Winter 2024 - Seattle

Special Communitywide Vigil held at Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation in the aftermath of October 7

Our Seattle Sephardic Community has been very busy this fall and winter, with dozens of classes, Shabbat Dinners, scholars-in-residence, and much more. After the horrific October 7th attacks against Israel, our community mobilized to publicly advocate for the Jewish State, rallying for Israel in downtown Seattle, Bellevue, and throughout the metro-area. We held an extraordinarily powerful communitywide vigil at the Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation with over one thousand attendees from across the Seattle Jewish Community. At Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, our amazing Rabbi David Benchlouch has been leading new classes on Sephardic traditions, customs, and Torah concepts, and has been facilitating a particularly exciting “Sephardic Pizmonim” party every week for young boys and girls in our community to learn how Sephardic tunes in Hebrea and Ladino. The kids have been loving it, with special games and prizes all around!

The Seattle Sephardic Network, another important community institution, launched its special Seattle Sephardic Tours over the summer and into the Fall. Led by Sephardic community members, these walking tours have explored the history of the Seattle Sephardic Community starting from the historic Central District (the equivalent of New York’s Lower East Side) and visiting the original homes of the two Sephardic Congregations. The Network also launched a special Ladino Refranes podcast, with phrases and customs in Ladino, and with some more colorful words as well - you can check it out on their website, seattlesephardicnetwork.org. 

Both Sephardic Bikur Holim and Ezra Bessaroth came together at the end of January for an incredible joint Frutikas - Tu Bishevat Seder, with over 240 people in attendance. Led by children from the community, the Seder featured Hebrew, Ladino, and English renditions of the Tu BiShevat Seder with all the delicious foods in the Sephardic tradition, along with the singing of sections of Tehillim - Psalms for the holiday. We have many more exciting programs coming up in the Spring, including wonderful Sephardic Purim parties, Sephardic baking sessions with the Ezra Bessaroth Ladies Auxiliary, and much more. Be sure to check out the different community websites and emails to stay up to date on all the great news.