The American Sephardi Federation reflects on 2021 with gratitude and optimism. At a time when pressing challenges face the Jewish world, we are responding with vigor and determination: hiring a full-time ASF National Director of Sephardi House and Young Leadership to lead a renaissance of Sephardic Jewish life on university campuses coast-to-coast; leveraging digital platforms to take ASF's traditional strength in creating scholarly and cultural programs to a growing, global audience of more than 100,000; and building cross-cultural coalitions to champion the Sephardic legacy and advocate for Jewish concerns in the US and on the world stage.
We are seeing a resurgence of interest in Greater Sephardic history and culture, as well as increasing recognition that American Sephardi leadership is vital to the Jewish future. Join the ASF now to make the most of this moment!
With your steadfast support, the ASF can go from strength to strength ensuring that the Sephardic flame, a beacon of wisdom and warmth, burns brightly on campus, in the American Jewish community, and in countries around the world.
Please renew your commitment to the ASF today! We are dedicated and appreciative of your year-end gift at any level:
- Donations of $76 or more include The Pomegranate Card; $180 or more includes ASF IJE Classic Membership; & $1,000 or more includes ASF IJE Full Membership
- Donate $2,600 to Sponsor New York’s 5th Annual Ladino Day: Salud i Vida!
- Donate $5,000 to sponsor a Sephardi House Fellow for 2022!
Jewish continuity depends on cultivating the next generation with the classic Sephardic teachings that have been a source of strength, resilience, and unity throughout the ages. Our National Director of Sephardi House & Young Leadership is one of the most senior Sephardi members in the ranks of Jewish communal leadership, as well as one of the only millennials in such a position. We are about to announce Sephardi House’s second cohort, featuring student influencers at universities across the country, from Yale to Stanford University.
2021 ASF Broome & Allen Scholars Isaac de Castro and Julia Jassey were honored yesterday by the Anti-Defamation League as “Creators, Conveners, Influencers” against antisemitism.
Dr. Hélène Jawhara Piñer, a 2018 ASF Broome & Allen Fellow, is now the best-selling author of Sephardi: Cooking the History. Recipes of the Jews of Spain and the Diaspora, from the 13th Century to Today and 2021 ASF Broome & Allen Fellow Dr. Carlos Yebra López is teaching Ladino at the University of Oxford’s Centre for Hebrew & Jewish Studies.
ASF Sephardi House 1st Fellowship Cohort 2020-2021
From spearheading the Justice for Sarah Halimi, Spain Promises, & Free Levi Marhabi & Stop Houthi Antisemitism campaigns to championing Jewish unity in opposition to the divisive and destructive California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, the ASF is frequently at the forefront of addressing the most pressing issues facing our constituents and the Jewish people.
As the Sephardic Voice in the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and World Jewish Congress, the ASF is in the room and has a reputation for realizing results with world-class partners.
(R to L): Professor Emmanuel Kattan (Director, Columbia University’s Alliance Program), Professor Clémence Boulouque (Colombia University's Department of Religion), Rabbi Dr. Richard Hidary (Yeshiva University), Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa (Secretary General, Muslim World League), Jason Guberman (Executive Director, American Sephardi Federation), Professor Ephraim Isaac (Institute of Semitic Studies), & Imam Mohamed Jebara, “What Muslim & Jewish Philosopher Can Teach The World? Challenges & Opportunities Rooted in History,” Center for Jewish History, 22 October 2021
Together with the Combat Antisemitism Movement and Jazz Leadership Project, the ASF created “Combating Racism and Antisemitism Together: Shaping an Omni-American Future,” a two-day event honoring Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Wynton Marsalis and US Congressman Ritchie Torres.
Regularly featured in popular US (AP, Algemeiner, San Diego Union-Tribune) and world press (Asharq Al-Awsat, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Jerusalem Post) our 100+ programs this past year have brought together people who share our passion for perpetuating knowledge of Jewish history, philosophy, values, and vision.
Together with Western Sephardi (Spanish & Portuguese) communities in the US, Caribbean, Europe, and Israel, the ASF Institute of Jewish Experience reconnected the Global Nação with a series of events, including Tisha B’Ab Kinot, Hosha’ana Raba Meldaduras, Pre-Shabu’ot Azharot, & a Virtual Tu Bisvhat Seder.
Sharaka: Gulf-Israel Social Entrepreneurship Center Signs 1st MOU with the American Sephardi Federation, Center for Jewish History, 29 July 2021. The ASF’s approach to building relationships “not based on victimhood or polarization but on collaboration and creativity” was featured in Newsweek.
The ASF Institute of Jewish Experience’s “Reclaiming Identity: Jews of Arab Lands & Iran Share Stories of Identity, Struggle, & Redemption” on Jewish Refugees Day (30 Nov), a first-of-its-kind global event, featured: Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, the ASF’s President David Dangoor, Hakhamim Albert Gabbai (Rabbi of Mikveh Israel) and Elie Abadie (Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates/Chair, ASF Council of Sephardic Sages), Former US Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor & Combat Antisemitsm Ellie Cohanim, Egyptian Public Intellectual Tarek Heggy, Drs. Rachel Yadid (Executive Director, Eeleh BeTamar) and Shimon Ohayon (Director, Aharon and Rachel Dahan Center for Culture, Society and Education in the Sephardic Heritage at Bar-Ilan University), as well as many more.
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The American Sephardi Federation invites all individuals, communities, and organizations who share our vision & principles to join us in signing the American Sephardi Leadership Statement!