Sephardic Jews in Greater Miami

• In Event: Ethnic Identity and Identification among MENA-origin Jews in transnational perspectives

Abstract

Miami has one of the most diverse Jewish populations of any American city with 33%of adult Jews being foreign born, including 7% from the Middle East and North Africa. Seventeen percent of adults consider themselves to be Sephardic Jews and one of four Miami Jewish households contain at least one Sephardic Jew. Thirty-three percent of Sephardic Jewish adults also consider themselves Hispanic. Seven Miami synagogues identify as Sephardic.

This paper, using data from the Miami local Jewish community study, compares Sephardic Jews with non-Sephardic Jews in Miami, examining differences in demography, religiosity, membership, attitudes toward Israel, philanthropy, and politics. As an example, 33% of non-Sephardic households are synagogue members, compared to 47% of Sephardic households. Qualitative results, based upon decades of studying Sephardic Jews in Miami and elsewhere, will be presented which will enhance our understating of this ethnic population subgroup.

Authors

• Ira Sheskin, University of Miami

• Henry Green, University of Miami