Paper Short Abstract:

This study explores how Sephardic Jews from Tangier and Cuba reinterpret "Sephardic" as something dynamically enacted rather than merely inherited from the past. Through memory and practices, they challenge static frameworks, showing how Sefarad is actively shaped in their present realities

Paper Abstract:

The term "Sephardic" is often treated as a static designation tied to historical legacies of Spain and the Jewish diaspora. This research challenges such interpretations, showing how being "Sephardic" is actively constructed and reinterpreted in the present by individuals and communities. Focusing on the experiences of Sephardic Jews from Tangier and Cuba, this study examines how their connections to heritage are reshaped in the context of migration, as the vast majority left these locations during the second half of the 20th century due to shifting political, social, and economic circumstances.

Rather than being a fixed or inherited category, "Sephardic" serves as a framework through which individuals articulate their connections to what they perceive as Hispanic traditions. This includes the selective incorporation of elements from their surrounding cultures, such as gift-giving during Epiphany or culinary practices like Iberian ham. These practices are reframed as markers of their Hispano-Sephardic belonging, despite not being inherently "Hispanic" or traditionally Jewish. Such reinterpretations highlight how individuals use memory and heritage to navigate complex social realities and affirm a sense of continuity.

This study reveals how untold personal narratives and overlooked perspectives expose the evolving and performative nature of what it means to be Sephardic. By tracing these processes in a migratory framework, the research sheds light on the politics of memory and the ongoing reconfiguration of cultural belonging in response to present-day challenges.