What is the difference between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews?

Question

Please list the major differences and do they like each other?
I heard that the Ashkenazi ones kind of look down to the Sephardic Jews; is that true?

Answer 1

Ashkenazi Jews come from European (Christian) countries, whereas Sephardic Jews lived in the Iberian Peninsula, African and Middle Eastern (Moslem) countries.


Throughout the centuries of exile the Ashkenazim and Sephardim developed distinct cultures, different prayer-books (the essentials are the same, but there are many different nuances), and many different customs. The Ashkenazim origins were from the Khazar (Chazar) Empire that extended south of present day Moscow to the northern shores of the Black Sea. By the eighth century A.D. this Kingdom on the steppes of Russia was the largest in Europe, covering an area nearly one million square miles. Chargan (King) Bhilan, in 740 A.D. adopted Judaism as a religion of the people by a decree. Rabbis were employed to teach the result was "Yiddish". In 969 A.D. Scandinavian founders of Russia conquered the Khazars. Ashkenazim-Kazar Jews began a migration accross Northern Europe and these people compose nearly all the Jews that immigrated to the United States when the Pale was nearly depleted of Jews in the nineteenth century. The Sephardic name comes from the location listed as the dwelling place of the decendents of Shem. (Gen. 10:30: And thier dwelling east from Mesha, as you go unto SEPHAR a mount of the East.) These are the Jews who were given the Secptre promise but the promise of National Greatness went not to the Jews but first to Joseph and then to his two sons Ephriam and Manassah. The Jews were a part of Israel but the other Ten Tribes have been ignored by the world including the Jews. Many that are called Gentile today are of the other tribes.

the sephardic jews
Contrary to popular believe True Sephardim are not only Mediterranean and not all Jews in the Middle East Africa etc. are Sefardic. True Sephardim are Jewish people that their ancestry came from the Iberian Peninsula or Spanish territories and kept Judeo-Spagnol otherwise known as Ladino as their language and this language was and still is used in liturgy as in all the cultural facets. Most of the religious books were published in Ladino written in Raschi characters. In the Ottoman Empire Kemmal Attaturk (A Dohnme) reformed the Empire and passed a law so all printing of any language within Turkey started to be in Latin characters. Among the Sephardic communities there were also Romanoid Jews, Karaites, Asckenazim and Oriental Jews with their distinctive Synagogues and usages.

Answer 2

Sephardic Vs Ashkenazi

Answer 3

Ashkenazi Vs Sephardic

Answer 4

difference ashkenazi sephardic jews

Answer 5

I am no expert in this but I asked a Sephardic Jew this question once and here is what they told me: Ashkenazi Jews are like the White, maybe European Jews while the Sephardic Jews are mostly darker complexion (not always though) and they can come from places like Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt and so forth. I don't think they hate each other but I was also told that the Ashkenazi Jews tend to look down on other sects. And I think their cultures may differ a little. I think the Ashkenazi Jews are more religious or have some different customs. Hope I helped a little. I know it's not the most detailed answer.

Answer 6

Ashkenzaim are Jews who lived in central Europe. Ashkenaz is the Hebrew for Germany.

Sephardim are Jews living round the Mediterranean area. Sepharad is the Hebrew for (ספרד) Spain.

Oriental Jews (mizrahim מזרחים ) are Jews of middle eastern origins.

Sephardim and Oriental Jews are used interchangeably however they are not exactly the same.

Hope this helps

Answer 7

Ashkenazi Jews are Europeans, while Sepharadi means Spanish, and essentially means Jews who came from Muslim countries. In general Sephardi Jews have darker complexions, but that's very general. There are some differences in cuisine and religious customs, but for the most part there isn't that much different. Years ago, Ashkenazim did look down somewhat on Sepharadim because they (the Sepharadim) came from Muslim countries where modernity and proper education did not exist. As a result, Sepharadim were less educated and affluent. Nowadays the gap has closed, and the two "groups" get along fine. It's not uncommon for an Ashkenazi to marry a Sephardic person, and no one thinks anything of it. They aren't really separate groups anymore; everyone's just Israeli.

Answer 8

I am Sephardi, my family came originally from Spain (Cordoba) and moved first to Portugal and to Eastern Europe and finally settled in Germany... well, but that is another history. I have relatives all over Europe and I moved back to Spain where I am living now for over 10 years. Back to the roots..........

Answer 9

Jews are Semitic people originated from the Middle East. Jews were massacred and kicked out of the holy land by the Romans and most Jews moved back to Arabia. When Arabia converted to Islam some Jews converted too and some did not. Islam protected the right to live as a Jew in the Islamic state. Most Jews moved to Spain where Islamic state ruled the country for more than 800 years. After the Catholics victory in Spain and the so called inquisition most Arabs and Jews were forced to convert to Christianity or move out of the country. Most moved back to Arab north Africa and to the rest of the Middle Eastern countries and Turkey . Some Jews did covert and moved later on to some other western countries. In conclusion, we can say most Jews are Arab Jews whom we call Sephardi Jews most Ashkenazi Jews are either new converted Jews or mixed Jews mainly with Slavic people.

Answer 10

completely untrue, and if so, itz only out of good humor.
the difference is simply where they come from. the earliest jews to be in israel originally came from somewhere, and the difference is if they came from spain and that area (sefardim) or from ashkenaz, otherwise known as russia.
because they came from different places, they had slightly different minhagim, or ways of doing things- small things, like certain words in the prayer.