“Best of Both Worlds”: Hispanic Heritage Month Reflections
Every month felt like Hispanic Heritage Month growing up in Miami. I heard more Spanish than English spoken on the streets, Cuban coffee and pastelitos dominated cafes, and my family and our neighbors shared an unspoken past – we chased the American Dream right to South Florida. We survived, thrived, and lived as Latinos, Jews, and Americans in a place where we could be all three at the same time.
Growing up with a Panamanian mother and Spanish father in one of the most diverse cities in the United States, I have always been comfortable in international spaces. I wanted to broaden my perspective by studying international relations abroad, so I took a major risk as a Northeastern University student by moving to Prague without ever visiting. I completed my first year of college there and the last three in London. Luckily, my decision paid off.
I excelled in my classes and made lifelong friends. I thrived in my Judaism – co-founding the Hillel at Northeastern University London and attending services every Friday. At the same time, I began pursuing ways to strengthen my local Hispanic/Latino community, and last year, I got accepted into a mentorship program for Latin students and young professionals based in the UK.
Growing up in both the Jewish and Hispanic diasporas, many Jewtinos carry our rich traditions and histories, but also our memories of displacement. This became tangible to me in October of 2022, as I sat in the Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam, taking in its grand chandelier and Baroque architecture. Here, my ancestors from Fez and Istanbul came together to form the first Sephardic congregation in Amsterdam. Even though we’re separated by thousands of miles and hundreds of years, I still celebrate the same holidays they did, recite the same prayers, eat the same foods, and sing the same songs in Hebrew and Ladino.
Being a Jewish Latina is an integral part of my identity – it’s in the music I listen to, the posters and tchotchkes in my room, the food I cook, and the languages I speak. It has even shaped my Jewish journey and leadership, as a priority for me has been making Hillel at Northeastern University London an inclusive space where Jewish students of all backgrounds feel welcome, accepted, and cherished. For example, I’ve led the way in incorporating Sephardi prayers and Ladino songs along with melodies like Shalom Aleichem at Shabbat dinners, and hosted a celebration for Mizrahi Heritage Month. Through these efforts, I’ve seen the positive impact of sewing Jewish diversity into the fabric of a campus Hillel; students, including those who are interested in deepening their Jewish identities or who are just curious about Judaism, are comfortable expressing who they are and showing up to events.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, I’ve been celebrating the way I often connect to my Latina identity: though art. I’ve sought out galleries and exhibitions showcasing the artistic contributions of Hispanic/Latin artists, learned more about Jewish communities across Latin America, found a jazz bar playing Latin Jazz every Wednesday, and have been frequenting the Latin neighbourhoods of London to indulge in pastelitos and attend celebrations. I also took part in a workshop hosted by an Ecuadorian artist, where we used coffee as paint to depict the transnationality of our identities as Latin Americans living in the United Kingdom.
Hispanic Heritage Month sits between Elul and Tishrei just as it falls between September and October. To me, this overlap makes this time of year especially meaningful, a time to reflect inward and celebrate both my Jewish and Latina roots. Elul invites reflections, Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder to honor the culture and history that shaped me, and Tishrei compels me to put these reflections into action.
Through the exploration of my Jewish and Latina roots, I feel more connected to these cultures than ever. After all, one’s Jewishness or Latinidad doesn’t have to end when the other begins. For me, the two are inseparable. The Jews of Latin America are living proof of the resilience and beautiful traditions of Am Yisrael, and my belief is that we will carry the same light and hope into the future as Jewish people.
Sara Quintero studies politics and international relations at Northeastern University London, and is a member of the 2025-2026 Hillel International Student Cabinet.