Interrogating Ashkenormativity: Systemic Disparities, Repressive Interventions and Other Detriments Against Black and Brown Jews

by Sipporah International

221 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2026

About the author

Sipporah International is a Dutch‑Surinamese multidisciplinary artist and educator based in Amsterdam. A musical theatre performer, storyteller, singer‑songwriter, author and Zumba instructor. She brings a dynamic blend of creativity and cultural insight to her work with an Amsterdam edge. Sipporah International moves with ease across stage and studio. Trained in musical jazz, jazz dance and classical ballet. Her artistic and intellectual practice is grounded in extensive study of Judaism and Jewish history at various Jewish institutions, complemented by formal education in English language teaching, Music Business at SAE Institute Amsterdam, Digital Marketing at the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI), West End Musical Theatre Academy in London and rigorous classes at various dance schools.

Sipporah International is a Sephardic Jewish woman connected to both a Sephardic and an Ashkenazi Jewish community in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Her work is defined by its range and resonance — weaving performance, scholarship, and lived experience into a voice that is unmistakably her own.

Reviews

[Linda Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an interesting exploration of a subject that may not be familiar to many readers. It looks at how Ashkenazi traditions and experiences have often become the assumed standard within Jewish communities and considers what that can mean for Black, Brown, and other non Ashkenazi Jews whose histories and experiences may receive less recognition.

What I appreciated was the combination of history with discussion of present day institutions and cultural expectations. The author examines areas such as conversion, education, leadership, and ideas surrounding what is considered an authentic Jewish identity. It gave me a better understanding of how something that may appear to be simply tradition can feel very different depending on where someone stands within a community.

There is a clear point of view throughout, and the book is challenging readers to reconsider assumptions that may have gone largely unquestioned. Even when dealing with complicated issues involving culture, race, identity, and belonging, I found the broader questions it raises about whose experiences become the norm especially thought-provoking.

This is the kind of read that can introduce a perspective you may not have considered before and encourage further conversation. I came away with a greater awareness of the diversity that exists within Jewish communities and why making room for those different histories and experiences matters.

[Claudia Sibesteanu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ambitious book that approaches Ashkenormativity from historical, cultural, institutional, and ethnographic perspectives. I found the central subject genuinely interesting, particularly the discussion of how Ashkenazi identity can function as the default within Jewish spaces and how that may affect non-Ashkenazi Jewish communities.

There is also an impressive amount of research and a very broad historical scope. The sections introducing Jewish communities from different parts of the world were especially interesting to me and show just how diverse Jewish history and identity actually are.

At the same time, I found the book quite difficult to follow in places. It moves between modern Jewish institutions, ancient peoples, biblical and ethnolinguistic history, different Jewish diasporas, and comparisons such as the extended discussion of the Scythians. Some of these connections felt like very large jumps, and I sometimes lost sight of how they related back to the book's central argument.

This is definitely not a light or straightforward read. There is a lot to think about here, but I think the book would have benefited from a clearer structure and stronger transitions between its historical material and its argument about modern Ashkenormativity.

Interesting and thought-provoking, but also demanding and, at times, confusing.

[Sondra Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very thorough and sites a myriad of sources including many scholar references.
Giving great insight in the entire Jewish people groups. Didn't realise there are so many non-European Jewish communities going back to ancient days (ancient Palestine, Levant region etc). Indeed there seem to be many Jews of brown skin colour I and many others didn't realize exists. Still in the public domain, as well as in the awareness of many people 'Jews' are portrait as white Ashkenazi European Jewish people.
When people criticize Jews they mostly have white Ashkenazi Jews in mind. This book challenges these bias assumptions and presents a system, narrative, history that lead to this one-sided view of 'the Jewish people'. Very thought provoking and a must read for everybody interested in ancient civilizations, history of semitic people, biblical narratives.

[Rick Chow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been sitting with this book for a few days now, and honestly... it really got to me. It takes a hard, honest look at how one main story has dominated Jewish culture for so long, usually leaving out Black, Brown, and non-Ashkenazi voices. It’s not just a dry history lesson. It blends real personal stories with deep research in a way that feels surprisingly warm and human. It definitely made me reflect on my own assumptions about identity and community. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, eye-opening read about true inclusion and building a better future together, this is it.

[cegoragh · Rating 2 out of 5]

not very clear. It seems to aim for a sociocultural analysis, but it often falls into clichés that could easily be associated with conspiratorial or discriminatory theories.

The historical sources cited are almost exclusively those that support the author’s thesis, without being examined in sufficient depth. I tried doing some independent research on the subject, but I could not find genuinely reliable sources supporting many of these claims.

The book itself is also largely made up of tables and images that appear to have been quite obviously generated with GPT.

[A.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book brings welcome attention to discrimination experienced by Black, Brown, Mizrahi, Sephardic, and Ethiopian Jews. The personal testimonies are powerful and raise necessary questions about belonging and representation.
However, the connections drawn among Scythians, Khazars, and modern Ashkenazi Jews often feel speculative, while the quality of the sources is inconsistent. These historical sections weaken an otherwise meaningful discussion. Best approached as an activist work rather than a reliable academic reference.

[Haku Yokai · Rating 5 out of 5]

That book had some genuinely fascinating ideas, even if a few stretches felt a bit heavy going. The way it looks at how Ashkenazi culture often gets treated as the default version of Jewish identity gave me a lot to chew on. I appreciated how it wove personal stories into the history—it kept things from getting too dry. While certain sections dragged and the flow felt a bit choppy at times, it ultimately raises some really important questions about diversity, power, and who gets a seat at the table in community life.

[Beatrice Mercer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought-provoking and important read that challenges assumptions about Jewish identity and belonging. The book does a strong job of highlighting the experiences of Black and Brown Jews and examining how Ashkenazi perspectives can be treated as the default. Some sections felt a little dense and repetitive, but the subject is handled with care and conviction. I came away with a better understanding of disparities that are too often overlooked. A valuable four-star read.

[Alex Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This offers a good overview of Ashkenormativity and Jewish culture for beginners. The author has clearly done their research on this topic. It’s both informative and easy to digest. I like that there are citations included so we can see the resources about her work. This is great for anyone who is interested in learning more about Jewish history and culture.

[Tiziano Rinaldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it thought-provoking because it addresses a topic that isn’t often discussed, linking history, identity, and the internal dynamics of Jewish communities. I was particularly struck by the way it highlights the diversity of non-Ashkenazi experiences. It’s not exactly a light read, but it offers plenty of food for thought.

[Jerry Minchey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will take some dedicated time and effort to fully understand. Some previous knowledge on the topic would help a lot. But it is not absolutely necessary. The author does a good job of referencing her sources. There are a lot of facts in this book.

[Jacob Kilgore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important examination that is given a professional and complete process in this book. We must remember that as we have always promised to “never forget”, being against antisemitism includes all of the Semites. It’s a wide swath of peoples, including Palestinians.

[Michel Bacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself stopping several times to think about what I’d just read. It raises questions about identity and community that deserve more discussion.