In Memory of Israeli Embassy staffers Sarah Milgrim (an American) and Yaron Lischinsky (a German Israeli), HY”D, who were assassinated by an antisemitic terrorist outside a diplomatic event at Washington, D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum. In September 2024, Sarah went on a mission to Morocco as part of the AJC-Mimouna Michael Sachs Fellowship for Emerging Leaders. We join our friends and partners, the AJC and Mimouna Association, in mourning the murders of Yaron and Sarah, “a painful reminder that antisemitism is not a relic of the past, but a violent threat we must continue to confront with courage and unity.” Political violence has no place in the Capital of the Free World, antisemitism is anathema to America, and efforts to counter antisemitism must not come at the expense of freedom and thus the future of the American Jewish community.
Click here to dedicate a future issue in honor or memory of a loved one
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The Sephardi World Weekly is made possible by Daniel Yifrach, Rachel Sally, Professor Rifka Cook, Maria Gabriela Borrego Medina, Rachel Amar, Deborah Arellano, & ASF VP Gwen Zuares!
Don’t miss the latest Sephardi Ideas Monthly: “Two Jewish Songs, Ancient and Israeli”
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“Analyzing and criticizing the dangers of ‘Mein Kampf’ with newly annotated edition”
By Lisa Deaderick, The San Diego Union-Tribune
Historiciser le mal: une édition critique de Mein Kampf (Historicizing Evil: A Critical Edition of Mein Kampf)
(Photo courtesy of Fayard)
In the wake of Wednesday’s antisemitic attack in Washington, D.C., there has been a proliferation of calls to curtail antisemitic speech. Some have gone so far as to denigrate the fundamental freedoms that are essential to American liberty rooted in law. This would not only be morally wrong, but a strategic mistake.
In order to clarify why curtailing antisemitic speech is a strategic mistake, The Sephardi World Weekly is re-publishing an interview with the ASF’s Executive Director, Jason Guberman, that followed the 2021 publication of a French edition of Mein Kampf. Guberman then argued that “cancelling rather than refuting insidious ideas just allows them to become more contagious and deadly,” and he outlined what an effective response to antisemitism entails. Alas, in the years since, draconian measures have been tried and, as predicted, failed to arrest the rise of antisemitism. What’s more, to effectively face the antisemites in our midst, the Jewish community will need the ironclad protections of Free Speech with which to expose the evils of antisemitic ideologies (far-left, far-right, and Islamist) and to identify those acting under their influence.
Feature: NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival Flashback
Neta Elkayam, Closing Night of the 24th NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival, Moise Safra Center, 7 April 2022
Ahead of the 27th NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival, part of the inaugural Festival Sefarad, next month, we are presenting this moving performance of Muhal Nensah (“I Won’t Forget Him”) by ASF Pomegranate Award honoree Neta Elkayam with Amit Hai Cohen on keys from NYSJFF 24.
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Birkenau (Auschwitz II) How 72,000 Greek Jews Perished
By Albert Menache, M.D.
Memoirs of An Eyewitness; NUMBER 124454
This is the story of the destruction of the Balkan Sephardic Jewish Community by the Nazis in WWII. Written by the President of the Jewish Community of Salonica, Greece, it is the earliest published account by a survivor. Written while still in the concentration camp on smuggled paper, it has been out of print since the first edition appeared in 1947.
This new edition has been updated with historical documents, photographs, and notes on the restoration of Jewish life in Greece after the war.
Watch Dr. Joe Halio speak about “Dr. Albert Menache & The Holocaust in Salonika”
Voices in Exile: A Study in Sephardic Intellectual History
By Rabbi Dr. Marc D. Angel
Rabbi Angel explores the teachings of the Sephardi sages and thinkers who flourished around the Mediterranean and in the New World in the centuries after the Expulsion.
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We are thrilled to announce the much anticipated 27th New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival with the participation of Michel Boujenah, Fortuna, Roya Hakakian, Enrico Macias, and Yael Naim.
Please mark your calendar for Sunday, June 8th, as we kick off a week-long cinematic journey of untold stories celebrating the diversity, poignancy, and humor of the Greater Sephardic world.
Join us for unforgettable experiences filled with exclusive screenings, insightful discussions, and captivating performances.
The Best Way to Experience the Festival:
VIP Festival Pass
Access and VIP Seating at All ASF Events (including Opening & Closing Night Private Meet & Greet Receptions, Pomegranate Awards Ceremony, Enrico Macias Performance) and Film Screenings
All-Access Pass
Access and general seating at the Opening and Closing Night Ceremonies, all Movie Screenings, Q&As, and Special Daytime Events
Festival Week Pass
Access only to film screenings
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Opening Night Only or
Closing Night Only Tickets
Special Offer: Buy One $19.99 Movie Ticket, Get One Free
When you buy a film screening ticket, we will email you a complimentary ticket for another
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Discuss Sponsorship or Advertising: [email protected]
Email Inquires: [email protected]
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Be a Part of the Festival!
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The American Sephardi Federation presents:
Festival Sefarad
In collaboration with over 40 leading communal institutions, Festival Sefarad NYC will unfold across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island, a movable feast ensuring accessibility and welcoming participation from every corner of the Jewish community.
With the support of the UJA-Federation of New York, Festival Sefarad NYC is more than a festival. It is a celebration of who we are, and who we can be together.
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Be a Part of the Festival!
