Sephardi

[ suh-fahr-dee, suh-fahr-dee ]

noun

, plural Se·phar·dim [s, uh, -, fahr, -dim, -fahr-, deem]

1. a member of the diasporic Jewish population that settled in Spain and Portugal, distinguished from the Ashkenazim and from other Jewish communities chiefly by liturgy, religious customs, and pronunciation of Hebrew: after expulsion from Spain and Portugal in 1492, the Sephardim established communities in North Africa, the Balkans, Western Europe, and elsewhere:

   She grew up in a warm Jewish community, most of whom were Sephardim.

adjective

1. Also Se·phar·dic []. of or relating to the diasporic Jewish population that settled in Spain and Portugal and later dispersed to North Africa, the Balkans, Western Europe, and elsewhere, or to the culture, liturgy, or variety of Hebrew used by these Jews:

   He has also published research on Sephardi schools in Argentina.

   The music of the prayers is performed mainly in the Eastern Sephardi style.

Sephardi

/ sɪˈfɑːdiː /

noun

1. 1. a Jew of Spanish, Portuguese, or North African descent
   2. (loosely) any Oriental Jew
2. the pronunciation of Hebrew used by these Jews, and of Modern Hebrew as spoken in Israel
3. modifier of or pertaining to the Sephardim, esp to their liturgy and ritual
4. modifier of or pertaining to the liturgy adopted by certain European, esp Chassidic, communities who believe it to be more authentic but nonetheless differing from the genuine Oriental liturgy

Derived Forms

• Seˈphardic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sephardi¹

First recorded in 1850–55; from Modern Hebrew Səphāraddīm, plural of Səphāraddī, equivalent to Hebrew Səphāradh, a region mentioned in Bible (Obadiah 20), probably in northern Asia Minor, but later interpreted to be Spain + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sephardi¹

C19: from Late Hebrew, from Hebrew sepharad a region mentioned in Obadiah 20, thought to have been Spain

Example Sentences

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, master of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, dithered about which of his sons to run for Sephardi chief rabbi.

From The Daily Beast

But the most disturbing part of the campaign may be the candidacy of Shmuel Eliahu for Sephardi chief rabbi.

From The Daily Beast

By implying that the last Sephardi poet to warrant commemoration lived 900 years ago, Bibi did not placate critics.

From The Daily Beast

His second blunder is a direct result of the first: his alienation of the religious Sephardi party, Shas.

From The Daily Beast

But there were other Middle Eastern Jews living at the same time with no conception of Sephardi identity, with no link to Spain.

From The Daily Beast

Manasseh added winningly: "I know you are a gentleman, capable of behaving as finely as any Sephardi."

From Project Gutenberg

Why should I not permit you, a Tedesco, to return the hospitality to me, a Sephardi?

From Project Gutenberg

What have they to say against a Sephardi marrying a Tedesco?

From Project Gutenberg

These things are an instinct with every right-minded Sephardi.

From Project Gutenberg

What a bad effect it would have on Yankelé if a Sephardi was seen to vow with impunity!

From Project Gutenberg