SERIES Sephard in Ashkenaz and Ashkenaz in Sephard. The Secunda Family of Ukraine
Ukrainian-born Sholom Secunda (b. 1894), star of the Yiddish entertainment world and renowned for such hits as Bei Mir Bist du Shein was-like celebrated Yiddish writer Y.L. Peretz- a Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazic Jew of Sephardic descent. Victoria Secunda in her biography of the man; Bei Mir Bist Du Schon; The life of Sholom Secunda, writes:
The Secundas believe that they are descended of Italian Jews who were expelled from Italy in the 16th century and settled in Russia. [1]
The Secundas apparently considered themselves Sephardic Jews (rather than “Italian”). Another member of this family, Arthur Secunda, is described “as the son of a Sephardic Jew who immigrated to the United States from Russia”. [2]
In the book White Lies: Race and the Myths of Whiteness Maurice Berger makes mention of his mother whose maiden name was Secunda. He describes her as follows:
More than anything, my mother's life was shaped by her otherness: the darkness of her skin, eyes and hair; her Sephardic heritage; her Hispanic sounding maiden name. More than once she had been called a spic. More than once she had been called a kike, a hebe, a Jew bastard. More than once she had lost a job because a producer or casting director thought she was 'too dark' or 'too Jewish'.. She was born in Germany in 1920. Her father Norbert Secunda, a research assistant in the mathematics department of the University of Hamburg. [3]
In the book White Lies: Race and the Myths of Whiteness Maurice Berger makes mention of his mother whose maiden name was Secunda. He describes her as follows:
More than anything, my mother's life was shaped by her otherness: the darkness of her skin, eyes and hair; her Sephardic heritage; her Hispanic sounding maiden name. More than once she had been called a spic. More than once she had been called a kike, a hebe, a Jew bastard. More than once she had lost a job because a producer or casting director thought she was 'too dark' or 'too Jewish'.. She was born in Germany in 1920. Her father Norbert Secunda, a research assistant in the mathematics department of the University of Hamburg. [3]
Labels: Jews Ukraine, Secunda, SERIES Sephard in Ashkenaz and Ashkenaz in Sephard
posted by Joels W. @ 10:33 AM
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My wife is a Secunda. As far as anyone can tell, the family is from Minsk, with no evidence of any Sephardic heritage.
Victoria Secunda is as far as I know the only family member (she is married to Sholom Secunda's son, Shel Secunda) who has this information regarding the "Sephardic" Secundas. I do not know if she researched actual documents to make this claim, but suffice it so say, these Secundas do not eat rice on Pesach.
Greetings,
This is a inquiry for the webmaster/admin here at ha-historion.blogspot.com.
May I use some of the information from your post above if I give a backlink back to your site?
Thanks,
James
yes you may.
My mother's side are Secundas. She says our family came from Spain and ended up migrating to Russia. A lot of Saphardic Jews expunged from Spain ended up traveling through Northern Africa or Mediteranean Europe before settling in Saphed and a lot did end up in Russia.
Is Secunda a common Jewish name? Was it originally Secundar (spanish), it's very latin and means second--the increment of time.
I'm related to Arthur Secunda, the artist, and Sholom on my mom's side. Sholom was a 2nd or 3rd cousin and I think Arthur is a 1st. Both being cousins to my grandfather.
I am a secunda , my great grandfather left russia
At the age of 11yr with his two sister
For England his name was Louie
He parents were to believe that his father brother
Would be meeting them but he never did he went to America instead. Louie was left to fend for his two sister and himself
Can anyone tell me if the know the truth were the originally
From Spain or Russia
My brother and I are always mistaken for being Spanish
As our a children. I would appreciate any help As my father Has passed away and we are the last remaining secunda In our family and I would so like to be able to tell my grandchildren the story of the secunda
Thanks
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