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.

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

 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

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.


Passover: Why the Exodus resonates with Jews from Arab countries

At this year’s Seder, Jews with roots in Arab and Muslim countries might be reflecting, in spite of all the hardships, that the exodus was a blessing and a liberation from persecution.

 Jews being airlifted from Iraq

Sephardi chief rabbi warns of Israel civil war, calls for peace

The rabbi said that while he does not get involved in politics, he believes that all sides need to come to the table and hold dialogue with each other.

 Israel's Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef attends a rally against Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana conversion and kashrut reforms plan, at the International Convention Center, on February 1, 2022.

Lorraine Hansberry’s second play revived by Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan

Hansberry, who's work is being revived, saw just two of her works produced on Broadway before her death from cancer at 34 in 1965.

 Molly Ranson and Francis Benhamou star in “Prayer for the French Republic,” a new off-Broadway play at Manhattan Theatre Club.

Remains of Medieval Synagogue found in Spain

This is one of very few Jewish structures still in existence after Spain's expulsion of the Jews.

SYNAGOGUE IN the Mellah, once home to the city’s Jewish population, Marrakech 2019. It was originally built in 1492 by Jews expelled from Spain

The Mizrahi-Ashkenazi divide: The differences in Jewish cuisine

With a diasporic community spreading from Morocco to Iran, it is no surprise that the cuisine that developed in these countries reflects the food cultures around them.

 DOUGHY JACHNUN

Does Israel still discriminate against Mizrahi Jews?

Are there still gaps between Jews of Mizrahi and Ashkenazi descent in Israel today? And if so, where and how do they manifest themselves?

 SHAS CHAIRMAN Arye Deri and MK Yaacov Margi attend a Shas educational institution conference.

The Lost Tribes of Israel: Who are their descendants today?

There is a group of people looking to uncover the truth behind the lost tribes in order to determine where they went and to integrate them back into the Jewish people.

 TWELVE TRIBES mosaic (Middle candelabrum modified).

'Nobody cares about LGBTQ+ people' - Smotrich in surfaced recordings

In the conversation, Smotrich said that his position against the LGBTQ+ community does not hurt him politically because his voters don't care.

 FINANCE MINISTER Bezalel Smotrich, head of the Religious Zionist Party, addresses a meeting of his Knesset faction on Monday.

Haredi rabbi slams Smotrich for reducing soda tax

"These fools. This donkey is lowering the tax on sugary drinks. Moron. Our country is number one in diabetic amputations. Over 10% of the population."

 Rabbi Ben Zion Mutzafi.

What will be impact if Rabbinate picks IDF chief rabbi? - analysis

The issue could be making a mountain out of a molehill. Yet, it could also be a case of some of the political class trying to dress up a future major strike on the IDF’s independence.

 SEPHARDI CHIEF Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef delivers an address. ‘I feel that it’s important for me to remind Rabbi Yosef that Israel was established to bring Jews in the Diaspora close to her, not to ostracize them,’ says the writer.