The Sephardim Jews During the Holocaust

When we think of the Holocaust and the absolute atrocious manner in which the Jews were treated, we seldom stop to think that there are, and were, two major distinct subcultures of Judaism in Europe during that time: the Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews.

Ashkenazic Jews are those from France, Germany, and Eastern Europe and their descendants.  Most American Jews are Ashkenazic, who migrated from Germany and Eastern Europe in the late 19th & early 20th Centuries.

Sephardic Jews come from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), North Africa and the Middle East This group is often subdivided even further, into the “Sephardim,” from Spain and Portugal, and the “Mizarchim,” from Northern Africa and the Middle East.

In the excerpt below from her article, Barbara Rea discusses the presentation that Aron Rodrique, PhD, presented on Monday, October 29, 2012. Basically, it is Rodrique’s contention that contrary to popular belief, the Sephardim did, in fact, suffer as much their Ashkenazic cousins did.

For Washington University’s annual Holocaust Memorial Lecture, Stanford University scholar Aron Rodrigue, PhD, will discuss the lesser known experiences of the Sephardic Jewries during the Holocaust  Rodrigue will present “Reflections on Sephardic Jewries and the Holocaust” at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, in Umrath Hall Lounge on the Danforth Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

“The Holocaust Memorial Lecture is an annual event that was inaugurated in 1989.  This year’s lecture is the first to focus specifically on the experience of the Sephardim,” says Tabea Linhard, PhD, associate professor of Spanish in Arts & Sciences.

Rodrigue is renowned for his scholarship in modern Jewish history, Jews of modern France, minority identities and the Ottoman Empire. As a specialist in the history and culture of Sephardi and French Jewries, he is one of the world’s foremost authorities on understanding their experiences during the Holocaust.

As a result of his research, Rodrigue has put to rest the widely held notion that Sephardim living in the Balkans and other European lands during the Holocaust were not as badly affected as the Ashkenazi in Eastern Europe. The truth is that they experienced widespread persecution and destruction under Nazi occupation.

Regardless of their “subculture,” we know that God has chosen the Jews to be His people. We learn this in Gen. 17:7-8, where God tells Abraham that He will create an everlasting covenant with him and his descendants for all time. That’s why we need to make sure that we continue to adhere to the dictates of Ps. 122:6 and pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

To read Ms. Rea’s article in its entirety, go to:  

Foremost Authority Discusses Sephardim Experience During Holocaust

To read more about Jewish subcultures, go to:

Judaism 101:Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews