In 1961, Maurice Amado built this foundation. Mr Amado was a Sephardic Jew descendent, who settled in the Ottoman Empire after the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. In 1940, Mr Amado moved to Los Angeles.
He was a prominent financier and he helped the Jewish community with his wealth. He died in 1968 then Amado’s family carried his charity work. The Foundation also promotes the culture and religious life of Sephardic Jews who originated from Iberian Peninsula. The foundation also aims at reaching to the top level of present and future leaders of American Jewry.
The foundation has sponsored the Sephardic Education Initiative. It involves a 3 year training of more than 1000 teachers in the Jewish schools, supplementary and Hebrew Teacher colleges.
The foundation has also sponsored a ‘National Summer Teacher Training Institute’ in Sephardic Studies, previously.
Middle East Institute Columbia University
The foundation gave the resources for the book as well as the CD, ‘The Jews of the Middle East and North Africa in Modern Times’. The book is meant for every kind of audience including teachers, scholars, college and school students and University Professors and everyone who wish to gain information regarding all the cultures that had been part of the Middle East. It also gives information about Jews. This book can be found in Columbia University Press.
Out of Spain
This is a new curriculum for young students from age group of ten to twelve years old. This book takes the student to a journey through the past when Jews first arrived on the Iberian Peninsula to present day. The curriculum consists of three books, a video, an audio tape and a guide for teachers.
The heritage of Sephardic Jews consists of their background and its contribution towards the Spanish Jews prior to Inquisition, its effect on Jewish faith and culture, the history of the land of Sephardim after their expulsion, and new Sephardic culture and their contributions towards religion and life of Jews
At the moment 3rd generation of Amado family is looking after the affairs of The Foundation.