Daniel Romero

Any plans to visit Jerusalem during hagim? We would like to make a minyan in the western Sephardic tradition in the old city or baka. Please message me privately if you can commit. Thanks!

Here is a translation of Tesouro dos dinim on bishul to English.Summary:On the topic of bishul (cooking) on Shabbat...I translated the Teouro dos dinim of Manase Ben Israel...from Portuguese to English for the benefit of this group's readers. In summary, he says that one cannot reheat soups, or bring liquids to cook on the Sabbath. He is ok with stews with broth, or dry cooked foods like empanadas...

Re: Shinanim piyut Who is Nuriel?It seems to have been quoted in the piyut Shinanim by Solomon Ibn Gabirol (page 134 of the Spanish Portuguese Kippur service). In this piyut, Nuriel is mentioned. Who is he? What are his characteristics?

Any particular tisha b ab observances among western Sephardim? Why don’t people sit on the floor in synagogue? Also, do people sit on the floor when they are in abiluth in general? Any other notable practices?

In the de Sola Pool Daily Siddur, page 361, it reads: "Blessing of the moon. Recited standing out of doors on Saturday night in the second week of the lunar month." Why is this the case? Is this because the S&P follow the custom of waiting on the 7th day? What is the history of this practice? Do we know?I did some searching and I found that the Peninei Halacha quotes the pratice of waiting to the ...

What is the Western Sephardic tradition for nahala/anyos? Light candle and say hashcaboth?

I am reading a book called a dictionary of Angels. In it the author writes that "To come closer to our own times: it will be recalled that when Spinoza was "execrated, cursed, and cast out" from his community in Amsterdam for holding along other "heretical views" that "angels were an hallucination," the edict of excommunication against him was drawn up by the rabbis "with the judgment of the ange...

A while back ago I saw a video post for an amsterdam song called something like a los beninos senhores de la talmud torah or it was part of the chorus of the song...it sounds like a song written by the students of the kk talmud torah of the esnoga to its benefactors. I can't seem to find it now. Anyone have this?

Interesting article showing that genetic tests should not determine one's perception of a genealogy. "Thus, these tests should not be seen as deter- mining the race or ethnicity of a test-taker. They cannot pinpoint the place of origin or social affiliation of even one ancestor with exact cer- tainty. Although wider sampling and techno- logical advancements may help (16), many of the tests’ proble...

Does anyone know if there is an English version of Parafrasis comentado sobre el Pentateuco by Isaac Abohab‏, Jacob de Cordoba? I am thinking of translating into English otherwise...I started a draft and thus far....I can already tell from the dedication that we have a quite ancient custom to quote the hahamin of the goyim in our works... :)Parafrasis Comentado sobre el Pentateuco Targum of the Fi...

Western Sephardic Yom Kippur in NYC metro: I am thinking of coming to NYC metro for Yom Kippur and would like to know options for a Western Sephardic service. The obvious choice is Shearith Israel. Are there others? Also: suggestions or recommendations where to stay near the service. Thank you.

שנה טובה ומתוקה!Keep up the great work. You have been a nice addition to my last year and wishing you much success! you guys rock (as we say in america) =P

Do we have any photos of antique kiddush cups from any Western Sephardi synagogue?

There is a mysterious italian or sephardi shiva minhag ---I remember reading in a book on google books called Jewish Magical Practices it was a light colored cover and it might have had the word kabbalah instead -- about an italian jewish post-burial minhag. This is what I remember:It was customary for Jews in Italy in the fourteenth century to place a cup filled with water and salt, and a candle ...