They are forced into these denominators since the ashkenazi elite have tried to remove our heritage. By not giving us jobs, by trying to remove any Mizrahi heritage and to replace it with the Ashkenazi. Remember the Yeminite Jews, the stories of the DDT usage and what they have done to our people. Revolution - It Is Time To Bring It Back - SHAS CHAI

and this country will look like Iraq or Lebanon.

- Yiddish, Ladino, Judeo-Italian (various dialects), Judeo-Arabic etc. should be strongly encouraged. Not only would this contribute toward understanding and unity, it would ensure that the rich cultural achievements of 2 thousand years did not disappear.

People like you need to get out more...

Then why don't YOU study Ladino, Avital.

Might I inquire as to YOUR heritage?

Our own mizrachi languages need support- not this gutter-German!

ANY WISE PEOPLE ALWAYS TRY TO LEARN AS MUCH LANGUAGES AS HE CAN. BY THE WAY, ARABIC IS A KEY FOR MAKING GOOD BUSYNESS WITH ALMOST 70 COUNTRIES. HOW MANY COUNTRIES SPEAK IN YIDISH OR GERMAN.?

How many Ashkenazim learn to speak Judeo-Tajik, or Judeo-Perian, or Judeo-Arabic, or Ladino? The Rambam himself was a Spharadi, and surely out Golden Age in Spain is an incredible part of our history, so why do the Ashkenazim who are so eager to teach us Yiddish go and learn our languages too?

I am half sepharadic of turkish descent and ashkenazi of polish descent. I think more needs to be done to preserve Ladino, and Judeo-Arabic. By the way Jane, you sound kind of Ignorant, as does the writer of this articcle. Sepahardic is not synonymous with non-ashkenazi jews or mizrahi jews. Mizrahi Jews are not sepharadim, descendant from spain. Did you know that Ladino is closer to the true spoken Sapnish, than todays castillian. I think we should celebrate all of Israel and Jews multiethnicities. I for one would love to learn both Ladino and Geez. Jane, by the way that is the holy tongue of the Ethiopian Jews.

Considering the kind of "business" so many Arabs are engaged in, we'll take a pass, thank you.

It is ignorant of you to make assumptions. I know very well what the heritage of Sepharim is, since my husband descends from the true Sephardim on both sides of his family. The fact that you don't understand the tone of my responses to Avital is your problem, Mark, not mine.

He responded to #1 who is trying to make a balagan. Who is trying to take away Mizrachi culture from anyone??? What is this 1950? #1 was hysterical and Avital was right to censure him. Why make trouble between Ashkenazim and Sephardim, don't we have enough enemies?

there should definately be more encouragement of ladino and other jewish languages of the diaspora. is there a university department of these languages anywhere in the country (ie israel) ? that would be a good start. it could teach the languages and literature of the diaspora. both yiddish and ladino culture.

who speaks fluent arabic. They learned it at school. After all we're surrounded by arabs it could be helpful to understand what they're saying. It might even save some lives. I personally don't like the way yiddish sounds. Having said that, each language reflects the culture of its people, their sense of humor, mentality, etc. I think it's great that people who have no ashkanazi background wish to learn yiddish.

All jewish languages have their merits. You sound like you don't like the idea that people might know languages from a sefaradi heritage.

on the history of the Jewish people is this Eastern European sub language and sub culture which was invented as a lingua franca. It has nothing to do with our heritage and our culture in Eretz Yisrael and the whole thing nearly caused our extinction. Forget it and outlaw it. Kibutz galuyot was intended to erase the Diaspora, not perpetuate it. Attack me if you will, I do not care. I am Israeli, fifth generation, family background on both sides, Russia. All Jews are equal regardless of ethnic background, which was only temporary. Unfortunately the temporary state lasted for 2000 years, but it is now over and done with. Israelis should speak Ivrit as a first language, Arabic and English as modern neccessities. The horrible and degrading culture that sprung up in Russia and Poland should be forgotten.

