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Torah and Jewish Idea => Torah and Jewish Idea => Topic started by: RationalThought110 on September 24, 2007, 04:51:46 PM

Title: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: RationalThought110 on September 24, 2007, 04:51:46 PM
Why do some people still use these terms?  Should they have any relevance today? 

Could someone explain to me how "Ashkenazic" and "Sephardic" originated and how they differed in customs?  Are there any good websites that explain this?  I was looking at Chabad's site but, surprisingly, I couldn't find anything there about it.  There's probably something there on that site so if someone finds it, let me know. 


In Israel for example, shouldn't Jews be united as Jews rather than anyone thinking of themselves as part of some kind of sub-group?  I don't think these so-called classifications are relevant anymore. 


Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: RationalThought110 on September 24, 2007, 09:18:42 PM
The two groups started because Jews in different parts of The World had their own customs that developed there. Jews in France and Germany were called Ashkenazim and developed The Ashkenazic Rite and Jews in Spain, Muslim, and Eastern countries developed The Sfardic/Mizrachi Rite. The Jews of Italy developed The Italian Rite and I think this most resembles The Land of Israel Rite, because The Italian Rite is the oldest Diaspora rite.



What were any of the differences among their customs?
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: RationalThought110 on September 24, 2007, 09:42:37 PM
The prayers are slightly different.



Do you know of any specific example(s)?
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Wayne Jude on September 24, 2007, 09:58:53 PM
Yes explain
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Eitan on September 24, 2007, 10:02:48 PM
The prayers are slightly different.



Do you know of any specific example(s)?
in my community we have Ashkenazic and Sephardic and we did 'SLICHOT' togather and it was diffrent. ;D
but we found temporary solution for that.

Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Wayne Jude on September 24, 2007, 10:04:40 PM
Explain!My mother was a german jew.
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: RationalThought110 on September 24, 2007, 10:11:11 PM
The prayers are slightly different.



Do you know of any specific example(s)?
in my community we have Ashkenazic and Sephardic and we did 'SLICHOT' togather and it was diffrent. ;D
but we found temporary solution for that.




Could you explain?
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Eitan on September 24, 2007, 10:13:09 PM
The prayers are slightly different.



Do you know of any specific example(s)?
in my community we have Ashkenazic and Sephardic and we did 'SLICHOT' togather and it was diffrent. ;D
but we found temporary solution for that.




Could you explain?
explain what? :-\
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Zvulun Ben Moshe on September 24, 2007, 10:14:23 PM
There are many cultural diffirences.

Since the Sephardic Jews primarily lived among the Muslims, they have preserved the original Middle Eastern Jewish character vs. European or Western.

For example, Sephardic Jews have patriarchy vs. matriarchy of the Ashkenazim.
Sepharadim have a stronger collective culture, and thus stronger communities.

There are more, but I am lazy to type.  :D Sorry.
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Wayne Jude on September 24, 2007, 10:20:28 PM
Yes, we know we are jews.The seven of us know it came at great expense.My mother feared we ,yes even  all of us would know who we were.She explained at 77 years.So sad we should have to hide so much.
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Tzvi Ben Roshel1 on September 24, 2007, 10:34:42 PM
There are many cultural diffirences.

For example, Sephardic Jews have patriarchy vs. matriarchy of the Ashkenazim.


What do you mean? do you mean if your Jewish or not? because if you do then thats incorrect (Im Sefardi I know), but anyway their was allmost 0% assimilation.
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Zvulun Ben Moshe on September 24, 2007, 11:05:03 PM
There are many cultural diffirences.

For example, Sephardic Jews have patriarchy vs. matriarchy of the Ashkenazim.


What do you mean? do you mean if your Jewish or not? because if you do then thats incorrect (Im Sefardi I know), but anyway their was allmost 0% assimilation.

No, I mean men's and women's standing in a family and society at large.
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: White Israelite on September 25, 2007, 01:28:30 AM
How do you tell if your Ashkenazi or Sephardic. My dad was olive skin toned with black hair, black eyes and a moustache. He looked mediterranean.
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: RationalThought110 on September 25, 2007, 02:06:37 AM
How do you tell if your Ashkenazi or Sephardic. My dad was olive skin toned with black hair, black eyes and a moustache. He looked mediterranean.

What do you mean by olive skin?
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: RationalThought110 on September 25, 2007, 02:07:15 AM


No, I mean men's and women's standing in a family and society at large.

I'm not sure if I understand what you mean so could you explain if possible?
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: White Israelite on September 25, 2007, 02:41:00 AM
How do you tell if your Ashkenazi or Sephardic. My dad was olive skin toned with black hair, black eyes and a moustache. He looked mediterranean.

What do you mean by olive skin?

Olive skin like this

(http://entimg.msn.com/i/150/Movies/Actors2/mila_sd455974_150x200.jpg)
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Zvulun Ben Moshe on September 25, 2007, 02:50:42 AM


No, I mean men's and women's standing in a family and society at large.

