The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/sephardic-jews/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:40:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Sephardic Jews | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/sephardic-jews/ 32 32 Israeli envoy takes rare swipe at US Jewish groups for cosponsoring Spanish exhibit https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-envoy-takes-rare-swipe-at-us-jewish-groups-for-cosponsoring-spanish-exhibit/ Sun, 10 May 2026 13:35:24 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3819866 Yechiel Leiter says partnering with embassy for show on Jewish life in Moorish Spain 'risks lending legitimacy to government working to vilify Israel'; World Jewish Congress responds: Disengagement not the answer

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]]> Her ancestors were expelled from Spain. Now she’s bringing bagels to Madrid https://www.timesofisrael.com/her-ancestors-were-expelled-from-spain-now-shes-bringing-bagels-to-madrid/ Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:21:24 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3740177 After proving ancestry and getting Spanish citizenship, Tamara Cohen found herself in a Jewish food desert. Her restaurant, Mazal, is providing a nosh for Jews and non-Jews alike

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]]> Weeks into school year, some Haredi girls still at home due to discrimination https://www.timesofisrael.com/weeks-into-school-year-some-haredi-girls-still-at-home-due-to-discrimination/ Thu, 23 Oct 2025 20:06:25 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3672467 For almost two months, entrenched bias against Israelis of Sephardic origin has left some ultra-Orthodox students without a place to study

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]]> 15th-century Portuguese High Holiday prayer book completed with discovery of lost pages https://www.timesofisrael.com/15th-century-portuguese-high-holiday-prayer-book-completed-with-discovery-of-lost-pages/ Sun, 21 Sep 2025 10:01:45 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3646989 Rare manuscript was divided into 3 sections at some point in history; final 2 parts found when they came up for auction, were purchased on behalf of National Library of Israel

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]]> Education Ministry threatens to slash school’s budget for refusing to admit Sephardim https://www.timesofisrael.com/education-ministry-threatens-to-slash-schools-budget-for-refusing-to-admit-sephardim/ Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:49:03 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3634255 Warning undercuts Jerusalem mayor's claim of solving the admissions issue. Beit Shemesh denies knowledge of proposal to create 'new educational framework' for unplaced students

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]]> Education Ministry intervenes after Haredi schools refuse to admit Sephardim https://www.timesofisrael.com/education-ministry-intervenes-after-haredi-schools-refuse-to-admit-sephardim/ Tue, 02 Sep 2025 20:35:40 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3632442 Ministry says offending schools in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh could be subject to 'denial of funding' and revocation of their licenses to operate

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]]> Ex-chief rabbi pans Haredi leaders for trusting ‘atheist’ Netanyahu on conscription bill https://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-chief-rabbi-pans-haredi-leaders-for-trusting-atheist-netanyahu-on-conscription-bill/ Sun, 17 Aug 2025 00:48:27 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3621746 Shas spiritual leader Yitzhak Yosef accuses military police of disproportionately targeting Sephardic draft dodgers, repeats threat that Haredi community will leave Israel en masse

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]]> Prominent Haredi school to operate separate program for Sephardi girls – report https://www.timesofisrael.com/prominent-haredi-school-to-operate-separate-program-for-sephardi-girls-report/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:47:42 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3593572 Development follows years of discrimination against students of Middle Eastern origin in ultra-Orthodox educational frameworks and vain attempts to crack down on it

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]]> Spain uncovers ring of fraudsters behind fake Sephardic citizenship applications https://www.timesofisrael.com/spain-uncovers-ring-of-fraudsters-behind-fake-sephardic-citizenship-applications/ Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:38:33 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3588673 Multi-million-dollar fraud scheme allegedly exploited Spain's 'law of return,' which grants citizenship to Jews who can trace their roots to pre-Inquisition Iberia

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]]> Study finds Christopher Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe https://www.timesofisrael.com/study-finds-christopher-columbus-was-a-sephardic-jew-from-western-europe/ Sun, 13 Oct 2024 09:32:52 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3396131 Researchers analyze DNA fragmented remains believed to be world-shaping explorer's; they say any further narrowing down of his origins remains elusive

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]]> Rare document shows Jewish financier’s role in American Revolution https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-document-shows-jewish-financiers-role-in-american-revolution/ Wed, 25 Sep 2024 05:09:22 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3383172 Surviving page from James Madison's ledger shows contribution of Haym Salomon, a Sephardic Jewish immigrant from Poland, who gave equivalent of $23m to revolutionary cause

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]]> NYC Council to vote on recognizing anniversary of first Jewish arrivals in city https://www.timesofisrael.com/nyc-council-to-vote-on-recognizing-anniversary-of-first-jewish-arrivals-in-city/ Thu, 12 Sep 2024 18:51:40 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3374563 Bill aims to mark little-known Landing Day, marking date of 1654 arrival of first Jews in then-New Amsterdam, and 'celebrate the continuing importance of the Jewish community'

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]]> This Israel-born musician is spearheading a Ladino revival, from Taiwan to Toronto https://www.timesofisrael.com/this-israel-born-musician-is-spearheading-a-ladino-revival-from-taiwan-to-toronto/ Sun, 08 Oct 2023 08:39:09 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3110238 Taking her show on the road, singer and trombonist Nani Vazana brings a lost language and culture to audiences familiar with it and to newcomers alike

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]]> How a Puerto Rican-Jewish gang leader helped create hip-hop in the Bronx https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-a-puerto-rican-jewish-gang-leader-helped-create-hip-hop-in-the-bronx/ Fri, 08 Sep 2023 01:22:55 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3086136 New 5-part podcast 'Can You Dig It' explores the story of 'Yellow Benjy' Melendez, who brokered peace and whose influence allowed an emerging musical genre to take root and grow

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]]> Hispanic Jewish group signs lease for $40 million museum https://www.timesofisrael.com/madrid-jewish-community-signs-lease-for-40-million-museum/ Thu, 27 Jul 2023 12:03:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3060333 Institution in the city's upscale Salamanca district will be the first of its caliber in Spain and the Iberian Peninsula, a founder says

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