Sephardic and Mizrahi are terms that can refer to ancestry, religion, and identity. Sephardic Jews trace their roots to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and historically spoke Judeo-Spanish (Ladino). Mizrahi Jews come from the Middle East and North Africa and traditionally spoke languages such as Judeo-Arabic or Judeo-Persian. Because Jewish communities migrated widely over the centuries, these groups are not always easy to separate.

Some scholars use a broader definition of Sephardi to include Jews from the Mediterranean and Western Asia, from North Africa to Afghanistan, without strictly separating Sephardic and Mizrahi communities. In this view, shared religious practices, Jewish law, communal traditions, and cultural patterns—like synagogue rituals and food—are more important than geographic origin.
At the same time, local, regional, or ethnic identities can be stronger than broader Sephardic or Mizrahi labels. Many communities celebrate their own unique histories and customs. Some organizations take an inclusive approach, recognizing all these definitions as valid and encouraging understanding of the diversity within Sephardic and Mizrahi communities.