5 Surprising Differences Between Ashkenazi & Sephardic Jews

Oftentimes, Jewish people depicted in the media typically appear to be of European descent, yet most Jews don’t fit into this category. 

While the two largest groups of Jews in North America are Ashkenazi Jews from countries like Germany, France and Eastern Europe, and Sephardic Jews from Portugal and Spain, there are also Mizrahi Jews from the Middle East, Ethiopian Jews, and so many more across the globe. 

Although there are many differences between these groups such as the languages they speak, the foods they eat, or even the Jewish customs and traditions they keep, they all share the core connection of Judaism and are a part of one peoplehood. 

This video, part of the The Z3 Project, an initiative of the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, CA. Promoting a stronger relationship between Diaspora Jewry and Israel, the Z3 project is dedicated to modeling how Zionism can evolve, and how Jewish communities can come together for meaningful discussions about the Diaspora and Israel. 

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Comedy Showcase: Benji Lovitt on Passover in Israel vs. Abroad

With Purim in the rear view mirror and supermarkets stocked with 5 lb. boxes of matzo, the Jewish world is focusing on the upcoming holiday of Passover. 

In three weeks the store shelves will be picked clean of most kosher l'Pesach products, and we'll be sitting down for the annual Pesach seder (in Israel) and two sedarim everywhere else in the world.

Stand-up comedian Benji Lovitt asked an audience of Israelis and Americans how they react to the difference between Pesach observance in Israel vs. abroad. 

Texas native and Israeli resident, Benji has made a career out of turning his actual experiences in making aliyah to Israel seven years ago into a series of hilarious standup comic routines.

His standup comedy has been seen in person and online by viewers in Israel, the US, and around the world, and his improvised videos and hilarious blog entries have been featured in publications such as the Times of Israel, the Jerusalem Post, Ynet, PresenTense magazine, the Jewish Daily Forward and Israel21c, among others.

Enjoy! 


A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.