For regular readers of this blog, you are well aware of the long history of Jews living in the Iberian Peninsula. Some of the earliest references to Jews living in Spain are found in in the records of various Church Councils beginning in the 4th century which condemned close social interaction between Christian and Jews.
Jews of course enjoyed a measure of peace and success during different periods of Islamic and Christian rule. One village, which bears a memory of a less ideal and violent point in Jewish history is the that of the ancient Spanish town of Castrillo Matajudios.
The term translates into “Camp Kill Jews”. A different page in Spanish-Jewish history has been turned however, as the village changed its name “Castrillo Mota de Judios”- meaning Jewish Hill Camp. In another move the village has taken steps to establish cultural ties with Israel by officially adopting a sister city. The full story is found at following article at the Times of Israel.
Castrillo Mota de Judios”Kill the Jews” Changes its Name
Posted Rabbi Juan Bejarano-Gutierrez the director of the B’nei Anusim Center for Education and author of What is Kosher?
B'nei Anusim Center for Education 