Sefard/Sepharadi

I was asked by one of our members for a recommendation for a good "Sefarad" siddur (prayer book) with English translation. As I use few things with translations, I asked in synagogue this morning (I attend a Sepharadic synagogue, of course), and was told that the best is "Kol Sasson", put out by Rabbi Eliezer Toledano. There is a separate volume for Shabbat and for weekday prayers. I believe that a word of explanation is in order about the prayer books called Sefarad (or Sefard), and the authentic Sepharadic prayer book. The original Sepharadic prayer book, used in Spain and Portugal, is still used in synagogues around the world that call themselves "Spanish/Portuguese". It differs from the Ashkenazi in many important ways. In the 16th century, ARI z"l, who used a Sepharadic siddur (from Venice, about 1500), made many changes in it, based on Kabbalah., His revised version was adopted by virtually all Sepharadic communities, from Egypt to Persia. Sometimes, it is called the Edot Hamizrach (Eastern Communities) prayer book. This is the authentic Nusach (version) of the ARI. North African Jews use something very similar, but maintained some features of the S/P siddur. When Chasidism began, its leaders urged adopting the Nusach of the ARI, over the classical Ashkenazi prayer book. What happened actually, was that the Chasidim kept the Ashkenazi version, adding in various features based on ARI. Different groups, adopted different prayer books, with varying numbers of changes based on ARI. Some were very close to Ashkenazi, some were closer to Sepharadi. None went all the way to adopting the Sepharadi versions with ARI's modifications (including Chabad, which calls its prayer book "Nusach ARI", yet differs from ARI in many features.) In the common perception, these additions and modifications were seen as "Sepjaradic", and these versions came to be called "Serfard". In reality, the Sefard version is as Sepharadic as gefilte fish. Some versions will actually have many phrases followed by alternatives in parentheses, to accommodate different Chassidic communities. It is also used in synagogues where the congregants are descended from countries whose Jews followed Chasidic ways (Most of Poland, Ukraine, White Russia, low lands Hungary), even if they are in no way Chasidic. Koren has an excellent Ashkenaz siddur, as well as a Sefard sidddur, with English translations. They do not yet put out an authentic Sepharadic siddur.