Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam Who Are Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews in the United States? With Dr. Mijal Bitton
Nov 12, 2025
Dr. Mijal Bitton, a notable researcher at NYU and leader of the first national study on Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews in the U.S., discusses the rich yet often overlooked stories of these communities. She shares her personal journey of exclusion in scholarship that fueled her research. The conversation explores community identities, diverse experiences, and higher engagement with Jewish life. Mijal also addresses the complexities of how these communities relate to concepts like race and inclusion, advocating for more nuanced understandings of Jewish identity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Missing Chapter In Jewish History
- Major chunks of Jewish history and scholarship have omitted Sephardic and Mizrahi experiences, distorting the broader Jewish story.
- Mijal Bitton argues filling that gap is essential to understand Jewish identity and future possibilities.
A Seminar That Skipped An Entire People
- Mijal recounts attending a two-hour seminar where the historian never addressed Sephardic or Mizrahi Jews.
- That repeated omission motivated her doctoral work and the national study she later directed.
DEI Blind Spots For Sephardic Communities
- Many mainstream DEI efforts fail to include Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews because frameworks don't match their experiences.
- Bitton recommends rethinking inclusion to accommodate different cultural values and histories.
