I have been thinking a lot lately about my place in the Jewish world. I have started out in the Reform (Ashkenazi) and eventually converted to Conservative (Ashkenazi). While I am still involved with a Conservative congregation, my beliefs and practices are Conservadox/Modern Orthodox. I feel that I will eventually convert via Modern Orthodox Judaism. However, the question that is staring me in the face right now is – Ashkenazi or Sephardi?
I have learned primarily from Ashkenazi sources and have evolved in my practices and beliefs around the Ashkenazi system. I am becoming more involved in learning about Yemenite and Sephardi/Mizrachi beliefs, traditions, practices, and halachic [Jewish legal] rulings.
I have found that my Hebrew follows Sephardi/Mizrachi pronunciation and I believe that it is not mandatory to avoid kitniyot [rice, corn, peanuts and beans] during Pesach [Passover] which puts me, again, in the Sephardi/Mizrachi realm. I am also learning about the halachah [Jewish law] surrounding women and tzitzit/tefillin. The Sephardi women who do follow the mitzvot of tzitzit and tefillin do not say the brachot [blessings] while the Ashkenazi women do. I believe that it is proper to not say the brachot since women are not commanded to follow these mitzvot but rather they are optional.
In addition, the two basic “legal texts” used by world Jewry is the Shulchan Aruch and the Mishneh Torah. Both of these were written by Sephardi Jews and written from a Sephardi tradition. It would only make sense to follow the Sephardi rulings and traditions.
I find myself leaning toward Sephardi. I have purchased a Sephardi siddur [prayer book] and plan on learning more about the Sephardi rulings and traditions. So, who knows, I may just choose that path.