Actually, tma, you have things backward. I would LOVE it if people knew languages from a Sephardi heritage. That would be quite a change from Ashkenazi elitism. Oh, by the way tma, I'm Ashkenasi.

Jane I read your tone towards Avital and it was a bit arrogant. In addtion yor tone towards Ali-Taguid was arrogant as well. I think in Israel it should be mandatory for elementary and high school students to learn, and pass Arabic before graduating from school. A. It makes israelis more marketable in business and commerce in the Middle eastern world. and B. Its is better for mutual understanding both within Israel and the Middle East. I agree with Ali, there are many countries that speak Arabic, and it would be useful to us. I for one think that business with Arabs is good for Israel, and it's good for them. That is one foundation for peace and prosperity for Israel and the ME. I read between the lines your feedback. Maybe if we could speak to our neighbors things would be different. You know on Israel Radio, channel bet, on the Israel Connection show, I heard a caller from Amman. A young Arab woman who called in, in Hebrew. Perfect. She never studied in Israel. She taught herself by listening to Israel radio, and took a course in Jordan. Jane, it people like her, and others who are willing to cross the cultural and linguistic divide to bride gaps between people. I think work need to be done, both in Israel, in the middle east,and the US/Mexico and elsewhere. I hope you either agree or I have encouraged you to consider the above. take care!

Mark, I couldn't agree more that there are myriad possibilities just waiting. Many, many Israelis speak Arabic, including a goodly number who studied the language by choice. If we lived in a perfect world, there would be many Arabs who would study Hebrew by choice so as to reciprocate the eagerness to interact with their Jewish neighbors. We do not, however, live in a perfect world, but rather a profoundly imperfect one. Israelis (read: Jews) are expected to make most if not all of the concessions and accommodations and are accused of having a superiority complex vis-a-vis our Arab neighbors. It is our Arab neighbors, in fact, who will make no accommodation for our tiny little land and peace hungry people. I am not at all happy with the reality but, on the other hand, I am not blind to it. As to the Ashkenazi elite's treatment of their Sephardi brothers, that ugliness is well documented. Little if any respect is accorded to the segment of our people from whom Maimonides sprang. I find that tragic and infuriating. My personal exposure to those particular realities has been broad.

Many people don't know this but one of the founders of Yiddish literature in Eastern Europe in the 19th century was a Sephardic Jew named Yitzchak Leibush Peretz. Peretz was a descendant of Sephardim who settled in Zamocz, Poland. Check out my Jewish history site http://www.ha-historion.blogspot.com

i agree languages are important. I do international business and that has pushed for greater study of language for social purposes. However, most business, like it or not, is conducted in English on the international stage. As for Arabic used as a language in '70' countries, I think you need to show some evidence for that. I have done business in the Middle East (I speak a bit of Arabic) but arabic is not what we use in the meetings - its english. Most arab business dont want to use arabi rather than english as that ISOLATES their market - they want business in EU, US, China, India. Maybe between arabs you try to use Modern Standard Arabic, but I have seen time and again the speakers lapse into dialect and then into English because they had a hard time following each other's dialect. Even with so many people wanting to speak Chinese due to the economic prospects there, the desire to do so is a bit wishful. Most Chinese businesses already speak English (or have interpreters trained) so your pitiful attempts to say ni hao are good for socialising and getting around town but you will probably never attain the level needed to conduct business or read a contract, unless you live there (I lived in Shanghai, speak fluent mandarin by the way (and a bit of shanghainese) - never used it in a meeting) Point is, we learn languages to make ourselves understood and also for history. If this is a cultural move by ashkenazim to crush the mizrahi culture, then its bad. I dont think it is, since I know that the mizrahi are deeply proud of their culture (I am biased though :-)

wtf shud we learn yiddish its a euro jewish langauge not middle eastern. This country is middle east not eastern europe get that into ur heads. Mizrahi jews shud be learning the language of their ancestors like ladino, arabic,persian,greek etc. the rest of the middle east may hate us but we shudnt forget who we are and were we come from, never let any1 boycott our heritage.