Sephardic Jews have been part of Florida's story since its earliest colonial days, when the region was still known as La Florida. In 1763, following the Treaty of Paris, three Sephardic merchants, Joseph D. Palacios, Alexander Solomons, and Samuel Israel, arrived in Pensacola, marking the first known Jewish presence in the territory. Though their stay was brief, they helped open the door to a lasting Jewish presence.

Over the next two centuries, Sephardic communities gradually took root. In the early 19th century, Moses Elias Levy envisioned Florida as a refuge for persecuted Jews, while his son, David Levy Yulee, became a key figure in Florida's path to statehood. Later waves from the Ottoman Empire, Cuba, and beyond transformed South Florida into a vibrant cultural center, where Ladino language and traditions endured.

In this talk, Annette, whose grandparents emigrated from Ioannina, Greece, explores this nearly 200-year history, tracing how Sephardic communities were established, evolved, and continue to shape Florida's Jewish life today.