American Sephardi Federation

06/04/2026

Festival Sefarad NYC is in full swing! Below is a sampling of the exciting events we have planned over the next week. Register for these events—and many others taking place throughout the month of June—at FestivalSefarad.com

June 5 – Moroccan Homestyle Shabbat Dinner, in partnership with

June 5 – Baghdadi Indian Shabbat (featuring services, an exhibition, and a community dinner), in partnership with

June 7 – U.S. premiere of “Burial on Hold”, followed by a Q&A with director . Morrocan light refreshments will be served. In partnership with .association and

June 8 – An evening with author exploring Bukharian Jewish culture through memory, history and women’s voices. Ticket includes a copy of Dahlia’s latest book “The Stateless Central Asian Merchant”, as well as Bukharian appetizers. In partnership with and

June 9 – An exploration of the earliest known Jewish manuscripts from the Americas, by crypto-Jewish writer Luis de Carvajal. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served. In partnership with and

June 11 – The Mizrahi Story Live with , in partnership with . Sephardic appetizers will be served.

We are so grateful to all of our partner organizations, as well as to for their critical support. We look forward to seeing you throughout our monthlong festival!

06/04/2026

An unforgettable evening celebrating excellence in culture, arts, literature, music, and community leadership.

We were honored to recognize extraordinary individuals whose achievements continue to inspire and enrich our communities. Thank you to all our honorees, guests, supporters, and partners for making this special celebration possible.

06/02/2026

We are excited to have just launched the 2nd annual 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱 𝗡𝗬𝗖!

Festival Sefarad NYC is the nation’s first month-long celebration of the Greater Sephardi world. Join us on a journey through the rich cultures, traditions, and histories of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish communities. Through programs across New York City, explore the enduring legacy and vibrant evolution of communities stretching from North Africa and the Middle East to the Mediterranean, Central Asia, the Americas, and beyond.

With the support of UJA-Federation of New York, Festival Sefarad NYC brings together diverse communities in a dynamic, multi-sensory experience celebrating the colorful and vibrant tapestry of the Jewish people.

Discover the full lineup of concerts, film screenings, lectures, Shabbat dinners, tours, workshops, and cultural experiences at 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗦𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱.𝗰𝗼𝗺

05/31/2026

In honor of May being designated both Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are highlighting two ancient Jewish communities of West and Central Asia: Kavkazi and Bukharian Jews. While May is drawing to a close, our celebration of the rich heritage and diversity of the Jewish People continues in full force as we proudly present the second annual Festival Sefarad NYC.

An homage to the annual Festival Sefarad de Montréal—organized by our friends at Communauté Sépharade Unifiée du Québec—Festival Sefarad NYC is the first event of its kind in the United States: a month-long celebration of the Greater Sephardi world and global Jewish diversity. Throughout June, the Festival will transform New York City into a living stage for Sephardic and Mizrahi music, film, cuisine, literature, theater, storytelling, and more.

Join us at venues across New York City and its surrounding suburbs as we showcase the rich cultural mosaic of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish communities. With the support of UJA-Federation of New York and in partnership with more than 50 community organizations, we are thrilled to bring back this dynamic and unique communal experience for a second year. Let us come together for a citywide celebration of Jewish joy, vibrancy, resilience, and unity!

To explore the full Festival schedule, visit FestivalSefarad.com. New events are still being added, so check back often as the Festival continues to grow.

05/29/2026

🎉 So much to celebrate: the completion of Year 6 of our Sephardi House College Fellowship, Jewish American Heritage Month, USA’s semiquincentennial, and the return of our month-long Festival Sefarad NYC in June (which includes the 28th New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival)! Swipe through to discover some of the exciting things we’ve been brewing lately!

www.nysjff.com
www.festivalsefarad.com
www.tiny.cc/sephardihouse

05/28/2026

Honored to receive the Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award in philosophy from the American Sephardi Federation next week. Thank you to the Federation for this distinguished recognition and for showing my film “Our War” in the New York Sephardic Jewish Festival. No better moment to remind the world of Ukraine’s resilience and Russia’s barbarism.

American Sephardi Federation

05/25/2026

Join BHL at the ASF Pomegranate Awards Ceremony on Monday, 1 June: https://nysjff.com/title-item/28th-nysjff-awards-ceremony/

Honored to receive the Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award in philosophy from the American Sephardi Federation next week. Thank you to the Federation for this distinguished recognition and for showing my film “Our War” in the New York Sephardic Jewish Festival. No better moment to remind the world of Ukraine’s resilience and Russia’s barbarism.

American Sephardi Federation

05/25/2026

Join ASF Pomegranate Award Honoree Bernard-Henri Lévy for a special screening of with Tablet Magazine's Editor-at-large Liel Liebovitz!

Join me for a special screening of my film Our War and Q/A with brilliant Liel Leibovitz of Tablet Magazine on June 2, at 5 PM, Quad Cinema NYC.

In defense of Ukraine, always, and to say loudly that Ukraine will win.

In partnership with the American Sephardi Federation and UJA-Federation of New York

Tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/our-war

05/15/2026

https://sendfox.com/lp/1kon79

IN MEMORY OF EMMA LAZARUS [https://americansephardi.org/news/22july25/], A”H, AMERICAN SEPHARDI POET, PLAYWRIGHT, CRITIC, JOURNALIST, AND A SELF-PROCLAIMED “JEWISH OUTLAW” __ _ Click __here_ [https://donorbox.org/sephardi-world-weekly]_ to dedicate a future issue in honor or memory of a lov...

05/07/2026

ASF is excited to partner once again with Qesher on the following virtual talks spanning the Greater Sephardi and Mizrahi world:

May 7 — Jews of Zimbabwe and Zambia (https://www.qesher.com/jewish-zimbabwe-and-zambia/)

May 10 — Get to Know: Project Diaspora - Journeys to the Last Jewish Frontiers in the Islamic World (free event: https://www.qesher.com/project-diaspora/)

May 12 — Get to Know: The Aristides de Sousa Mendes Museum in Portugal (free event: https://www.qesher.com/sousa-mendes-museum/)

May 14 — Jews of Jamaica (https://www.qesher.com/jews-of-jamaica/)

May 24 — Jews of Rome (https://www.qesher.com/jews-rome/)

May 26 — Qesher Book Club: Sweet Malida (free event): https://www.qesher.com/sweet-malida/

May 28 — The Jews of Japan (https://www.qesher.com/the-jews-in-japan)