What matters ashkenazim or sefardim? We all came from the same place when the first diaspora started;some went to Italy-the first ones-,some to here, others to there... What matters? There can not exist such a thing among us;that's why it is forbiden in our Religion to have very differentes tombs one from the other,showing more wealth or less wealth when we die.They have all the same simple pattern. We have absorbed the cultures from where we have been living,and this doesn't make us different or better from each other,but rather a very interesting people. You in Israel,should suggest for the proper ministry(I don't know which)to start promoting events in which all of our SO RICH culture will be displayed and consttantly exchanged. Jews are Jews,no matter where they come from, after the first diaspora. What other people in this world have such a rich cultural background as us?NO ONE! Israel is the best place to start exploring and difusing such a Beauty!

When I was in Israel it was virtually impossible to distinguish Ashkenazi from Sephardi - mostly, they all look middle eastern.

http://noshmim-m.net/radio/radio.html Go Sephardis!!! But in the end, we are all Jews

Divisions among Jews is nothing new and existed long before Israel was reestablished in 1948. The first Jews in America were Sephardim who looked down on the German Jewish immigrants who came much later. Later the German Jews looked down on the "invasion" of 2 million Eastern European Jews in America. The Eastern European Jews looked down on the new flow of Sephardic Jews that came in the 20th century. The terms Sephardim (Sfard/Spain) and Ashkenazim (Ashkenaz in Germany) are diaspora terms and should remain outside our ancestral and common homeland Israel which existed long before this rubbish division. The good news is that the division between Ashkenazim and Sephardim is decreasing fast in Israel among young people and there are countless Israeli children who have "mixed" parents but couldn't care the less since they consider themselves to be Israeli and nothing else. Today there are counless well-educated Israelis of sephardi origin who together with Ashkenazi Israelis consider themselves first and foremost: what we really are: ISRAELIS. It is ironic and pathetic that two diaspora spots: Spain (Sfarad) and a river in Germany (Ashkenaz) should litter our

The words sephardim and ashkenazim belong to our diaspora history but not in our eternal homeland Israel. Another generation or tow and Israeli kids will be studying the history of the Jewish people how the diaspora experience divided the people but how we also were reunited in Israel.

Ashkenazim generally do well in IQ tests, scoring 12-15 points above the mean value of 100, and have contributed disproportionately to intellectual and cultural life. It is therefore probable that many Ashkenanim find comfort in associating themselves with this finding in that being intelligent is more important than having better food or looking good. That said some of the biggest smucks are Ashkenazim and it is more important to be a mensch

In my family you have every type of Jew. I am Sephardi, my wife is Ashkenazi. I have a Charedi brother, a militantly secular sister. I have the extreme left and extreme right in my family. It is just like the overall Jewish people, we are one family with different ideologies, backgrounds and politics but we are one loving family and what unites us is far greater than what divides us. We Israelis are the least racist people. Yes there are issues and problems but the fact remains that we have a acheived a successful state that few can match for its potential. As a side note I am a very proud Sephardi and if someone asked me what I am by tradition I would answer Sephardi. If someone asked my ethnicity I would say Israeli Jew. Maybe the two groups had a different understanding of the question which gave way to two separet answers. Has anyone thought about that?

with no relevance after about 1975.

I'd take it over boiled chicken and Gefilte McNuggets any day!

what Maimonides would say

And miss all the fun of arguing for nothing? Nah, I don't think so.:-) Please, never simplify when it's simpler to complicate.:-)

I do know what its like in Israel. I have been to our homeland; I have relatives there, and I hope to eventually make Aliyah. It is NO different in Israel than US or other democracies I have been too. In fact, I have found Massachusetts to be more racist than Israel. The point is Israel is a melting pot like others, a melting pot for Jewish majority and other minority. Israel is in the blood of all Jews regardless of skin color. It is where we all come from, not Europe, Asia, North America or anywhere else in the world. Jews are the NATIVE population of Israel. We may fight as brothers, but we also respect each other as Brothers. I do know what its like in Israel.

Hm...very, very hard choice.

