Jewish Diversity: Ashkenazi, Sephardi & Mizrahi

Ashkenazi Jews trace their lineage to Central and Eastern Europe, where Jewish communities developed during the medieval period in areas such as Germany, Poland, Lithuania, and Russia. Over time, they faced migrations, pogroms, and the horrors of the Holocaust, but their cultural traditions endured and spread throughout Europe and the Americas.

Sephardi Jews, meanwhile, descend from the once-thriving Jewish population of the Iberian Peninsula. For centuries, Jews lived under both Christian and Muslim rule in Spain and Portugal, producing scholars, poets, and philosophers who helped shape Jewish thought. Following the expulsions of the late 15th century, most notably in 1492 in Spain, Sephardi Jews fled to more tolerant regions, including the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, and parts of Southern Europe. How did this massive displacement shape Sephardi identity? There, they preserved their customs and developed new communal identities in exile.

Mizrahi Jews, whose name means "Eastern" in Hebrew, have an even older story to tell. With deep roots in the Middle East and North Africa, their communities existed for millennia in places such as Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria, and Egypt. Unlike Ashkenazim and Sephardim, Mizrahi Jews were never expelled en masse from a single region but instead lived continuously in lands that had once been part of ancient Israelite and Babylonian civilizations. Their histories are deeply intertwined with the rise and fall of Islamic empires, under which they often thrived as merchants, scholars, and physicians.

What language, or languages, did Jews speak in exile? That depended on where they lived.

Each group developed unique linguistic traditions reflecting the surrounding cultures. Ashkenazi Jews spoke Yiddish, a Germanic language infused with Hebrew and Slavic elements, which served not only as a means of communication but as a vehicle for rich literary expression. The works of Yiddish writers like Sholem Aleichem brought humor, pathos, and a vivid portrait of Eastern European shtetl life to the world.

Sephardim spoke Ladino, also known as Judeo-Spanish. This language preserved many features of medieval Spanish, enriched with Hebrew terms and borrowings from Turkish, Arabic, and Greek. Ladino songs, proverbs, and folktales still echo in the homes of Sephardi descendants today, though the language itself is now endangered.

Mizrahi Jews, on the other hand, communicated in an array of dialects depending on their location: Judeo-Arabic, Judeo-Persian, and other regional languages allowed them to participate fully in the intellectual and commercial life of their host societies while maintaining a distinct Jewish identity. These languages were used to write religious texts, poetry, and commentaries, preserving ancient knowledge through local voices.

Though all Jews follow the Torah, how they practice their faith varies greatly. Have you ever noticed differences in how holidays are observed between communities?

Ashkenazi religious life is shaped by the legal rulings of figures like Rabbi Moshe Isserles, whose commentary on the Shulchan Aruch formalized many regional customs. Ashkenazi synagogue services often feature a more formal, structured, and linear prayer style, and traditions such as waiting six hours between eating meat and dairy are common. 

Sephardi Jews tend to follow the legal rulings of Rabbi Yosef Karo, the primary author of the Shulchan Aruch. Their prayer services are typically more melodic, with unique musical modes and poetic additions that enhance the liturgy. Holidays and lifecycle events may include customs with roots in Spanish and North African Jewish life, reflecting both unity and regional flavor. Could this reflect the blending of cultures they experienced over centuries?

Mizrahi religious practices are diverse, often echoing Sephardic norms while preserving unique traditions. For instance, Iraqi Jews incorporate maqamim, specific musical modes, into weekly Torah readings, linking music and scripture in a distinctly local form. Yemenite Jews, whose pronunciation of Hebrew is considered among the most ancient, follow prayer rites and halachic interpretations that differ even from other Mizrahim, offering a rare glimpse into early Jewish ritual. 

What better way to understand a culture than through its food?

Cuisine offers a delicious lens through which to explore Jewish diversity. Ashkenazi dishes like gefilte fish, matzah ball soup, potato kugel, and brisket reflect the cold climates and are rooted in the ingredients available in Eastern Europe, designed to sustain families through long, cold winters and Shabbat observance. Designed to nourish and observe Jewish law, these foods became comfort staples across generations. 

