Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Jewish diaspora in New Spain

The history of the Jewish diaspora is absolutely fascinating! Here is another example!

Faith can move mountains! Never, ever lose faith! Human civilization depends on it!

"Estrella Schmitt [raised in New Mexico], believed she had the perfect life. She was married to the man of her dreams, had the ideal job, and a loving family. Her world turned upside down when she went home to Pueblo, New Mexico, to say goodbye to her dying Abuelita (grandmother) whose last words to her favorite grandchild were Somos Judios, we are Jews. Estrella was left with a lot of questions and a chest full of mementos proving she was a descendant of Spanish Crypto Jews. Confused by this knowledge, she rummaged through the box and found audio tapes of her grandmother’s translation of an ancestor’s journal. The tapes described the harrowing experience her ancestors endured when they left for New Spain in 1597. They fled Spain to practice Judaism in peace, but the Inquisition followed them to the New World where they dared to observe their religion in secrecy. Fascinated by their story, Estrella recounts her family’s odyssey and their fate."

Arizona Jewish Historical Society — AZJHS Book Discussion Group

New Spain around 1819 (Wikipedia)


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