On April 3, Prof. Yuval Evri (NEJS) hosted guest speakers Shirly Bahar, a political resistance educator at Columbia University and Yali Hashash, a queer feminist activist, to discuss Mizrahi identity, feminism and the political challenges of our time. This discussion was the third session of the Sephardi Modernities Seminar Series 2025​: “Partners, Outsiders, and Others: Sephardi Jews and the Global Left.”

Bahar opened the discussion by defining the term Mizrahi, which refers to Jewish people who have origins in the Middle East, North and Central Africa. She emphasized Mizrahi Jews’ commitment to challenging ideas such as patriarchy, Zionism, racism and white supremacy, and how Mizrahi Jewish communities have strong ties to their origins and retain their distinct cultural traditions. For instance, Mizrahim continue to prepare traditional dishes such as Yemenite kubaneh, a soft braided bread that reflects Mizrahi origins and practice a distinct style of prayer, or nusah — a traditional Hebrew prayer style which reflects a community’s unique cultural and religious identity. Mizrahim communities have maintained their unique styles of worship for centuries. For instance, Jews of European descent use the “Nusach Ashkenaz” style of prayer, while Jews of Mediterranean descent use “Eidot HaMizrach” style of prayer.

Hashash furthered the conversation by discussing contemporary political challenges to unity and global peace. She criticized the reestablishment of fascism, or a far-right ideology that promotes a dictatorship, which is reemerging due to neoliberal ideas, and emphasized the importance of solidarity in these times. Neoliberal ideas promote capitalism and emphasize reducing regulation and state control in the market. Under this ideology, there is a belief in personal responsibility and that individuals should succeed based on their own efforts rather than improving society’s opportunities as a whole. She argued that Western culture promotes selfish and cruel behavior over kindness since it focuses on individual success and competition rather than the community as a whole. In these societies, individuals engage in capitalism, where people gain more opportunities through the amount of material objects they possess rather than expressing empathy for others.

Hashash also emphasized how mainstream media promotes panic to further polarize opposing ideologies and how oversimplifying complex problems such as the Israel-Hamas war fuels hatred among various groups. She highlighted how citizens can humanize issues to reduce hate through empathizing with the opposing ideology and understanding their current struggles. Furthermore, she discussed a crisis in Judaism today, especially within the Mizrahi community, due to the reemergence of far-right movements that advocate for policies such as bans on abortion. These proposed bans are not only a misrepresentation of Judaism but also an inaccurate portrayal of the religion, since Jewish law traditionally protects the mother’s health, even at the risk of the fetus’s life.

Bahar argued that when part of the Mizrahi community in Israel supported retaliation to the Oct. 7 attack, it highlighted the far-right ideology that has emerged, which undermines empathy and solidarity. She expressed concern for Palestinians suffering and the dangers of living in Gaza in 2025. Hashash also critiqued the one-sided nature of the story portrayed in the Israeli news, which only discusses the suffering that one side is experiencing. This promotes a biased far-right media perspective, which fails to acknowledge the broader issues at stake and leaves out the context for the war, particularly the hardships that Palestinians are facing. This creates a one-dimensional narrative, which is inaccurate.

In this time of social unrest, she highlighted religion as a way to remain united and return to authenticity amidst the rise of far-right movements. However, Bahar acknowledged how often the media distorts an individual’s ability to fully return to their cultures, as “cultures are used in a sentimental, manipulative way” to exclude marginalized groups and promote more radical religious views. She emphasized that the rights to safety and freedom for all individuals are crucial; however, wars decide who gets to enjoy basic privileges.

Hashash argued that this ongoing war between Israel and Palestine prompted by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel is an example of history repeating itself, where Jews and Muslims are fighting each other due to a desire for a sacred piece of land. While this fight does not overtly highlight religious significance as the cause of the conflict, the dispute over this strip of land is rooted in religious significance and national identity. While Hashash contended that there is little hope in resolving this conflict and attaining peace, she nevertheless believes we must persevere.

After an hour, the speakers moved into the Question and Answer session. One attendee asked, “What is a utopian vision?” Hashash and Bahar had been discussing the lack of hope individuals are experiencing due to the ongoing political attacks and how individuals can come together and experience a better world. Hashash responded, “The ability to be both local and universal and the ability to adapt to the future in this world.” Currently, the political right is more valuable for Mizrahi mobility due to its broader social acceptance in Middle Eastern society. Therefore, Bahar highlighted that a significant majority — around 95% — tend to align with the political right, while only a small minority aligns with the political left.

She argued that today’s world is complex, and a traumatic experience such as surviving the Holocaust does not necessarily lead to compassion since humans all have their own political goals, such as regaining sacred land. She concluded by emphasizing the importance of diversifying and expanding a political group’s worldview to create connections with a larger community and that as right-wing support continues to surge, individuals should prioritize compassion, authenticity, and inclusive values.