List of Israeli Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews explained

This is a list of notable Mizrahi Jews and Sephardi Jews in Israel, including both original immigrants who obtained Israeli citizenship and their Israeli descendants.

Traditionally the terms "Mizrahi Jews" and "Sephardi Jews" were used as all encompassing terms referring to the Jews descended from the Jewish communities of Iberia, North Africa and the Middle East; but due to the melting pot effect of the Israeli society the terms have gradually become more vague. Many Israeli descendants of Mizrahi and Sephardi Jewish immigrants have gradually adopted the Israeli culture and intermarried with descendants of other Jewish communities.

Government and Politicians

• Dudi Amsalem - politician, member of Likud.^[1]
• Haim Amsalem – politician. Former member of the Shas Party. In 2011 Amsalem established the Whole Nation party.^{[2] [3]}
• Shlomo Ben Ami - diplomat, politician and historian^[4]
• Michael Ben-Ari – Israeli politician and current member of the Knesset^[5]
• Moshe Mizrahi - politician, former member of Knesset for Israeli Labor Party
• Aryeh Bibi - politician, Iraqi Jewish member of Knesset for Kadima. Born in Baghdad, Iraq.
• Aryeh Deri - politician, and former leader of Israel's Shas Party. Born in Meknes, Morocco.
• Yaakov Edri - Member of Knesset for Kadima. Born In Morocco.
• Gila Gamliel - Member of the Knesset for Likud and minister
• Sharren Haskel - member of the Knesset for Likud.
• Yoel Hasson - politician, member of Knesset for Kadima.
• Dalia Itzik - politician who serves as a member of the Knesset for Kadima
• Avigdor Kahalani - former member of the Labor Party.
• Moshe Kahlon - Kulanu Party Chairman, member of the Knesset and current Finance Minister
• Moshe Katsav – Former President of Israel (2000–2007)
• David Levy - politician who served as a member of the Knesset between 1969 and 2006
• Orly Levy – former model who is a politician
• Shaul Mofaz – Former Israeli Minister of Defense, currently number two on the Kadima list in the Knesset
• Yitzhak Mordechai - former general and former politician
• Amir Ohana Israeli lawyer, former Shin Bet official and politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Likud
• Shimon Ohayon - politician. MK member for the Likud party.
• Amir Peretz - politician and member of the Knesset for the Labour Party
• Rafi Peretz (1956-) Israel Minister of Education and former Chief Military Rabbi
• Miri Regev - Member of the Knesset and minister
• Silvan Shalom - politician who previously served as Israel's Foreign Minister and Finance Minister
• Meir Sheetrit - politician who serves as a member of the Knesset for Kadima
• Robert Tiviaev- politician, Mountain Jew, former member of Knesset for Kadima. Born in Daghestan.
• Eli Yishai - politician, and current leader of Israel's Shas Party
• Mordechai Zar – Israeli politician and former member of the Knesset

Military

• Gabi Ashkenazi – Former Chief of the IDF General Staff^[6]
• Moshe Barazani - Iraqi Kurdish Jew and a member of Lehi^[7]
• Eitan Ben Eliyahu – Former Major General in the Israeli Defence Forces^{[8] [9]}
• Eli Cohen – Israeli spy who worked in Syria and was eventually exposed and executed in Syria in 1965^[10]
• Gadi Eizenkot - current chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces^[11]
• David Elazar - Former Chief of the IDF General Staff^[12]
• Dan Halutz – Former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces^[13]
• Moshe Levi - Former Chief of the IDF General Staff^[14]
• Shaul Mofaz – Former Israeli Minister of Defense, Former Chief of the IDF General Staff.^[15]
• Yitzhak Mordechai - former general and former Israeli Minister of Defense^[16]
• Yekutiel Adam - Former top Israeli General^[17]
• Yehezkel Mizrahi - Former Lehi fighter^[18]

Activists

• Abie Nathan – Humanitarian and peace activist^[19]
• Hen Mazzig – Writer and speaker. A senior fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute.^[20]

