La Djente - The People. I am honored to introduce you to the new name of our beloved magazine. There is a Jewish idea that a person’s name can illustrate one’s character: kishmo ken hu—“Like his name, so is he.” The Midrash teaches us that although prophecy no longer exists, there is one small area in which we are still granted a glimpse of Divine wisdom when we struggle to find the right name for our children. And what about a name change? In the Torah, when God gives someone a new name, it can symbolize a new identity and destiny. For example, Abram’s name is changed to Abraham, which means “father of a multitude of many nations.” All that to say, a name and its meaning are incredibly significant predictors of one’s life journey. En kurto, in short, after many years of publication as El Ermanado Sefaradi, it is time for a new identity and destiny as La Djente.
Over the decades, the Sephardic Brotherhood and the community it represents in America has evolved, so too has our print and digital reach. To reflect this, our Community magazine evolved into a broader cultural platform, maintaining its commitment to Ladino language and Sephardic heritage while adapting to the changing needs of our audience, ensuring the enduring legacy of Sephardic identity and voices are more fully represented. Hence, we have chosen the unique name of La Djente, never before used for a previous Ladino language or Sephardic communal publication, to better reflect the broader voices of the Sepharadim who write for us, while still grounding ourselves in our language and identity. The use of the 'Dj-" is also a deliberate choice, as it better reflects the linguistic diversity of the Ladino language.
As the only print publication featuring original Ladino content in North America, our magazine has always included Sephardic culture, identity and food, spiritual insights and Ladino articles from our very own people, going back to the first edition printed in 1922. With a new name that symbolizes the magazine as the voice of the Sephardic Ladino-speaking Community, La Djente will celebrate the diverse perspectives of Sephardic thought leaders around the world, from New York to Seattle, Istanbul to Salonika, and Mexico City to Cape Town. This change comes as part of La Ermandad’s efforts to modernize the organization and to reach new audiences.
What’s more, La Djente is also going digital, with the launch of our new magazine website ladjente.com, where members and non-members alike can access articles and magazine archives, making it easier to share articles and to reach more people. As part of this new vision for the magazine, we are encouraging members to get involved and share your stories. Please submit article ideas to info@sephardicbrotherhood.com so we can continue to welcome a multiplicity of Sephardic voices, sharing them with the broader Jewish world. The incredibly rich and unique voice of los muestros - our own deserves to be heard far and wide.
Buyrun a La Djente - Welcome to the People
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