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I think we can put a picture here - or nothing - or words |
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To the reader who asked to see my response to rabbi kessler on his query regarding sephardic culture day: here it is (have in mind that i wrote it at the spur of the moment):
Sephardic Culture:
90% of Jewish literature was either written by Jews from the Middle
East, North Africa and the Iberian peninsula, or was written as a commentary
on their works (including, of course, the Talmud).
Sephardim were blessed with an attitude of tolerance that helped them
maintain wholesome communities without breaking them apart and labeling
divisions and sub-divisions.
Sephardic Culture should be an integral part of Judaic Studies
Curriculum and it should highlight the contribution of that Jewry to World's and
Judaism's knowledge and development.
How many great sephardic scholars can your students name? Philosophers?
Doctors? Scientists? Poets? Statesmen? Encyclopedists?
You can start with Rav Hay Gaon, Rav Sherira Gaon, Rasag (writing in
Arabic) R. Yitzhak Alfassi, Maimonides, Nahmanides, The Kabbalists of
Gerona, the early grammarians: Dunash ben Labrat, Menhem Ben Saruk and
R. Yona Jannah, Yehudah HaLevi, R. Shelomo ibn Gabirol, R. Avraham and R.
Moshe Ibn Ezra, R. Yitzhak Abarbanel. The masters of R. Yosef Karo: R.
Eliyahu Kapsali, R. Shmuel di modena, the Ben Ish Hai, the Hida, R.
Hayyim ben Attar, R. Yitzhek Lampronti and R. Hayyim Hizkiya Medini.
This is only a partial list and it does not include local community rabbis
who authored one book with obscure pilpulim on the talmud but sages of
immense influence and amazing breadth of knowledge.
The responsa and attitude of these rabbis should be discussed, their
open-mindedness and courage in hlakhic, political and social problems.
A good start is the book: Heiru Pene HaMizrach by Tzvi Zohar, R. Marc
Angel's book on R. Benzion Meir Hay Uziel and the epistles of
Maimonides.
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| Posted by Haim Ovadia at | | | |
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| The lessons and moral of the bible reverbate throughout my life and they have helped shape my (Sephardic) worldview. |
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| Posted by Haim Ovadia at | | | |
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| My grandfather taught me respect and tolerance |
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| Posted by Haim Ovadia at | | | |
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There are many differences between the ashkenazi and the sephardi school of thought. Not all of them apply to all communities and all leaders at all times, and they have to be taken cautiously, as with all generalizations, but they reflect the way sephardic communities lived and developed throughout history. Here are some examples, details will follow.
| Sephardim |
Ashkenazim |
| Strong emphasis on Bible study |
Bible is marginal except for liturgy |
| Realistic approach to Halakha and community life |
Idealistic approach
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| Golden path - Middle Road |
Fanaticism |
| Rabbis can make mistakes |
Rabbis are infallible |
| Rabbis do not intervene in every field |
Daat Torah - Rabbis decide on everything |
| Comprehensive curriculum |
Emphasis on Talmud |
| Openness to outside culture |
Erecting spiritual walls |
| Acceptance of all congregants |
Labeling individuals |
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| Posted by Haim Ovadia at | | | |
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| You pay top dollars to a Hebrew school just so your son will be told tha his grandparents were illiterate! |
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| Posted by Haim Ovadia at | | | |
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| Our kids are not getting sephardic educations. The teachers and rabbis are, in most cases, clueless. |
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| Posted by Haim Ovadia at | | | |
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| Sephardic culture is one of unity and openness |
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| Posted by Haim Ovadia at | | | |
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