Winter 2025—Philadelphia Report

From left to right: Marvin Marcus, Sephardic Brotherhood Second Vice President; Ethan Marcus, Sephardic Brotherhood Managing Director; and Rabbi Albert Gabbai, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Mikveh Israel

The Sephardic community of Philadelphia celebrated an exciting and meaningful Fall season filled with vibrant traditions, engaging programs, and opportunities to connect.

October began with our beautiful High Holiday Services at Congregation Mikveh Israel. Led by, visiting Hazzan Charles Garson, Rabbi Albert Gabbai, and myself, the Yamim Noraim brought our community together for heartfelt prayers and inspirational teachings, setting a spiritual tone for the High Holidays. The community also came together for our annual Ziara, a beloved tradition of visiting our historic Sephardic cemeteries, some of which date back to our founding in 1740, to honor departed loved ones.

Rabbi Yosef Zarneghian with Ethan Marcus at the Philadelphia Regional Shabbaton

In November, we were honored to partner with the Sephardic Brotherhood of America in hosting our first ever joint Greek & Turkish Shabbaton at Mikveh Israel. The Brotherhood’s National President Sedat Behar and Managing Director Ethan Marcus joined us for an amazing Shabbat of delicious Greek and Turkish foods, and each spoke about the history of the Sephardic Brotherhood in the United States, the goals for the future, and how we can better support one another. An especially beautiful aspect was the amazing Ladino songs we learned with them over dinner and lunch at the synagogue, as well as the inspiring words of Sephardic Torah.

And in December, we hosted our first women’s Shabbat, with a special women’s only service inviting women to help learn and lead prayers together in partnership with Congregation Shearith Israel in New York, led by Rubisa Lisa Rohde. We also held a fascinating Crypto-Jewish Shabbaton with guest speaker Ginie Milgrom and a dinner featuring crypto-Jewish recipes from her cookbook. 

As we look ahead to 2025, the community has an exciting lineup of events from January to March. Highlights include a Tu Bishvat seder focused on Sephardic environmental traditions, a Purim costume party in February, and our monthly themed Community Shabbat dinners opened to all. 

Stay updated on upcoming events through the national community newsletter La Boz Sefaradi as well as our weekly synagogue newsletter, the Mikveh Israel Record.