Sephardi, or Sephardic Jews (Sephardim, plural) make up the second largest identifiable Jewish culture today. The largest Jewish group is the Ashkenazi Jews, who originated in Eastern Europe. Sephardic Jewish ancestry extends through the Iberian Peninsula—Portugal and Spain. Because they were separated by distance, Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews developed different customs and identities.
Is Sephardi a Religion?
Because their homeland was in Southwestern Europe, Sephardim were identified as Southern Jews, as opposed to Eastern Jews, the Ashkenazim. Their customs vary, but both still practice Judaism, with a few variations. Sephardic Jews tend to observe more orthodox customs.
How Do You Identify Sephardic Jews?
The Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews are most obviously differentiated by their naming patterns. The Ashkenazic Jews followed a patronymic system until the 1800s, when they were forced to take surnames. Sephardic Jewish surnames, on the other hand, were adopted when Sephardi settled in Southern Europe during the 1100s and have remained consistent since.
Variations in headstone positioning may also help identify the two groups in cemeteries. Ashkenazic headstones are generally upright, while Sephardic headstones are often horizontal and more ornamented. The difference developed due to weather patterns. The climate in Eastern Europe can be harsh, and upright headstones sustained less damage. In the milder climate of Spain and Portugal, headstones could lie flat on the grave, without incurring serious weather damage.
What Is the History of Sephardic Jews?
In 1492, Sephardic Jews were expelled from Spain and then from Portugal a few years later. Many fled to then Dutch-owned parts of Brazil. The Dutch allowed religious diversity, but after about two decades, Portugal took possession of Brazil, and the Jews fled.
Many Sephardic Jews fled to the islands of the Caribbean, especially Spanish Jamaica and Cuba. A number of synagogues in the Caribbean were established in the 1520s—about a hundred years before the landing of the Mayflower in the Massachusetts Bay area. A handful of Sephardim settled in New Netherlands (now New York) in 1654. They weren’t the first Jews in New Netherlands, but they were the first documented group. Most were Sephardim, but some may have been Ashkenazim. They established communities and businesses in various areas.
Luis Gomez, a Spanish-Sephardic Jewish merchant and trader, was in one of these established communities in New Amsterdam. In 1705 he was granted an Act of Denization by the Queen, went on to build a thriving business, and developed great influence in the area. He led the drive to construct the Mill Street Synagogue in lower Manhattan, the first synagogue of Shearith Israel. Many Jews enlisted and fought valiantly in the United States Revolutionary War and were honored by George Washington for their service.
Who Are the Descendants of Sephardi?
Many Sephardic Jews are unaware of their Jewish descent. Probably five times as many people are of Sephardic Jewish descent today than know they have that ancestry. Sephardic Jewish populations are largest in Spain, Portugal, South America, and the Caribbean. Today, they are scattered throughout the world. In Israel, Jewish cultures such as Sephardi and Ashkenazi tend to gather together in their own groups.
How Do You Find and Prove Sephardic Ancestry?
The work of Todd Knowles has produced the Knowles Collection, available on FamilySearch. The collection contains 1.5 million names of Jewish people from all over the world, and Sephardic Jews are included in this collection.
To learn how to find and search the Knowles Collection for your Sephardic ancestors, check out the Knowles Collection article below.
