Dear Friends,
In 2024 the ASF welcomed a select group of 55 Sephardi House Fellows on campuses coast-to-coast – students who exemplify Jewish values, vision, and vitality. From UCLA, Virginia Tech, and SUNY to Harvard, Yale, and UPenn, our students joined nearly 60 alumni in making a significant impact on Jewish campus life and beyond.
Since October 7th, ASF Sephardi House Fellows have been mobilizing against antisemitism and standing up for the Jewish people and Israel. Our students have organized more than 100 campus programs that have reached thousands of their peers, written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Yale Daily News, and Times of Israel, appeared on MSNBC and Fox News, as well as testified before the U.S. Congress. Students report that their Jewish advocacy was informed by Sephardi House:
“Immersing myself into Sephardic and Mizrahi heritage through the Sephardi House Fellowship Shabbaton, truly enriched my neshama. I felt immense pride in my Sephardi heritage and felt emboldened to make this pride visible on my campus” ~Yasmine Abouzaglo, Columbia University
“One of the most unforgettable memories of this program was my community building project. I was able to bring my Jewish voice—my Sephardic heritage and culture—to campus….I could not have done it without the ASF’s support” ~Abigail Rabbany, Hofstra University
“Being a part of the Sephardi House Fellowship is one of the most meaningful and empowering experiences of my life…I got to experience the exact nature of Classical Sephardic tenets: richness, diversity, and a lively place to call home. I really see… ASF as a place I can come back to for learning, sharing stories, and staying in close communication with everyone I have met” ~Tal Israeli, UCLA
As we look forward to 2025, with gratitude and optimism, please join the ASF and our Sephardi House Fellows in lighting a flame for vibrant Jewish life on campus, in our communities, and in countries around the world. With your steadfast support, we can educate and empower the next generation of Jewish leadership, and ensure American Jewish life is infused with the wisdom and warmth of the Classic Sephardic tradition for generations to come.
Hanukkah Sameah! and Happy New Year!,
Jason Guberman Executive Director, American Sephardi Federation
P.S. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, donating securities, or planned giving options, please email info@americansephardi.org or leave a message at 212.294.8350. A financial professional from AllianceBernstein is standing by to speak with you. To donate by mail, please send a check payable to “American Sephardi Federation” to 15 W 16th St., New York, NY, 10011.
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Hanukkah Candle Lighting in the Meir Tweig Synagogue, Baghdad, Mid-1990s
Watch rare video footage of Iraq’s last Jews praying the Meir Tweig, the only functioning synagogue by the mid-1990s in a city (Baghdad) that once was home to more than 45 synagogues.