Sephardic Jews, also known as Sephardi Jews or Sephardim, are a Jewish diaspora group originally from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Their name derives from the Hebrew "Sepharad" (Iberia). After thriving under Muslim rule in Al-Andalus, they faced persecution following the Christian Reconquista, culminating in the 1492 Alhambra Decree in Spain and a similar 1496 edict in Portugal that led to mass expulsions, forced conversions, and migrations. Many resettled across North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, forming new communities and integrating with existing ones. Historically, their languages included Judaeo-Spanish (Ladino), Judaeo-Portuguese, and Haketia, reflecting their Iberian roots. In modern times, most Sephardim live in Israel. In 2015, Spain and Portugal enacted laws granting citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews, but these opportunities have since been restricted, with Spain’s program ending in 2019 and Portugal tightening its requirements in 2022.

Sephardic Jews - Wikipedia