Shoshana and Yonatan’s families trace their origins to Iraq and Morocco. They are part of the Sephardi or Mizrachi Jewish communities, which follow distinct customs in prayer, cuisine, clothing, and religious practices that differ subtly from Ashkenazi traditions. Jewish communities are diverse, with diaspora communities spanning the globe. There are many Jewish people in the UK whose ancestors after the Roman conquest of the lands of Ancient Israel were expelled to Egypt, Morocco, Ethiopia, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, or India to name but a few countries. Ashkenazi Jews’ ancestors were scattered to Eastern and Central European countries, such as Germany, Poland, and Russia, and many people think of this as the image of the Jewish community at large. However, approximately 55% of Jewish people in Israel today identify as Sephardi or Mizrachi, reflecting the broader diversity within the global Jewish population.

From a healthcare perspective, data from the MBRRACE report highlight that Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority women face higher risks of maternal mortality and morbidity compared to white women. While Jewish people are recognised as an ethnic minority in the UK, it is challenging to determine whether similar disparities affect Jews of colour due to sensitivities and limitations in data collection. Antisemitism has never been accounted for in major statistics on birth outcomes, but it is an interesting point to ponder.