Religious figures

• Elazar Abuhatzeira, Orthodox Sefardi rabbi and kabbalist.
  • Rabbi Amram Aburbeh, Chief Rabbi of Petah Tikva Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel and Rishon LeZion^[21]
• Rabbi Shalom Arush, is an Israeli Breslov rabbi and founder of the Chut Shel Chessed Institutions. Arush is considered one of today's leading Hasidic spiritual guides.^[22]
• Mordechai Eliyahu, Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel 1983–93, (1929–2010)
• Yosef Chaim HaCohen, Rabbi, Rabad, Rosh Av Beth Din Chief judge of the Ma'araviim congregation in Jerusalem
• Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, Israeli Jewish spiritual leader and Kabbalist who lives in New York City.^[23]
• Moshe Shmuel Shapira, rosh yeshiva of Be'er Yaakov
• Yosef Qafih, Yemen-born rabbi and scholar
• Rabbi Amnon Yitzhak, a Yemenite Haredi rabbi
• Ovadia Yoseph, the former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel^[24]
• Rabbi-Cohen Shalomim HaLahawi, Diaspora Mizrahi Rabbi of the Mizrahi-Ethiopian Jewish Int'l Rabbinical Council; Founder of Cushite Hebrew Yeshiva-Open Int'l University. Family originally from Mt. Carmel, Israel.

Businesspeople and entrepreneurs

• Shai Agassi - Israeli entrepreneur. The founder and CEO of Better Place, which has developed a model and infrastructure for employing electric cars as an alternative to fossil fuel technology.
• Alona Barkat owner of the football team Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Sister-in-law of former Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat.^[25]
• Zadik Bino - Israeli businessman, owner of the First International Bank of Israel.^[26]
• Patrick Drahi - Israeli-French businessman^[27]
• Shlomo Eliahu - Israeli businessman
• Yakir Gabay - Israeli-born billionaire who founded Aroundtown SA
• Isaac Larian - businessman^[28]
• Lev Leviev – diamond tycoon
• Haim Saban – Israeli-American television and media proprietor. Saban was ranked by Forbes as the 104th richest person in America.^[29]
• Yitzhak Tshuva - Israeli business magnate.^[30]

Academic figures

• Michel Abitbol, historian, professor, and chair of the Department of African Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.^[31]
• Amnon Netzer – historian, researcher, professor and journalist.
• Avshalom Elitzur – physicist and philosopher
• Moshe Bar-Asher – linguist^[32]
• Yuval Noah Harari - historian and author of books (e.g.)^[33]
  • Smadar Lavie - anthropologist, visiting fellow at the University of California, Berkeley Moshe Safdie - architect, educator, theorist, urban planner, author
• Maor Farid - researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, social activist and author
• Raphael Mechoulam – chemist, discoverer of tetrahydrocannabinol and anandamide

Cultural figures

Film, TV, and stage

valign = top

Lior Ashkenazi - actor Ze'ev Revach - actor and comedian Moshe Ivgy - actor Uri Gavriel - actor - actor Yosef Shiloach - actor Ronit Elkabetz - actress and filmmaker Gali Atari – singer and actress Ofra Haza – singer, actress and international recording artist. Liraz Charhi – actress and singer. Shiri Maimon - singer, TV show host and actress Alon Abutbul - actor Yigal Bashan – singer, composer and actor Sasson Gabai - actor Yehuda Levi - actor and model Oshik Levi – singer, actor, and entertainer Dover Kosashvili - film director and screenwriter

valign = top

Eli Yatzpan - television host and comedian Meir Suissa - comedian and actor Orna Banai - actress, comedian and entertainer Shaike Levi - comedian, singer and actor Gavri Banai - comedian, singer and actor Oded Fehr - actor Eli Finish - actor and comedian Mariano Idelman - actor and comedian Asi Cohen - comedian and actor Shalom Assayag - comedian Israel Katorza - comedian, actor and screenwriter Naor Zion – comedian/actor/director Shahar Hason - comedian and actor Erez Tal - media personality Didi Harari - media personality Moshe Mizrahi - actor and screenwriter Tzachi Halevy - actor & singer

Models

• Moran Atias – model and actress
• Sendi Bar – model and actress
• Yael Abecassis – model and actress
• Linor Abargil – Israeli beauty pageant contestant who won the Miss World beauty pageant in 1998
• Miri Bohadana – model and actress
• – model and actress
• Orly Levy – former model who is a politician
• – model and actress
• – model and actress
• Becky Griffin – model, TV presenter and an actress
• Yehuda Levi - actor and model

Popular musicians

Etti Ankri – singer/songwriter Harel Skaat – singer/songwriter Ehud Banai – singer/songwriter Amir Benayoun – singer-songwriter Boaz Mauda – singer-songwriter Moshe Peretz – singer-songwriter and composer Boaz Sharabi – singer/songwriter and composer Avihu Medina – singer-songwriter and composer Shlomi Shabat – singer and composer Avi Toledano – singer and composer Izhar Cohen - singer and composer Miki Gavrielov – singer and composer Dana International – pop singer Ishtar – vocalist for Alabina Ahinoam Nini (Noa) – singer Ninet Tayeb - pop rock singer and actress Rita – Israeli pop-star Subliminal (rapper) – Israeli rap singer Yossi Banai – performer, singer, and actor Ofra Haza – singer, actress and international recording artist Oshik Levi – singer, actor, and entertainer Pe'er Tasi – singer Corinne Allal – rock singer, composer and songwriter.