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The American Sephardi Federation’s Sephardi House Fellowship is a unique learning, community-building, and leadership development program that infuses the diversity, creativity, and vibrancy of the Sephardic spirit into Jewish student life—while also advancing Jewish unity and vitality on campus.
Bringing together a select cohort of Jewish students from colleges across the United States, our program is the only national yearlong fellowship dedicated to deepening a sense of Jewish belonging through an immersion in the multifaceted history, cultures, and wisdom of the Sephardic and Mizrahi world.
For more information about ASF’s Sephardi House Fellowship, visit: www.sephardi.house
Apply Now!
Deadline: 1 August 2025, 11:59pm ET
For questions email the National Director of Sephardi House, Ruben Shimonov (rub[email protected]) and CC Sephardi House Engagement Associate, Stella Salmon ([email protected]).
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Upcoming Events or Opportunities
Our friends at Qesher present:
The Jewish Heritage of São Paulo, Brazil's Most Cosmopolitan City
“São Paulo is home to the largest Jewish community in Brazil and one of the most vibrant in Latin America. The Jewish presence in the city dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when waves of immigrants from Europe and the Middle East arrived, shaping São Paulo’s cultural, economic, and social landscape.
In this talk, we will explore the fascinating history of São Paulo's Jewish community, from its early days to the present.
Discover the city’s most significant Jewish landmarks, synagogues, institutions, and neighborhoods—each of which has played a crucial role in shaping Jewish life in Brazil.
Join us for an insightful journey through São Paulo's Jewish past and present!”
Sunday, 25 May 3:00PM EST
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $18
About the speaker:
Felipe Lichand is a historian and a licensed tour guide. He is an active member of the Jewish community in São Paulo and studied at both the Talmud Torah School and Renascença, the first Jewish school in São Paulo. His strongest connection to Judaism came through his involvement with the Jewish youth movement Hashomer Hatzair, where he was part of the leadership. It was through Hashomer Hatzair that he had the opportunity to spend a year in Israel.
After returning to Brazil, Felipe worked on an exhibition in São Paulo, organized by the Holocaust Museum of Curitiba, which sparked his interest in Jewish history and heritage and led him to receive a research scholarship in the field. In June 2019, he joined the Judaic Tourism project, becoming its coordinator in São Paulo and Santos. He is also a member of LAZOS and is passionate about sharing his knowledge of Jewish history in Brazil and connecting with Jewish communities around the world.
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The Habura in partnership with the American Sephardi Federation present:
Hakham Uziel’s Hegyonei Uziel
Join us for a two-part series exploring the Introduction and first section of Hegyonei Uziel, the deeply traditional but original work of Jewish thought written by Rabbi Ben Sion Meir Hai Uziel, the first Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel. In this book, R’ Uziel connects the soul, and the soul’s connection to God, to a robustly Jewish active life inspired by a vision of human excellence.
Wednesday, 28 May at 3:30PM EST
On Zoom (Room: 557 873 7802)
Join Live Zoom!
Tickets: Complimentary
Dr. Aryeh Tepper is Director of Publications at the American Sephardi Federation and a fellow at Ben Gurion University and the Center for American Culture and Ideas. He co-directs the Omni-American Future Project writes widely on Classic Sephardic Judaism. He is also author of “Progressive Minds,
Conservative Politics: Leo Strauss’ Later Writings on Maimonides.”
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Our friends at Kanisse in partnership with the American Sephardi Federation present:
Ancient Aleppo Shabbat
Join us as we revive these ancient prayers for Shabbat — for the first time in centuries in their original form as preserved in the Maḥzor Aram Ṣoba — and glimpse into the liturgical world of our Levantine ancestors. This immersive service will include historical insights into the elements that distinguish the ancient Aleppo rite from its modern counterpart, now featured in our newly published Zemirot HaMizraḥ Siddur for Shabbat Evening.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience a lost tradition come to life and reconnect with our ancient liturgical heritage!
Friday, 30 May, 6:00pm - 10:00pm
@The Jewish Theological Seminary
3080 Broadway (at W 122nd Street), New York, NY 10027
Sign-up Now!
Tickets: $36
Tickets include an option to add a discounted copy of the newly published Zemirot HaMizraḥ Siddur for Shabbat Evening
(due to retail at $29.95 but available at the event for $25).
Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ticket sales help cover a portion of our costs for this event. If you are unable to purchase a ticket but would like to attend, please email us at [email protected].
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The Museum of the Bible, the American Sephardi Federation, and Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) present:
Sacred Words: Revealing the Earliest Hebrew Book
Explore the new Library exhibit, featuring the remarkable story of the earliest Hebrew book.
On View through 17 July 2025
@Jewish Theological Seminary
3080 Broadway (at 122nd Street)
New York City
The exhibit is open to the public during Library Hours.
Group tours are available.
Please contact Dr. David Kraemer, Joseph J. and Dora Abbell Librarian and Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, for more information.
About the Exhibit:
After 1,300 years of untold travels along the Silk Roads, the oldest Hebrew book reveals its extraordinary story. In Sacred Words, guests will behold the oldest-known Hebrew book, containing Sabbath-morning prayers, liturgical poems, and the world’s oldest Haggadah, which was mysteriously written upside down. Learn about the book’s content, its origins on the Silk Roads, and the multicultural cooperation that brought it first to Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC. This sacred book has a story to tell. Come discover it.
This exhibition was created in partnership with the American Sephardi Federation and the Museum of the Bible.
