Where Are They From?
History & Events
Language & Music
Food & Culture
Important People
100

This group comes from Eastern and Central Europe (like Poland, Germany, Russia).

Who are Ashkenazi Jews? 


100

This event in 1492 forced Jews to leave Spain or convert.

What is the Spanish Inquisition / Expulsion?

100

This language was spoken by Ashkenazi Jews and mixes Hebrew, German, and Slavic words.

What is Yiddish?

100

This pastry or dumpling (like kugel or knish) is Ashkenazi.

What is kugel/knish?

100

This famous Ashkenazi scholar wrote commentaries on the Torah and Talmud.

Who is Rashi?

200

This group comes from Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Who are Sephardic Jews?

200

During this time (900s–1100s), Sephardic Jews lived in a “Golden Age” in Spain.

What is a time of tolerance and prosperity?

200

This language was spoken by Sephardic Jews and is based on Spanish.

What is Ladino?

200

These foods (like kebabs and rice dishes) are common in Sephardic cuisine.

What are Mediterranean/Middle Eastern foods?

200

This Sephardic scholar was a philosopher, doctor, and advisor.

Who is Maimonides (Rambam)?

300

This term referred to a region between France and Germany where Ashkenazi Jews first lived.

What is Ashkenaz?

300

Ashkenazi Jews faced violence during this series of religious wars.

What are the Crusades?

300

This type of music is associated with Ashkenazi Jews and often played at weddings.

What is Klezmer?

300

This soup made from beets is common in Ashkenazi cooking.

What is borscht?

300

Rashi lived in this country.

What is France?

400

Sephardic Jews often lived under this type of rule during their “Golden Age.”

What is Muslim rule?

400

This region in Russia limited where Jews could live.

What is the Pale of Settlement?

400

Sephardic music traditions are often influenced by these regions.

What are Middle Eastern / Mediterranean traditions?

400

Sephardic cooking uses lots of these (hint: flavor!).

What are spices?

400

Maimonides was born in this Spanish city.

What is Cordoba?

500

After persecution in Western Europe, Ashkenazi Jews moved to this region.

What is Eastern Europe (Poland/Russia)?

500

This set of rules limited how Sephardic Jews could live under Muslim rule.

What is the Pact of Umar?

500

Ladino reflects Spanish from which centuries?

What are the 14th–15th centuries?

500

Many foods we think of as “Jewish food” in the U.S. actually come from this group.

Who are Ashkenazi Jews?

500

This scholar’s epitaph says: “From Moses to Moses, there has never been another like Moses.”

Who is Maimonides?