Sephardim

This week in Jewish history: Nobel prize winners, biochemists, and the Baba Sali

A highly abridged weekly version of Dust & Stars – Today in Jewish History.

|BySTEVEN DRUCKER
Baba Baruch, heir of Baba Sali, speaks to prime minister Yitzhak Shamir during traditional ceremonies in Netivot, 1988.
A supporter of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro holds up a portrait of him in Caracas, Venezuela, January 3, 2026.

Maduro has claimed Jewish ancestry, here is what is known - explainer

Maduro has cited Sephardic Jewish roots, but his own statements and the public record leave his Jewish status unconfirmed.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Shas spiritual leader and former Sephardic chief rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, seen during a weekly lecture at the Yazdim synagogue in Jerusalem, June 07, 2025; illustrative.

Ex-Sephardi chief rabbi slams Tel Aviv rabbi as 'heretic' after he calls for haredi IDF enlistment

Rabbi Tamir Granot's son, Capt. Amitay Zvi Granot, was killed shortly after Hamas's October 7 attack in an incident on the Lebanon border while fighting Hezbollah. 

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Musaf prayer for Rosh Hashanah in a page of the rare 15th century Lisbon Mahzor now at the National Library of Israel.

Two-thirds of a 15th-century Portuguese High Holiday prayer book were lost to history. Until now.

The Lisbon Mahzor is now complete after the National Library of Israel reclaims its missing parts, preserving a key piece of Jewish history.

|ByGRACE GILSON/JTA

Bridging Histories: New WJC exhibition celebrates Sephardi history, heritage and contributions

"Sephardi Heritage is Jewish Heritage," says Rabbi Isaac Choua, of Lebanese origins, who oversees the exhibition, promoted as part of Sephardi Heritage Month.

NOVEMBER 28, 2024ByOHAD MERLIN
Part of the exhibit.

'Across So Many Seas': Sephardi history from young adults - review

Ruth Behar tells the stories of four generations of 12-year-old Sephardi girls in a single family over a 500-year period. Music, poetry, and food all play significant roles in the interwoven stories.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024ByRIVKAH LAMBERT ADLER
'Auto de fe en la plaza Mayor de Madrid,' painted by Francisco Rizzi, 1680.

Rabbi David Yosef chosen as Israel's Sephardic chief rabbi

Position for Ashkenazi role sees tie • New round of votes not yet set

SEPTEMBER 29, 2024ByELIAV BREUER
Rabbi David Yosef.

The unsung Sephardi pioneers who built Jerusalem and beyond - opinion

Learn about the forgotten Sephardi pioneers who played a crucial role in building modern Israel, long before the First Aliyah.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024ByLYN JULIUS
A MURAL shows Aharon Chelouche, far left, who founded Neveh Tzedek, with Shimon Rokach, center, in the foreground, and Haim Amzalak dressed as British vice-consul. On the right is Zerah Barnett, who also contributed to Neveh Tzedek’s founding.

Silvio Santos, legendary Jewish Brazilian TV host and media mogul, dies at 93

Silvio Santos, Brazil’s top TV personality and media mogul, passed away at 93. Known for his Jewish pride and philanthropy, Santos left a lasting legacy.

AUGUST 20, 2024ByMARCUS M. GILBAN / JTA
Brazil's most famous TV personality and host of various game shows Silvio Santos waves to the crowd from atop his float for the 'Tradicao' samba school during a late-evening parade at the Sambadrome stadium in Rio de Janeiro February 25, 2001.

From Essaouira to Latin America: Reviving the Moroccan Jewish Diaspora’s rich history

'These exchanges culminated in a collective commitment to strengthen bonds between Jewish communities across Latin America and their historical roots in Morocco.'

AUGUST 3, 2024ByALEX WINSTON
JACOB MARRACHE presents to the director of Bayt Dakira Ghita Rabouli the book resulting from his project transcribing ‘beit din’ ledger books from Essaouira dating from 1919 to the 1960s.

Major haredi systems to face organizational overhaul after financial trouble

The issue of the haredi school system is unrelated to the ongoing issue of the haredi exemption from IDF service, whose legal basis expired in July 2023.

AUGUST 1, 2024ByELIAV BREUER
HAREDI STUDENTS learn in a yeshiva.

A vision for the future: Observations of Jewish life and heritage in Morocco - opinion

Essaouira, with its rich history and vibrant culture, stands as a reminder of what is possible when we embrace our shared heritage.

JULY 1, 2024ByNOAM BEDEIN
THE WRITER (third from left) poses with leaders of the Mimouna Association and participants from Latin America at the recent conference in Essaouira, Morocco.

ANU to screen documentary on plight of crypto-Jews

Israel must rise to challenge of welcoming millions of potential Jews and Israel supporters.

JUNE 1, 2024ByMARION FISCHEL
MEMBERS OF the Barra Salada and Armenia emerging communities in El Salvador pose with Michael Milgrom.

The Chief Rabbinate office is rife with nepotism, affecting Israeli society - opinion

Accusations of nepotism within Israel's rabbinate intensify amid upcoming elections. This practice, seen in key appointments, raises concerns about fairness and transparency.

MAY 30, 2024BySETH FARBER
ASHKENAZI CHIEF Rabbi David Lau (left) and Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef: The silence of our two chief rabbis is thunderously indicative of the abject state of these once meaningful and relevant positions, the writer argues.