Sephardic Jews invited back to Spain after 500 years

BBC News ^ | 6th March 2013 | Gerry Hadden

[the scotsman]

'More than 500 years ago, tens of thousands of Jews fled Spain because of persecution. Now their descendants are being invited to return.

Before the infamous Spanish Inquisition of the 15th Century, some 300,000 Jews lived in Spain. It was one of the largest communities of Jews in the world.

Today, there are about 40,000 or 50,000 - but that number could be about to swell dramatically.

In November, Spain's justice minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon announced a plan to give descendants of Spain's original Jewish community - known as Sephardic Jews - a fast-track to a Spanish passport and Spanish citizenship.

"In the long journey Spain has undertaken to rediscover a part of itself, few occasions are as moving as today," he said.

Anyone who could prove their Spanish Jewish origins, he said, would be given Spanish nationality.'

[rmlew]

It’s a trap. Even without Jews, Spain is one of the most antisemitic countries in Europe. And Muslims will be invited next to kill the Jews.

[rmlew]

Jews were allies of the Muslims during the conquest of Spain.
Not exactly. Vandal occupied Hispania was divided between Nicean/Roman Christians and Arianist Vandals. Vandals had there own crusades against Nicean Creed following Chritians.
The Arainist Vandals were forcible converting the proto-Catholics and Jews, or expelling them. The Pro-to-catholic dukes were fighting the Arianists and expelling Arianist subjects, while simply treating Jews horribly.
The Muslims invaded and promised relative religious freedom, but with taxation. Blaming the Jews for collaborating is both stupid and wrong, since Catholics collaborted. The problem was the Arianist-Catholic wars. But right wing Catholics today revise history. It's pathetic civilizational treason, since they are doubling down on the errors that allowed the Muslims to conquer with a small force.

[Eleutheria5]

North African Muslims are nuts, and will use this as a pretext for yet further invasion. So is Spain. So is any Sephardic Jew who takes up this idiotic offer. They have some cultural residue from Spain, but that’s all. Why go back? To be beaten to death by Muslims? We have our own country now, and the Muslims here would be only too happy to oblige anyone who wants to be beaten to death, but for the IDF and armed mitnahalim.

[dennisw]

“descendants of Sephardic Jews in Northern Mexico and South Texas.”

There was a buzz about Carlos Santana being Jewish origin

[dennisw]

Thanks. I figured as much. Spain is stupid to make such an offer that few Jews will be interested in but milions of Muzzies will agitate to get the same offer. It could be the Spanish leftists are using this as a sly way to bring in more Muslims who claim Spanish heritage and who will vote left....until they get strong enough to set up their own Muslim political parties. History has shown this

[Varda]

The problem was the Muslim conquest of Spain. Your post is mostly excuse making for the fact that some Jews collaborated. Whether the excuse looks good to you or whether Catholics collaborated or not is immaterial. One group won a war to regain their native territory. They identified other groups as their former enemies. This is a cultural definition, one they had a right to make. This kind of tribalism is a common trait in Europe and among many Americans. My point is that it shapes history and causes events in one century to have profound effects in others.

[left that other site]

Spain may want and need Jews.

But Jews do not want or need Spain.

JMO.

[ZULU]

” some Muslim scholars are denouncing the offer as unfair. They point out that their ancestors were expelled from Spain during the Inquisition. But no-one is inviting them back.”

He’s joking, right?

[MeanWestTexan]

Do I know you in real life?

[ZULU]

NO ONE EXPECTS ............ THE SPANISH INQUISITION!!!!!

[ZULU]

The first Synagogue in America was, I believe, a Sephardic one. The Dutch colonies were very welcoming to the Jews.

Most countries who allowed Jews to settle benefitted economically and scientifically. They also got God on their side.

[ZULU]

“3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee..”

I think history amply illustrates this.

[ZULU]

Nobody who did that was following Christ’s teachings anymore than any other bunch of fanatics. How somebody could worship a Jewish God and follow a Jewish prophet they believe to be the Son of that God and hate Jews, escapes me.

But then I think, rather than emote, which is why I am a political conservative.

[TheThirdRuffian]

“Do you have a link for this?”

I would start with the Tertio Millennio Adveniente and then read then-Cardinal Ratiznger’s follow up letters which were much nitter-and-gritter and called out the “Inquisition Deniers” as essentially schismatics and false-apologetics who bring shame upon Christ’s Church.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_10111994_tertio-millennio-adveniente_en.html

To be blunt, we Christians screwed up majorly. Worse, we did it in the name of Christ’s Church.

Was it a long time ago? Yep. Were there mixed reasons for the things we did? Yep.

Does Christ expect us to rise above mixed reasons and live to a higher standard? Yep.

[Publius]

Don’t think so. I’ve never been to Israel, and I haven’t been in Texas since 1985.

[dfwgator]

Well I’ve never been to Spain, but I kind of like the music.

[Peanut Gallery]

I did the math according to your parameter and got 1/32 connection to my ancestors born in 1800. Are you going up to those born this year? Is that where 1/256 comes from?