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Sephardic Jews are a minority within a minority in the US. Too often they have been overshadowed by the majority Ashkenazi community, despite the success of high-profile personalities, including entertainers like Law & Order actor Jerry Orbach and pop singer Paula Abdul, and historical figures such as early 20th-century Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo and 19th-century poet Emma Lazarus. Like other American Jews, they arrived as refugees — in fact arrived before their Ashkenazi counterparts — and forced to carve out new lives for themselves and their children by working hard, learning English and becoming “American.”
Hadassah Magazine Deputy Editor Libby Barnea hosts a discussion with three women shining a light on the Sephardic and Mizrahi experience in the United States. Syrian Jewish writer Esther Chehebar, author of the best-selling novel Sisters of Fortune and a co-host of the new podcast GOLDA Girls; Sara Levin, executive director of JIMENA, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that advocates for Jews from the Middle East and North Africa, who has Turkish Jewish roots; and Rozeeta Mavashev, North America executive director of Masa Israel, who is of Bukharian Jewish descent, share their Sephardic and Mizrahi perspectives as well as stories of how their experiences have contributed to, and evolved in, America over time.
Further Resources
- Read the story in Hadassah Magazine on the Sephardic and Mizrahi community in America.
- Read a companion story about four women from diverse Sephardic and Mizrahi heritages, including panelist one of whom is the panelist Esther Chehebar.
- Link to the groundbreaking community study, “Sephardic & Mizrahi Jews in the United States: Identities, Experiences and Communities,” from JIMENA.
- More from leading organizations working in this space: JIMENA, The American Sephardi Federation, SAMi.
- This episode is sponsored by Masa Israel Journey. Learn more at MasaIsrael.org.
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Hadassah Magazine Presents, a podcast based on the popular monthly Zoom series, was created to bring to life some of the features of Hadassah Magazine that our readers love. From author interviews with women writers whose books touch on Jewish themes, to deep dives and panel discussions on timely topics, you’ll find something to inform, entertain, engage and uplift you. This podcast is perfect listening for when you're commuting, exercising, on a walk, wherever you travel, enabling you to enjoy a bit of Hadassah Magazine on the go.
The show is hosted by Hadassah Magazine Executive Editor Lisa Hostein and produced by Hadassah Magazine with the support of the Engagement and Marketing divisions of Hadassah.
Our podcast editor is Arielle Kaplan.
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