I'm not sure if I understand what you mean so could you explain if possible?

In Sephardic families men are in full control. Women play supportive role. In Ashkenazi families women are equal and sometimes more important than men.
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Wayne Jude on September 25, 2007, 07:39:18 AM
Yes I get it.
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Dexter on September 25, 2007, 08:09:37 AM
Sefardic Jews also look a bit diffrent than the Ashkenazic Jews, they have darker skin .
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Dexter on September 25, 2007, 08:18:16 AM
Then what's the oldest community, Iraq?


Georgia or the Kavkaz .
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: MarZutra on September 25, 2007, 09:45:42 AM
I'd say that in both Ashkenaz and Sephardit families that are still attached to their Jewish roots and not "enlightened" there is still a paternal influence with a maternal supporting role.  I don't think it has anything to do with it being Ashkenaz or Sephardit but Judaism and the mass infection of the "reformation", "enlightenment" or "emancipation" projected onto the masses of European Jewry: Ashkenazim which effected the family unit.  imo..

Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: RationalThought110 on September 25, 2007, 10:53:48 AM
Sefardic Jews also look a bit diffrent than the Ashkenazic Jews, they have darker skin .

I would guess that there are plenty of exceptions within both classifications.
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: RationalThought110 on September 25, 2007, 11:05:45 AM
I'd say that in both Ashkenaz and Sephardit families that are still attached to their Jewish roots and not "enlightened" there is still a paternal influence with a maternal supporting role.  I don't think it has anything to do with it being Ashkenaz or Sephardit but Judaism and the mass infection of the "reformation", "enlightenment" or "emancipation" projected onto the masses of European Jewry: Ashkenazim which effected the family unit.  imo..




Interesting perspective. 


How did the "reformation" impact Judaism other than Jews being caught in the middle of a war being different sects of Christianity?  Were Jews persecuted during the "30 years war"?    Are you saying that the reformation changed the way Judaism was practiced?
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Dexter on September 25, 2007, 01:00:52 PM
Sefardic Jews also look a bit diffrent than the Ashkenazic Jews, they have darker skin .

I would guess that there are plenty of exceptions within both classifications.
Please explein .
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Ultra Requete on September 25, 2007, 02:40:48 PM
I'd say that in both Ashkenaz and Sephardit families that are still attached to their Jewish roots and not "enlightened" there is still a paternal influence with a maternal supporting role.  I don't think it has anything to do with it being Ashkenaz or Sephardit but Judaism and the mass infection of the "reformation", "enlightenment" or "emancipation" projected onto the masses of European Jewry: Ashkenazim which effected the family unit.  imo..




Interesting perspective. 


How did the "reformation" impact Judaism other than Jews being caught in the middle of a war being different sects of Christianity?  Were Jews persecuted during the "30 years war"?    Are you saying that the reformation changed the way Judaism was practiced?

He meant Enlightement not Reformation; all those Jews who got civil rights in XVIII/XIX century west; but still the feminism was not as decive factor until after WWII.  
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: MarZutra on September 25, 2007, 03:58:08 PM
Actually UR, I meant that as well.  Feminism was around pre-WW2 and pre-WW1.  When one studies the impact on Judaism that all of these Leftwing utopian movments had it is very interesting and saddening.  These things have been going on since pre-the 1500's at one time or anther.  I think even pre-Plato.  All had saddening influence on Jews and Judaism...  More specifically closer to our times would be the Bund which was associated with different "Leagues" "League of the Just" etc. and its followers like Rosa Luxemburg, Karl Marx, Max Lillienthal or Abraham Geiger, founder of Deformed "Judiasm" and that rat years later "Rabbi" Sephen Wise...  If you read up on these groups like Hellfire Clubs which sprouted up all over England and Europe, or groups like the Rosicruscians, Jacobins, Sabbatains, Domneh and the Frankists all were influenced by these aforementioned ideologies and all played an impact on Jews and Judaism....sadly..

I could go on about this subject as it is one that I've studied due to my education in politics and political movements.  It is tragic how this infected Jews and Judiasm. 
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Dominater96 on September 30, 2007, 01:03:52 AM
Sephardim are also (as a group) a little less assimilated.
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: MarZutra on September 30, 2007, 09:00:15 AM
Sephardim are also (as a group) a little less assimilated.
  Good for them...  It shows pride in their heritage, being and culture....   :)
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: Tzvi Ben Roshel1 on October 01, 2007, 01:28:46 AM
Sephardim are also (as a group) a little less assimilated.
a little?
Title: Re: Ashkenazic and Sephardic
Post by: KalmanBenMenachem on October 10, 2007, 12:32:50 AM
Rabbi Berel Wein has a tape/CD set you can buy on the Internet called "5000 Years in 5 Hours - The Crash Course in Jewish History."  In it, he describes how various groups of Jews left Babylon for Spain on the one hand and France on the other, eventually becoming the Sephardim and Ashkenazim. 

Rabbi Wein is extremely knowledgeable and a good speaker, and the recorded lectures are quite good.