Message from the President

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 story is one of continuity and connection. From generation to generation, we have preserved the light of Sepharad and passed it forward.

Indeed, this past year has been extraordinary. We are growing—both in size and in strength—and with that growth comes responsibility.

As we look toward the future, we are making significant investments to better serve you, our community. We are strengthening our professional staffing, expanding our organizational capacity, and this year, we will commission our first comprehensive community-needs study. We want to better understand you—your hopes, your concerns, your aspirations—so that as our world evolves and new challenges emerge, the Brotherhood evolves alongside it and meets those challenges head on.

Growth is not simply about numbers; it is about relevance, responsiveness, and responsibility.

A Global Sephardic Network

Today, our reach is global.

We continue reconnecting with our mother communities in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, and the lands where our ancestors carried the light of Sepharad for centuries. We are building bridges with peer Sephardic communities in London, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and Cape Town.

Here at home, our presence stretches from Seattle to South Florida, from Indianapolis to Philadelphia, from New York to New Jersey and beyond. This network is vibrant, dynamic, and expanding.

Este anyo aki —this year we are here—we are embracing growth and connection fully. We are committed to opening new chapters across the country, reaching communities eager for a renewed Sephardic presence. Our newest chapter in Washington, DC, is already thriving and stands as a model for what comes next.

Strength Through Partnership

None of this work happens in isolation. Partnerships fuel everything we do.

We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with critical institutions like Sephardic Adventure Camp, our community synagogues, and the countless volunteers and leaders who give their time, creativity, and heart. Together, we are cultivating the next generation—who will inherit and sustain our traditions.

Our strength has always come from collaboration, shared purpose, and the belief that our heritage is worth investing in.

Grounded in Our Identity

We also recognize the difficult reality of the world around us. We are living through turbulence—rising antisemitism, polarization, and uncertainty.

At moments like these, we lean on our Sephardic identity for grounding. Our traditions and our Torah teach resilience, dignity, and compassion. They teach us the power of education—la ermozura del saber, the beauty of knowledge—as a tool to combat hatred and strengthen our community.

Passover reminds us that even in times of darkness, we move forward together toward freedom and renewal.

The Story Our Numbers Tell

Allow me to share a few reflections on the scale and impact of our collective work:

• Today, the Brotherhood is home to 1,500 member households.

• Over the last five years, we have doubled our annual revenue, thanks to your belief in our mission.

• This year alone, we awarded 35 scholarships to high school, college, and graduate students in our community.

• Through our Funds for the Needy, we distributed more than $30,000 to members facing hardship.

These numbers tell a story—not just of an organization, but of a people, a komunita.

A people who show up for one another.A people who believe in education, compassion, and the promise of the next generation.A people who live by the Ladino proverb:

“Kada ermano es un tresoro.” - Every brother is a treasure.

As we mark 110 years of our Brotherhood, I feel this deeply. Each of you is a treasure. Each of you strengthens our komunita. Each of you is part of our shared story.

Looking Ahead

Let us continue building—new chapters, new partnerships, and new opportunities for connection and growth. Let us face the world not with fear, but with unity. And let us remember that we are, and always will be, ermanas i ermanos de una famiya sefaradi—brothers and sisters in one great Sephardic family.

Thank you for your commitment, your belief, and your generosity. Thank you for helping us carry our heritage proudly into the future.

Wishing you and your families a meaningful Passover filled with joy, renewal, and peace.

Moadim LeSimha i Pesah Alegre para Todos

With gratitude and pride,

Sedat Behar

President