JewishGen Talks: Post 1492 Sephardic Dispersion and A Guide to Sephardic Genealogy

The Alhambra Decree issued in 1492 by the Catholic Monarchs in Spain brought an end to the large and vibrant Jewish community in Spain that had lasted for centuries. The expulsion of the Jews of Spain was one of the most consequential events in Spanish and Jewish history. What kind of life did the Jews lead before the expulsion? What precipitated the decree? Where did they go? Sarina Roffé provides an overview of how Sephardic Jews dispersed around the globe after 1492. She will also provide a basic overview of Sephardic resources on JewishGen and other sites for information.

Sarina Roffé is a professional genealogist, editor of the journal DOROT, and founder of the Sephardic Heritage Project. She is the author of Branching Out From Sepharad (Sephardic Heritage Project, 2017), which outlines the history of Jews in Spain, the 1492 expulsion, their history in Syria, and their immigration to the Americas. She is Co-Chair of the Brooklyn Jewish Historical Initiative, and Chair of the JewishGen Sephardic Research Division.