>>Many Sephardi Jews speak Esperanto, or Ladino, as well as English and/or French...<<

You're right, Anna, Esperanto has its origins in Middle Europe, but it seems to have spread rapidly all over the World. I'm not sure why Sephardi Jews use it as widely as they do - I just know that my grandfather, of Sephardi origin, was very keen for his descendants to adopt the language. He was something of a pioneer in his time, and obviously thought the language had important potential.

In meeting Sephardi Jews over the years, I have found many who speak Esperanto fluently. Sadly, I'm not one of them!

http://www.esperanto.net/