Spanish Judaism, the Inquisition, and Identity in the New World

rambam442013,

B”H

Roger Martinez, a professor at the University of Colorado and former president of the Society of Crypto-Judaica Studies, and Joseph B. Diaz, the curator of the New Mexico History Museum have joined forces to present a fascinating an exhibit. I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Martinez. He is a first rate scholar and passionate about the history of Sephardic Jews.

The exhibit is titled Fractured Faiths: Spanish Judaism, the Inquisition, and New World Identities

The presentation includes historical documents, synagogue tiles, crafts, and more detailing the history of the experience of Iberian Jews during the Golden Age of Jewish life in Spain as well as its eventual demise.

The exhibit also discusses the matter of the complex identity which of course was the hallmark of the Converso experience. If you are in the area, take advantage of this outstanding exhibit.

Posted by Rabbi Juan Bejarano-Gutierrez, the director of the B’nei Anusim Center for Education, and author of What is Kosher?

Published by rambam442013

Rabbi Juan Marcos Bejarano-Gutierrez is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas where he earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering. He studied at the Siegal College of Judaic Studies in Cleveland and received a Master of Arts Degree with Distinction in Judaic Studies. He completed his doctoral studies at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago in 2015. His doctoral dissertation is titled “Complex Identities: Christian and Jewish Attitudes Towards Conversos” and was accepted in September 2015. He also studied at the American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism and received rabbinic ordination in 2011 from Yeshivat Mesilat Yesharim.

Leave a comment