Sephard

Sephard is a term used to refer to Sephardic Jews, and more broadly to the Jewish communities and people of Iberian origin. The name derives from Sepharad, the Hebrew name historically associated with Spain. In Jewish tradition, Sephardim are distinguished from Ashkenazic Jews of Central and Eastern Europe and, in some contexts, from Mizrahi (Middle Eastern) Jews, though modern usage often lumps Mizrahi with Sephardic under the umbrella.

Historically, Jewish communities existed in the Iberian Peninsula from ancient times, flourishing under both Christian and Muslim rule in medieval Spain and Portugal (Al-Andalus). The 1492 expulsion by the Crown of Castile and subsequently Portugal led many Jews to disperse around the Mediterranean basin, the Ottoman Empire (including Turkey, the Balkans, and Greece), North Africa, Italy, and elsewhere, forming widespread Sephardic diasporas. Some converts known as Conversos remained, but many later returned to Judaism.

Culture and language: Sephardic culture is marked by the Judeo-Spanish language Ladino, which developed in the diaspora and uses Hebrew script for writing. Sephardic liturgy and religious practices retain distinct medieval Iberian influences, such as particular piyyutim, calendar observances, and halakhic customs. Cuisine, music, and family life in Sephardic communities reflect Mediterranean and Near Eastern influences.

Today, Sephardic communities are found worldwide. Israel and the United States host large Sephardic populations, with substantial communities in Turkey, Greece, the Balkans, North Africa, and Western Europe, as well as diaspora communities in the Americas. The term is sometimes used loosely to describe modern Jews with Iberian heritage, regardless of current language or customs.