in search of a deeper connection. My...