Sephardi Jews

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/sephardi-jews

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the geographical origin?Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal)
2. What is the major historical event?Expulsion from Spain (1492) and Portugal (1497)
3. What does "Sephardi" mean and where did Sephardi Jews come from?Sephardi Jews are those who lived in the Iberian Peninsula, especially Spain and Portugal, during a time called the Golden Age of Al-Andalus.
4. Why were Sephardi Jews forced to leave Spain in 1492?In 1492, the Alhambra Decree told them to convert to Christianity or leave the country, so many were expelled.

Sephardi Jews: Jews whose ancestors originated in the Iberian Peninsula, characterized by distinct cultural and linguistic traditions.
Iberian Peninsula: The geographical landmass comprising modern Spain and Portugal, historically a significant center for Sephardi life.
Ladino: A Judeo-Romance language derived from medieval Spanish, historically spoken by Sephardi Jews and serving as a cultural unifier.
Diaspora: The dispersion of any people from their original homeland, particularly referring to the Jewish exile from ancient Israel and subsequent migrations.