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Sephardic Jews were some of the first Jewish immigrants to the Pacific Northwestern United States with the arrival of Turkish and Greek Sephardim in the 20th century.

History

The first Sephardic Jews in Seattle, Solomon Calvo (1879–1964) and Jacob (Jack) Policar (d. 1961), came from Marmara, Turkey and Rhodes, Greece. They brought with them their culinary heritage, Ladino language, and distinct Sephardic religious and legal tradition.

Sephardim helped greatly develop the Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA, as they dominated the fishing industry of the city.

Synagogues

Washington

• Sephardic Bikur Holim (Seattle)
• Congregation Ezra Bessaroth (Seattle)

Oregon

• Congregation Ahavath Achim (Portland)
• Congregation Beit Yosef (Portland)

Notable Sephardim from the Pacific Northwest

• Rabbi Marc D. Angel - Rabbi emeritus of Congregation Shearith Israel in New York.
• Nissim Black - American-Israeli Hasidic rapper.

Sources

1. "Seattle Sephardic Community : Businesses : Museum : Washington State Jewish Historical Society". www.wsjhs.org. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
2. "Sephardic Jews in Washington". www.historylink.org. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
3. "Sephardic Jews and Pike Place Market : Businesses : Museum : Washington State Jewish Historical Society". www.wsjhs.org. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
4. Israel, Zera (2019-06-16). "Rabbi Marc D. Angel". Zera Israel. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
5. Rubin, Debra (2013-06-20). "Double wedding in Seattle caps rapper's transformation". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2024-12-01.

• Jewish-American history
• History of the Pacific Northwest
• Sephardi Jewish culture