Zohar Argov – singer Shoshana Damari – singer Gali Atari – singer and actress Lior Narkis – singer Margalit Tsan'ani – singer and television personality Haim Moshe – singer Daklon – singer Eyal Golan – singer Shimi Tavori – singer Zion Golan – singer Kobi Oz – singer Shlomo Bar – singer Zehava Ben – singer Kobi Peretz – singer Moshik Afia – singer Gad Elbaz – singer Sarit Hadad – singer Shiri Maimon - singer, TV show host and actress Mosh Ben-Ari - musician, lyricist and composer Yigal Bashan – singer, composer and actor – singer Yuval Banai – singer Berry Sakharof – rock guitarist, songwriter and singer

• Shai Tsabari - singer

Various

• Adi Nes – Photographer^[34]

Sports

Association Football

• Dudu Aouate – goalkeeper (RCD Mallorca, national team)^[35]
• Gai Assulin – winger/attacking midfielder (Manchester City, national team)
• Pini Balili, Israel/Turkey – striker (Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv, national team)
• Yossi Benayoun – attacking midfielder, national team captain, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Maccabi Haifa, Racing Santander, West Ham United, Liverpool, Chelsea
• Tal Ben Haim – center back/right back, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, West Ham United^[36]
• Avi Cohen – defender, Liverpool and national team
• Yaniv Katan – forward/winger (Maccabi Haifa, national team)
• Eli Ohana – won UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and Bravo Award (most outstanding young player in Europe); national team; manager
• Haim Revivo – attacking/side midfielder (national team), Maccabi Haifa, Celta de Vigo, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray
• Idan Tal – midfielder (Beitar Jerusalem FC & national team)
• Itzik Zohar – attacking midfielder (national team), Maccabi Jaffa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Royal Antwerp, Beitar Jerusalem, Crystal Palace, Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Herzliya, Maccabi Netanya, F.C. Ashdod, Hapoel Nazareth Illit

Basketball

• Omri Casspi – 6' 9" Small Forward, drafted in 1st round of 2009 NBA draft (Cleveland Cavaliers)^[37]
• Oded Katash - 6'5" Point Guard, Israeli National Basketball Team Coach
• Motti Aroesti - 6'2" Point Guard.
• Lior Eliyahu - 6'9" Power Forward, drafted in 2nd round of 2006 NBA draft by Orlando Magic.
• Lior Arditi - 6'4" Point Guard.
• Doron Jamchi - 6'6" Shooting Guard.
• Shimon Amsalem - 6'8" Power Forward & Center.
• Dror Hajaj - 5'10" Point Guard.
• Yogev Ohayon - 6'2" Point Guard.
• Papi Turjeman - 6'5" Point & Shooting Guard.
• Eliahu Amiel - 6'1" Point Guard.
• Afik Nissim - 6'1" Point Guard.
• Mark Mimran - 5'11" Point Guard.

Olympic Sports Athletes

• Shahar Tzuberi, Israel, windsurfer, Olympic bronze (RS:X discipline); 2009 & 2010 European Windsurf champion^[38]

