## *ephardi Spaces: Researching Sephardic Miration*## *Dr Shai Cohen*## *Sephardic World, Sunday 6 July 2025*This Sunday, ***Dr Shai Cohe***n’s talk will introduce Sephardi Spaces, a research project launched in 2023 that traces the migrations of Sephardic families from the Iberian Peninsula to their global diasporas. Combining historical scholarship with digital mapping, the project seeks to understand how Sephardic identity has evolved across different geographies and generations. A central element is an interactive GIS-based platform that allows users to explore these movements in spatial and cultural terms, offering new ways to visualise continuity and change within Sephardic traditions, languages, and communal life.[https://sepharad.miami.edu/](https://sepharad.miami.edu/) ***Dr Cohen*** brings to this work a wide-ranging scholarly background that bridges early modern Iberian literature, Jewish-Christian relations, and digital humanities. A Senior Lecturer at the University of Miami and Director of its AI and Humanities Lab, he has published on political satire in Habsburg Spain, converso identity, and cultural hybridity. His current work integrates AI and extended reality (XR) technologies to preserve and interpret Sephardic heritage. Sephardi Spaces exemplifies this interdisciplinary approach, offering both historical insight and contemporary relevance in understanding how diasporic identities are shaped and redefined over time.Patrons can join us live on Sunday 6 July 2025, at 11 noon in LA, 2pm in NYC, 7pm in London, 8pm in Paris/Amsterdam, 9pm in Jerusalem, and 4am the next morning in Sydney. Patrons will receive a link in a separate email. Everyone else is invited to watch the YouTube premiere the next week.[https://www.youtube.com/c/SephardicGenealogyAndHistory](https://www.youtube.com/c/SephardicGenealogyAndHistory)If you are not yet a patron and would like to support our work, you can join us here: [https://www.patreon.com/sephardi](https://www.patreon.com/sephardi) Even $5 a month or a single payment of $60 for a year makes a meaningful difference and gives you the chance to put your questions directly to leading experts in the field.*** ******Spanish Police Arrest Six for Massive Fraud in Sephardic Citizenship Scheme***Spanish police have arrested six individuals in Málaga, including three notaries, accused of orchestrating a large-scale fraud involving fake genealogical certificates under Spain’s 2015 Sephardic citizenship law. The group allegedly charged €6,000–€8,000 per application and produced thousands of forged documents, some absurdly citing celebrities like Shakira and J Balvin as Sephardic ancestors. One suspect, who claimed to represent Spain’s Sephardic community, reportedly copied genealogies from the internet and issued over 1,200 fake certificates. Authorities estimate profits may have exceeded €10 million. The investigation highlights ongoing concerns about abuse of Iberian nationality laws and follows similar scandals in Portugal. **London Jewish Genealogy Library**The Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain library has an excellent collection of Sephardic books, as well as good general collections on the UK, Commonwealth and other areas such as Amsterdam. The library is in Knightsbridge, with visits by appointment. They also have an expert librarian who literally wrote the book on Sephardim of Manchester, a community largely of Syrian origin. The Society also has a Dutch and Sephardic Special Interest Group.[https://www.jgsgb.org.uk/about-the-library](https://www.jgsgb.org.uk/about-the-library)***Jewish Algeria***If you have not yet watched Chantal Clabrough’s spellbinding talk Finding Myself: Sephardic Roots in Algeria, do so now! In the second half, she shares her father’s extraordinary life: growing up under French colonial rule, enduring Vichy antisemitism, fighting with the Free French army, witnessing the Algerian War of Independence, and ultimately fleeing to Canada. With most research in French or Hebrew, this is a rare chance to explore a pivotal chapter in Jewish history via a deeply personal narrative.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG0Fd9PYhpA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG0Fd9PYhpA)**Can you speak to Sephardic World?**Every Sephardic family has a unique story to tell. Do you want to share yours? If you would like to speak but haven’t given a presentation before, we are happy to provide support and to practice with you. If you don’t want to talk for a full 45 minutes, we can have a series of shorter presentations. If you are very nervous about public speaking, we can pre-record. Our only requirement is that you have archival evidence to support what you say. Send us an email at [society@sephardicgenealogy.com](mailto:society@sephardicgenealogy.com) ***Can you Volunteer or Donate?***The Sephardic Genealogical Society is looking for volunteers. If you have skills and time to spare, please complete our questionnaire. We are particularly looking for people with video editing, fundraising and web design experience.[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1aFsubxSY_PtauwOJzlayxBmLTKjXL8kTzz50jmmRiHA/viewform?edit_requested=true](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1aFsubxSY_PtauwOJzlayxBmLTKjXL8kTzz50jmmRiHA/viewform?edit_requested=true)We rely on the support of our patrons. If you can support our work by donating as little as $5/month, please visit our Patreon page. We have a number of projects that require more substantial support. Please let us know if you can help.[https://www.patreon.com/c/sephardi](https://www.patreon.com/c/sephardi) ***Join our WhatsApp channel***We have set up a WhatsApp channel to better help communication with supporters. If you have WhatsApp, please follow the channel.[https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaHxAjhJ93wTMhWkTF0i](https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaHxAjhJ93wTMhWkTF0i) *** ******From the Sephardic Archives***The Bevis Marks Synagogue Story - Celebrating over 300 years. London’s Bevis Marks Synagogue is the oldest in the UK still in use. Heritage advisor Marilyn Scott discusses efforts to preserve its historic fabric and extraordinary collections—Torah scrolls, silver, books, and furniture—while creating a visitor centre for the wider public. She shares the challenges of protecting this 1701 landmark, a symbol of Jewish resilience, supported by the UK’s National Heritage.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfvZ6z69qOg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfvZ6z69qOg)*Best wishes**Ton and David **Sephardic World *