5 Mind-Blowing Differences Between Sephardic & Ashkenazi Jews | Big Jewish Ideas

While about 93% of American Jews identify with Ashkenazi heritage, Israel and the globe are home to a diverse mix of Sephardic, Mizrahi, and other Jewish communities. Yet, media often presents an Ashkenormative image, overshadowing the reality that a significant number of Jews worldwide don’t fit into this category. In North America, the major Jewish communities are Ashkenazi - with ties to countries like Germany, France, and Eastern Europe - and Sephardic, from Portugal and Spain. But that’s just part of the story - globally, there exists a vibrant mosaic of other Jewish cultures, including Mizrahi Jews from the Middle East, Ethiopian Jews, and numerous others. Despite their unique languages, cuisines, and even some Jewish customs, all these groups share the core connection of Judaism and are part of a singular, global peoplehood. This series is part of a partnership with the Z3 Project. More about their work can be found at Chapters 00