Umbrella terms like Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi, which literally signify geographical regions, should not be confused with what nusach someone follows. Even Yemenite Jewry can be considered an umbrella term as within you had Adeni Jews, Habbani Jews, Sana’ani Jews etc.

1/

*Some* of the unique differences that each of those communities had were developed as a result of where their communities were located in Yemen rather than being impacted by which tiklal (siddur) they used.

2/

A Yemeni Jew who follows a largely Sephardic nusach (shami) did not simultaneously adopt the history and lived experiences of Sephardic Jews and their ancestors. Their history didn’t involve being exiled from the Iberian Peninsula in the late 15th century.

3/

Blurring the lines of the intended uses behind these umbrella terms and attributing it to simply which nusach someone follows doesn’t help with highlighting the different experiences and histories Jews had in the diaspora.

4/

Further, erasing the identity of the Yemeni Jew by virtue of adopting the Zohar and Shulchan Aruch, and now calling them a Sephardi Jew as a result, would just contribute to the erasure of an already small and marginalized Jewish community with their own unique history.

5/

Please try to avoid applying the same erroneous logic for others. Umbrella terms aren’t perfect, but it assists in presenting the unique experiences and histories different Jewish communities had in the diaspora.