The Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal in the 15th century were known as what?

• A. Ashkenazim
• B. Sephardim
• C. Mizrahi
• D. Khazars

Answer: (B)

Sephardim are the Jews whose historical homeland was the Iberian Peninsula—Spain and Portugal. In the 15th century, Spain expelled its Jewish population in 1492, followed by Portugal, sending many Sephardim across the Mediterranean into the Ottoman Empire and other regions. The term Sephardim comes from Sepharad, a Hebrew/Arabic name for Spain, and these communities developed distinctive customs, liturgical traditions, and the Judeo-Spanish language known as Ladino. This group is contrasted with Ashkenazim (Jews of Germany and central/eastern Europe) and Mizrahi (Jews from the Middle East and North Africa who remained in those regions). Khazars refer to a medieval empire whose rulers reportedly converted to Judaism, not the Iberian exiles. Hence, the correct designation for the Iberian exiles is Sephardim.