Sephardi cuisine, by contrast, is infused with the warmth and spices of the Mediterranean. Dishes such as couscous, eggplant salad, bourekas filled with cheese or spinach, and rice with herbs reflect both Iberian origins and the culinary influence of North Africa and the Middle East. Their dishes often balance spice and sweetness. 

Mizrahi food is deeply tied to the flavors of the Arab world and Persia. Popular dishes include stuffed grape leaves, kibbeh, shakshuka, and aromatic stews like chraime. These meals are often seasoned with cumin, coriander, and cinnamon, ingredients rarely found in Ashkenazi kitchens. These meals tell stories of bustling markets and ancient trade routes. 

Music, too, reveals cultural vibrancy. Sephardi and Mizrahi melodies use intricate rhythms and Arabic scales. Traditional garments, especially during celebrations, often feature bright fabrics and embroidery. 

Check out our special recipes from around the world!

What happens when centuries of diaspora converge in one country?

Across the globe, Jewish communities have followed different historical paths. Today, Ashkenazi Jews make up the majority of Jews in North America and Europe, where their influence shapes much of what many consider to be "mainstream" Jewish culture, especially in areas like synagogue organization, education, language, and media. Their institutions, liturgical style, and communal leadership models have become dominant in many parts of the Jewish world, particularly in the West.

Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews, by contrast, were often centered in lands stretching from Spain and North Africa to the Middle East and Central Asia. Following the expulsion from Spain in 1492, Sephardi Jews spread throughout the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, the Balkans, and parts of Italy and the Levant. Mizrahi Jews, those whose roots remained continuously in the Middle East and surrounding regions, lived for centuries in places like Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Egypt, and Iran. These communities developed rich religious, linguistic, and cultural traditions deeply intertwined with their local environments.

However, the 20th century brought profound change. As Arab nationalism and regional conflicts intensified, Jews in Muslim-majority countries increasingly faced persecution, discrimination, and displacement. From the 1940s through the 1970s, large waves of Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews left or were expelled from their homelands, many arriving in Israel seeking refuge and a new beginning. Some also settled in France, Latin America, and parts of the U.S., but Israel quickly became the central home for these communities.

Since 1948, the State of Israel has welcomed Jews from all over the world. The establishment of the Jewish homeland brought together diverse Jewish communities into a single national project. Early on, Ashkenazi customs and leadership dominated Israeli public institutions, government, and culture, often marginalizing the traditions of Sephardi and Mizrahi immigrants. Many of these immigrants faced social and economic discrimination, were placed in transit camps and peripheral development towns, and had limited access to political power. Despite these challenges, they held fast to their heritage and slowly began to reshape the Israeli cultural landscape.

Over time, Israeli society has evolved into a vibrant mosaic that increasingly values the full spectrum of Jewish identity. Sephardi and Mizrahi communities have seen a revival in recent decades, particularly as second- and third-generation Israelis rise into positions of cultural, academic, and political leadership. Their traditions, once sidelined, are now a celebrated part of the national story. Mizrahi music plays on national radio, Sephardi cuisine is found in restaurants across the country, and Ashkenazi scholarship continues to shape educational life. Intermarriage between groups is common, blending customs and forming new hybrid traditions in everything from Shabbat meals to wedding ceremonies.

In synagogues, schools, arts, and government, voices from all Jewish backgrounds contribute to shaping a uniquely Israeli identity: one that acknowledges its complex past while embracing a more inclusive and multifaceted future. Despite the challenges that remain, the convergence of Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi life in Israel offers a powerful example of how a shared faith and destiny can unite vastly different cultural experiences into a common national narrative.

The story of the Jewish people is not a single thread, but a woven tapestry of diaspora, adaptation, and enduring faith, as well as a harmony of many. Understanding the differences between Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi Jews is not about division; it’s about embracing the full spectrum of Jewish culture and appreciating how diverse paths have led to a shared journey. Each group brings its own rhythms, tastes, languages, and perspectives to the Jewish story, enriching it for generations to come.