See also

• Israelis
• List of notable Israelis
• List of Jews from the Arab World

Notes and References

1. Web site: David Amsalem . .
2. Web site: Rabbi Amsellem Registers as a Candidate in Jerusalem Rabbinate Election The Yeshiva World . 15 September 2014 . 2023-12-21 . en-US.
3. Web site: 2019-06-17 . Rabbi Haim Amsalem's Article on the Conversion Scandal . 2023-12-21 . Fr . en-US.
4. Web site: Shlomo Ben-Ami. Jewish Virtual Library. 8 September 2012.
5. Web site: Knesseth profile of Michael Ben--Ari. Knesset. 25 October 2010 . he.
6. News: The Saga of Syrian Youth Aliyah. Ashkenazi. Eli. 2011-05-15. Haaretz. 2019-02-24. en.
7. http://www.etzel.org.il/english/people/barazani.htm Moshe Barazani
8. Web site: Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica.
9. Web site: MAHAR2.
10. Web site: Eli Cohen (1924–1965). Jewish Virtual Library. 8 May 2019.
11. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.629391 The Israeli army gets its first Moroccan chief-of-staff – so why the Ashkenazi name?
12. Web site: 2023-11-29 . Human body systems Muscle, Skeletal, Respiratory, Circulatory, Nervous, Renal, Digestive, & Interactive Diagram Britannica . 2023-12-21 . www.britannica.com . en.
13. News: Sam Hopkins . February 28, 2007 . Cultural Crossover on a Sword's Edge . Wealth Daily . October 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131219014809/http://www.wealthdaily.com/articles/japan-iran-los+angeles/307 . December 19, 2013 . dead .
14. Web site: https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/past-chiefs-of-staff/lt-gen-moshe-levi-1983-1987/ . 2023-12-21 . www.idf.il.
15. https://www.ort.org/en/news/shaul-mofaz-meets-ort-supporters-in-usa/ Shaul Mofaz meets ORT supporters in USA
16. https://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=87 Yitzhak Mordechai: Particulars
17. Web site: Yekutiel Adam, a top Israeli military man - UPI Archives . 2023-12-21 . UPI . en.
18. Web site: מזרחי יחזקאל – "יוסף" – העמותה להנצחת מורשת לח״י . 2024-01-15 . he-IL.
19. Web site: Abie Nathan. 2 May 2007. July 2005. abie-nathan.com. Noam Tal. https://web.archive.org/web/20070427073416/http://www.abie-nathan.com/main-en.html. 27 April 2007 . live.
20. Web site: Narunsky. Gareth. Advocate's family story. 2021-01-06. ajn.timesofisrael.com. en-US.
21. News: SHARON. JEREMY. Peres meets with Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Shas outcast Rabbi Shlomo Amar. 20 May 2014. Jerusalem Post. 2014-04-20.
22. Web site: From Airborne Medic to Spiritual Leader: An exclusive interview with Rabbi Shalom Arush . Kliger . Aaron . Feldman . Yonatan . 15 December 2010 . Sha'a Tova Magazine.
23. Web site: Josh. Nathan-Kazis. Charismatic Moroccan Kabbalist Draws Crowds And Questions. June 23, 2010. September 27, 2010. The Jewish Daily Forward.
24. Web site: Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Influential Spiritual Leader in Israel, Dies at 93. Isabel. Kershner. 7 October 2013. 7 October 2013. The New York Times.
25. https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Hapoel-soccer-club-owner-attends-New-Right-press-conference-579960 Hapoel Beersheba Owner Alona Barkat Joins New Right
26. http://www.wzo.org.il/en/resources/view.asp?id=1459 Aliyah from Iraq
27. https://visao.sapo.pt/atualidade/economia/2017-09-17-quem-e-patrick-drahi-o-homem-que-quer-juntar-a-tvi-a-pt/ - Visao Sapo - Quem é Patrick Drahi, o homem que quer juntar a TVI à PT
28. http://www.jewishjournal.com/iranianamericanjews/item/bratz_toymaker_isaac_larian_living_the_american_dream/ Bratz toymaker Isaac Larian living the American dream.
29. News: Ari . Shavit . "You" made it big, you jerk!' . . Israel . September 12, 2006 . May 7, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080528175257/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/798292.html . May 28, 2008 .
30. News: 64 שנים אחרי: משפחת תשובה סוגרת מעגל. Nachshoni. Kobi. July 15, 2012. he. Ynet.
31. Web site: Karmel. Melamed. 2008-02-18. Iranian Jews mourn passing of Dr. Netzer. 2020-06-06. Jewish Journal. en-US.
32. Web site: Jews of the Maghreb. Yale University. 3 September 2011. 2010.
33. Web site: Yuval Noah Harari. Lapham's Quarterly. 2023-12-03.
34. Web site: Underpinnings of Greek Tragedy in Israel. 2012-07-17.
35. News: Moshe . Harush . Awat sparks storm with decision to play on Yom Kippur . . September 22, 2006 . July 4, 2008 .
36. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham/8002909/Avram-Grant-and-Tal-Ben-Haim-set-to-miss-West-Ham-game-for-Jewish-holiday.html "Avram Grant and Tal Ben-Haim set to miss West Ham game for Jewish holiday"
37. News: Jews (and Mel) on the big screen, Winter sports roundup . Bloom. Nate. Jweekly . January 21, 2010 . May 13, 2010.
38. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/sailing/7571689.stm "Dempsey misses windsurfing medal"