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Sephardic Judaism

The Musaf prayer for Rosh Hashanah in a page of the rare 15th century Lisbon Mahzor now at the National Library of Israel. (Courtesy Kedem Auction House via JTA)
September 21, 2025, 1:01 pm
15th-century Portuguese High Holiday prayer book completed with discovery of lost pages
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
By Grace Gilson
The Shem Tov Bible sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York, September 10, 2024. (YouTube/used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law).
September 14, 2024, 12:18 pm
Shem Tov Bible with ‘miraculous journey of survival’ sells at auction for $6.9 million
Rare 14th century codex survived centuries of wars and turmoil before being sold to private individuals who ‘look forward’ to making it public, Sotheby’s says
By ToI Staff
Roman Abramovich, former owner of Chelsea, smiles following the team's victory during the UEFA Champions League in Porto, Portugal, on May 29, 2021. (Alexander Hassenstein/UEFA/Getty Images via JTA)
April 2, 2022, 11:55 am
Documents linked to Abramovich’s controversial Portuguese citizenship leak online
Russian-Israeli billionaire’s naturalization has become symbol for suspected abuse of Portuguese law; surfaced documents include testimonies from rabbis, copy of Israeli passport
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Students and staff of the Hebrew University Department of Spanish and Latin American Studies. Dr. Ruth Fine, third from left, is the first Israeli president of the International Association of Hispanists, which held a five-day academic conference in Jerusalem. (Courtesy)
July 18, 2019, 10:39 pm
For the first time ever, Israel hosts a global symposium on Hispanic culture
Jews have had a profound impact on Spanish society over the centuries; now an Israeli has been voted into a three-year stint as head of the International Association of Hispanists
By Cecilia Lazzaro Blasbalg
Tamar Zaken
November 27, 2017, 3:37 pm
Tamar Zaken
Activism as fire or incremental light?
The Hanukkah candles suggest opposing ways to fight injustice: bold measures vs. small regular actions
Study for 1917 Fire —Salonika” (2016) by Harry I. Naar (Courtesy of Naar via JTA)
August 18, 2017, 11:17 pm
A century ago, Jewish Salonica burned
The home to the largest and most dynamic Ladino-speaking Sephardi Jewish community in the world was rebuilt, only to be destroyed anew
By Devin E. Naar
Undated picture of London Senior Sephardi Rabbi Joseph Dweck (CC BY-SA Wikiweck, Wikimedia commons)
July 19, 2017, 8:25 pm
Top UK Sephardi rabbi who hailed acceptance of gays to step down as clerical judge
Joseph Dweck, criticized for praising acceptance of homosexuality, apologizes for rulings; stays on as head of London’s S&P synagogue
By ToI Staff
From left to right: Rabbi Joseph Dweck (courtesy), British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (Foreign and Commonwealth Office), and Chief Sephardi Rabbi od Israel Yitzhak Yosef (CC-SA-GFDL).
July 12, 2017, 9:41 pm
Is UK’s Sephardi rabbi fracas about more than condoning homosexuality?
After controversial statements by Joseph Dweck, one of Britain’s top rabbis, some have called for his ouster. But do their claims hold water?
By Jenni Frazer
A symbolic key from the 1932 dedication of Los Angeles’ Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel is part of an archival collection acquired by UCLA. (Courtesy of UCLA)
January 13, 2017, 9:23 pm
New Sephardi history archive makes first major acquisition
UCLA center obtains ‘one of the most significant collections ever assembled’ on the history of Sephardi Jews in LA
By Josefin Dolsten
Illustrative: Turkish Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva, right, talking to congregants outside Kadoorie – Mekor Haim synagogue in Porto, Portugal, January 29, 2016 (Cnaan Liphshiz/JTA)
February 12, 2016, 6:24 am
New citizenship law has Jews flocking to tiny Portugal city
Three hundred applications have been approved, but with recent elections over, that figure is set to incease
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Haim Casas surrounded by congregants at Atid in Barcelona, 2015. (Antoni Moreno)
February 9, 2016, 11:29 pm
First Cordoba-born rabbi since 1492 expulsion set on reversing history
After his ordination next year in London, Haim Casas to return to Maimonides’ home town to build progressive Jewish life inspired by great Sephardic legacy
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Illustrative: In this photo taken on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, a Jewish woman reads a book at the main Jewish synagogue in Lisbon. Portugal enacted in March 2015 a law to grant citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews exiled during the Inquisition 500 years ago. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
May 12, 2015, 4:32 am
Unlike Portugal, Spain Sephardic citizenship plan hits snags
Significant hurdles placed by government, including learning Spanish, leave some eligible Jews put off by initiative
By Alan Clendenning and Tia Goldenberg
The Congress of Deputies of Spain in session. (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)
February 28, 2015, 12:26 am
Sephardic Jews urge Spain to adopt law of return
Spanish-speaking community implores Madrid to follow Portuguese example and vote on legislation providing citizenship
By JTA
Illustrative: People stand near a gift shop in the old Jewish Quarter of Toledo, Spain, on February 27, 2014. (photo credit: AFP/Gerard Julien)
October 9, 2014, 7:59 am
Spanish city reconnects to Jewish past with Sukkot cultural festival
Two-day event in Toledo features Sephardic music, cuisine, workshops on building Sukkah
By JTA
Jordan Elgrably is executive director of the Levantine Cultural Center in Los Angeles. (Anthony Weiss/JTA)
June 24, 2014, 11:41 pm
LA center pushes Mideast peace with coexistence culture
Levantine Cultural Center encourages Jews, Christians and Muslims to see themselves as heirs to a common heritage
By Anthony Weiss
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