Sephardic Jews and the Making of American Independence

Sephardic Jews and the Making of American Independence is an international exhibition exploring the role of Sephardic Jews in the formation and development of the United States, from the Atlantic world of the eighteenth century to the emergence of modern American pluralism.

Through sixteen large-format panels combining historical narrative, archival images, maps, documents, and visual storytelling, the exhibition traces the Sephardic experience from exile and migration to citizenship, constitutional liberty, public service, law, education, and cultural memory. While a significant portion of the exhibition focuses on the American War of Independence and the broader Atlantic conflict involving Spain, the project also examines the long-term Sephardic contribution to American civic life through figures such as Haym Salomon, Gershom Mendes Seixas, Uriah Phillips Levy, Emma Lazarus, Benjamin Cardozo, Annie Nathan Meyer, and many others.

The exhibition emphasizes themes highly relevant to contemporary audiences: religious liberty, plurality, migration, constitutional culture, and the relationship between identity and citizenship in democratic societies.

The project is being developed collaboratively by academic institutions, cultural organizations, and Sephardic heritage partners in the United States and Spain.

Confirmed and Planned Venues (2026)

• May 31, 2026 — American Sephardi Federation, New York
• October 3, 2026 — Embassy of Spain, Washington, D.C.
• Possible additional presentation — United States Capitol (pending confirmation)
• Late October / Early November 2026 — University of Miami (tentative dates)
• November 2026 — Sephardic Week, Comunidades Judías Iberoamericanas de Miami
• November 2026 — Centro Sefarad-Israel, Madrid

Collaborating Institutions

• American Sephardi Federation (New York)
• Centro Sefarad-Israel (Madrid)
• Comunidades Judías Iberoamericanas de Miami
• The Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies, University of Miami
• The George Feldenkreis Program in Judaic Studies, University of Miami

The exhibition aims to contribute not only to Sephardic and Jewish public history, but also to broader conversations about democracy, cultural plurality, and the making of the modern Atlantic world.