Re: Sephardim from Holland

[Alan D Corre <corre...>]

In article <199301121545(dot)AA22601 (at) well(dot)sf(dot)ca(dot)us> 
<jewish-music (at) israel(dot)nysernet(dot)org> writes:

>Why are the Jews
>from Holland considered Sephardic. Did they go there from Spain?

Many Jews from Portugal went to Holland.  Many were marranos who were
living as secret Jews in Portugal. Holland at that time was relatively
free as far as religion goes.  If Jews practised their religion quietly
they were allowed to do so. The prayer for the government is recited
in Portuguese in the beautiful Sephardi synagogue in Amsterdam even now,
although the small congregation that remains mostly do not speak
Portuguese any more. Portuguese is also used for some ritual purposes
at the old Sephardi congregation in London.

--
Alan D. Corre
Department of Hebrew Studies
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee                     (414) 229-4245
PO Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201               corre (at) 
csd4(dot)csd(dot)uwm(dot)edu

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