What an absurd you are saying! When we fled our land,we spreaded all over. Sephardim are those who stabilished themselves and remained in Spain and Portugal for a long period,and escaped Inquisition there( around 1450), by going to Marroc,Tunis,Leban etc.,so they acquired a much arabic culture. Even when they were in Portugal and Spain they were influenced by the arabic Moors. But of course,many didn't flee the Land and are still there since those times,and of course,were completly influenced by arabic culture. Askenazim are exactly the same Jews, that for reasons I don't know,prefered Poland,Romania ,Russia ,Germany and etc. These latter created a proper language which is Ydish;and the first ones created a proper language too ,which was Ladino. Many escaped to China too,and I read the other day ,that the first printer in China(typograph)was created and stablished by Jews. Many went to India,to deal with the spices trade,joining the Dutch Company of India. There are still nowadays a very hiden Jewish comunity somewhere near Russia(I will check later)that almost nobody knows about them. Hence,to say that Sephardim are the only true Jews is not only ignorance but prejudice among your owns,which is inadimissible.

......there was a convergence of Jews in the new state from all parts of the world. Some of those coming from Europe (ashkenazin) were certainly westernised and culturally more advanced whilst those from arab or eastern countries (sephardi) tended to be less so. They were certainly more naive and, on average, more acquainted with the Torah, which is where they concentrated most of their intelligence, apart from commerce. Because of their naivete' these easterners were taken advantage of and looked down at by the westerners. Today only some die hard Ashkenzi Jews still hold these views whilst the majority accept that all are equal due to the fact that everyone goes through the same growing up process, including the army. In fact, most ashkenazi Jews in Israel have grown to love mizrachi food and music.

What do they know about Jews in the first place? Secondly, I've met hundreds of religious Sephardim and most are as proud of their Sephardic or Yemenite background as the most punctual yekke. Certainly there is a trend for some to follow the mixed heritage Israeli style, but many more Sephardim than Ashkenazi stick to their specific heritage.

Again you are here ,shamelessly exposing your very low cultural background and your complety lack of refinement and intelligence. You are just a little british simpleton that can not hide your jelousy of Jews. I can even figure out your history of hating Jews ,by being a maid servant or the daughter of a maid servant, that served wealthy Jews in Britain,that inclusively helped you to improve,but you could never forget their culture,intelligence and material wealth ,things that you were never able to reach. I am right,Ellen? But anyway Ellen,I made some question to you in the next adress-go to number 22. If you want to join a Jewish site you mut be able to real discussions,and to answer questions are made to you. Otherwise,nobody here is willing to have contact with shallow creatures. Go ,and answer what Iam asking to you there. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3264396,00.html

Having seen the hidden and obvious superiority feeling from Israelis against non-jews displayed again and again in this forum, it is absolute hilarious to experience jews now dividing themselves into worthy and less worthy. Keep up the good work - it will surely earn you respect :-)

and am so glad we wont let Ynet hate each other!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep tearing each other apart. Being "God's chosen people" can be a pain in the butt. Thank you.

How about an appreciation for Mizrahi wisdom? Stating a love for food and music is a bit patronizing, don't you think?

The music, the food, the warmth = it is all Sephardi. And within Sephardi, there are subgroups of culture: French speakers, Spanish speakers, Italian speakers. It is a much more interesting mix. And they are a much warmer people.

and our Sephardi and Yemenite brethren, as well. May G-d bless all those who maintain the customs of their forefathers and are proud of their heritage. May G-d bless all the warm, kind, thoughtful, intelligent, holy Ashkenazim and Sephardim. We are all descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are one family, one nation with many tribes. A bi gizunt to you all.

I dont get you? It shows we are all brothers and have different opinions, but are one family. IT also shows that Israel respects its minorities also, ethnic and religious. Its a great country and a reason to be proud. Israel is far advanced over Eurabia in equal rights by law and practice. It isnt perfect, but almost as good as, equally as good as, and better that other Democracies around the world. There is alot of reason to be proud of Israel, the Jewish state with a non Jewish minority.

Of course it is , its warmer , more varied and much more interesting and thats why we are on the up.

Being Sephardi myself, I thought I would excercise some modesty. ;-) Glad you have noticed the wisdom though!

You say everybody hates everybody, but, at the end of the day everybody stands up for everybody. Don't forget ALL JEWS made every effort to bring on alyia the Yemenites, the Russians, the Ethiopians etc etc. Grow up! Be proud.