With a Ladino word introduced on each page, a Sephardic Jewish family prepares to celebrate Shabbat.

David Serero draws on his Moroccan Jewish heritage in his adaptations of classic plays.

She didn’t mean it in a malicious way — I just did not conform to her stereotype of Sephardic Jews.

Avgolemono, a chicken soup with egg and lemon, has roots in Spain, Turkey, Italy, and Greece.

Tomas Kalika expands ideas of Jewish food by exploring recipes from the Jewish Diaspora.

This ritual for the Jewish New Year goes far beyond dipping apples in honey.

Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day between Passover and Shavuot, is traditionally celebrated with bonfires, parades and weddings. But at Magen David Sephardic Congregation, the celebration is on the 34th day.

I’m convinced that the pillars of my grandmother’s home are seasoned with allspice—the indispensable condiment that flavors many of the Egyptian and Syrian dishes she cooked for us growing up. It’s clichéd to say that food is the lifeblood of Sephardic Jews, yet anytime an outsider asks what differentiates my Middle Eastern community from others of, say Eastern European origin, I’m compelled to address our diet.

A Sephardi Jew explains some commonly confused terms.

Over the generations, our family tradition had been to go to the beach on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. Now that we live in disparate parts of Los Angeles, have differing synagogue schedules and levels of observance, our extended families (about 40 of us) come from throughout the greater Los Angeles area and meet at Venice Beach on the Sunday morning between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, bringing our beach chairs and something to share at our informal brunch that follows.

Who doesn't love a holiday party? Adding a global theme to this year's celebrations can both to add to the festivities and the educational elements of the holiday, bringing in new elements that both surprise and challenge accepted ideas of the holiday.