The Special Character of Sephardi Tolerance

Publication Date: January 1988

Publisher: Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

Author(s): Daniel J. Elazar

Research Area: Culture and religion

Keywords: Mizrahi Jews; Curriculum; Culture; Jewish Unity

Type: Other

Abstract:

The author explains that Sephardim pride themselves on the fact that there has been no religious reformation in their experience to divide Orthodox and Liberal Jews. He argues that historically there was little segregation between Jews and non-Jews, which prevented the development of an isolationist spirit among Sephardim. The author outlines the Sephardic method of education as reflective of balance and proportion in its combination of limudei kodesh (study of sacred texts) with limudei khol (general studies).