Sephardic Jews

Definition

Sephardic Jews refer to the Jewish communities that originated in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and later spread throughout the Mediterranean region, North Africa, and the Ottoman Empire. They are distinguished from the Ashkenazi Jews, who primarily settled in Central and Eastern Europe.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sephardic Jews developed a distinct culture, language, and traditions that were influenced by their Iberian heritage and their interactions with other cultures in the Mediterranean region.
2. After the expulsion from Spain, many Sephardic Jews fled to the Ottoman Empire, the Netherlands, and the Americas, where they played a significant role in trade, finance, and the development of colonial societies.
3. Sephardic Jews maintained strong ties to their Iberian roots and often used the term 'Sephardim' to refer to themselves, distinguishing them from the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe.
4. Sephardic Jews were known for their contributions to scholarship, philosophy, and the arts, producing renowned figures such as the philosopher Maimonides and the poet Samuel ha-Nagid.
5. The Sephardic diaspora led to the establishment of thriving Jewish communities in cities like Salonica, Amsterdam, and Livorno, which became important centers of Sephardic culture and commerce.

Review Questions

• Describe the historical context that led to the emergence of Sephardic Jewish communities.
  • The Sephardic Jewish communities emerged as a result of the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. After the Alhambra Decree, which ordered the conversion or expulsion of all Jews from Spain, many Sephardic Jews fled to the Ottoman Empire, the Netherlands, and the Americas, where they established new communities and continued to maintain their distinct cultural and religious traditions. This diaspora played a significant role in the development of colonial societies and trade networks in the Mediterranean and Atlantic worlds.
• Explain the unique cultural and linguistic characteristics of Sephardic Jews.
  • Sephardic Jews developed a distinct culture, language, and traditions that were heavily influenced by their Iberian heritage and their interactions with other cultures in the Mediterranean region. They spoke Ladino, a Judeo-Spanish language that incorporated elements of Hebrew, Arabic, and other languages. Sephardic Jews also made significant contributions to scholarship, philosophy, and the arts, producing renowned figures such as the philosopher Maimonides and the poet Samuel ha-Nagid. The Sephardic diaspora led to the establishment of thriving Jewish communities in cities like Salonica, Amsterdam, and Livorno, which became important centers of Sephardic culture and commerce.
• Analyze the role of Sephardic Jews in the developing Atlantic world and their impact on colonial societies.
  • After the expulsion from Spain, many Sephardic Jews fled to the Ottoman Empire, the Netherlands, and the Americas, where they played a significant role in trade, finance, and the development of colonial societies. In the Americas, Sephardic Jews established communities in places like Brazil, the Caribbean, and the Dutch colonies, and they contributed to the economic and cultural growth of these regions. Their expertise in trade and finance, as well as their connections to global networks, made them valuable assets to the colonial powers. The Sephardic diaspora thus had a profound impact on the development of the Atlantic world, as these communities became integral parts of the emerging colonial societies and trade networks.

Related terms

Expulsion of Jews from Spain: In 1492, the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella issued the Alhambra Decree, which ordered the expulsion of all Jews from Spain unless they converted to Catholicism.

Crypto-Jews: Also known as Marranos, these were Jews who outwardly converted to Christianity but secretly continued to practice Judaism in order to avoid persecution.

Ladino: The Judeo-Spanish language spoken by Sephardic Jews, which is based on medieval Spanish and incorporates elements of Hebrew, Arabic, and other languages.