Ashkenazic and Sephardic

[RationalThought110]

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. 

[RationalThought110]

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?

[RationalThought110]

The prayers are slightly different.

Do you know of any specific example(s)?

[Wayne Jude]

Yes explain

[Eitan]

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.
but we found temporary solution for that.

[Wayne Jude]

Explain!My mother was a german jew.

[RationalThought110]

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.
but we found temporary solution for that.

Could you explain?

[Eitan]

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.
but we found temporary solution for that.

Could you explain?

explain what?

[Zvulun Ben Moshe]

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.   Sorry.

[Wayne Jude]

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.

[Tzvi Ben Roshel1]

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.

[Zvulun Ben Moshe]

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.

[White Israelite]

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.

[RationalThought110]

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?

[RationalThought110]

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?

[White Israelite]

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

[Zvulun Ben Moshe]

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.

[Wayne Jude]

Yes I get it.

[Dexter]

Sefardic Jews also look a bit diffrent than the Ashkenazic Jews, they have darker skin .

[Dexter]

Then what's the oldest community, Iraq?

Georgia or the Kavkaz .

[MarZutra]

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..

[RationalThought110]

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.

[RationalThought110]

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?

[Dexter]

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 .

[Ultra Requete]

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.