Sephardic Jews
The Latest
-
Opinion Will Anti-Semitism Drive Turkey’s Sephardic Jews to Spain?
How about this for a Hollywood script? It’s 1492, and Spain’s King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella expel their Jewish subjects. In response, the Ottoman sultan Bayezid II sends ships to Spain to collect them. How nice of him. They flourish under Muslim rule and, centuries later, receive equal rights as citizens. Fast-forward to 2002 and…
-
Opinion Ashkenormativity Is Twice as Common — and Harmful — in LGBTQ Jewish Spaces
After Kiddush on Shabbat, someone comes up to me to critique my recitation. Either the person asks why I pronounced the last word as “hagefen” rather than “hagafen,” or I am less-than-politely informed of the “correct” pronunciation. When I respond that my Sephardic custom is to say “hagefen,” the reply is always the same: “I…
-
The Schmooze Can You Guess Osama Bin Laden’s Favorite Jewish Singer?
Here’s a guy you might not have expected would have had an extensive audiotape collection: Osama Bin Laden. Here’s who you definitely wouldn’t expect to be found in it: an Algerian Jew. on the findings in Williams College professor Flagg Williams’ forthcoming book, The Audacious Ascetic, on Bin Laden’s private music collection. Yes, it included…
-
Breaking News Shas Minister Calls Reform Jews ‘Disaster’ for Israel
Israel’s religious services minister reportedly called Reform Jews “a disaster for the people of Israel.” David Azoulay of the Sephardic Orthodox Shas party made the comments during a meeting to discuss the Women of the Wall group, Israel Hayom daily newspaper reported Wednesday. The meeting reportedly took place on Tuesday between Azoulay and Justice Minister…
-
Breaking News Spain Passes Jewish ‘Right of Return’ Law
Spain’s lower house gave final approval to a law offering citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews. Under the law approved Thursday, the Spanish daily El Pais reported, applicants are able to apply without traveling to Spain, as proposed in previous amendments which did not pass, but are required to hire a Spanish notary and pass…
-
Breaking News Spain Puts Finishing Touches on Sephardic ‘Law of Return’
Spain’s Congress is poised to vote on final amendments that would make it possible for descendants of Sephardic Jews to apply for citizenship. The Congress of Deputies is scheduled to vote on the amendments on June 11, according to a statement published on the Congress’ website on Monday. Under the amendments, approved by the Spanish…
-
Breaking News Spain Denies Flood of Turkish Jewish Citizenship Applications
Spain’s embassy in Ankara disputed a New York Times article claiming that thousands of Turkish Jews have applied for Spanish citizenship amid growing concern about anti-Semitism. The May 26 Times article speaks of “thousands of Sephardic Jews in Turkey who trace their ancestry to Spain and are now applying for Spanish citizenship in anticipation of…
-
Culture The Last Jews of Pike Place
The stamp of Sephardic Jews on Seattle is strong, from Benaroya Hall, where the Seattle Symphony plays, to the real estate holdings of the Alhadeff family, best known for the now-closed Longacres race track. But the ink of Sephardic influence is fading from Pike Place Market. The oldest operating market in the country, the biggest…
Most Popular
- 1
Fast Forward ‘Rabbi rebellion’: 33 Orthodox rabbis endorse Harris
- 2
Opinion I was a Bernie supporter. This year, I’m voting Trump. Here’s why liberal Jews like me made the switch
- 3
Opinion Here’s why Orthodox Jews are loyal to Trump — even if they don’t love him
- 4
FIRST PERSON As a rabbi, he helped others mourn. So why wouldn’t his daughter say kaddish for him?
In Case You Missed It
-
Fast Forward Exit poll: 79% of Jewish voters back Harris over Trump
-
Fast Forward ‘History’s greatest comeback’: Netanyahu congratulates Trump
-
Yiddish טראָמפּ געווינט, צוזאָגנדיק איבערצומאַכן אַמעריקע און איר באַציִונג צו ישׂראלTrump wins, promising to reshape the United States and its relationship with Israel
לויט אַן אויספֿרעג נאָכן שטימען האָבן ס׳רובֿ ייִדן — 79% — געשטימט פֿאַר קאַמאַלאַ האַריס.
-
Opinion Trump’s reelection is devastating American Jews. Our tradition tells us how we should begin to move forward
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism