By Boris Kurbanov, Jewish Sound Correspondent
Today, an estimated 40,000 Jews call Spain their home. But five centuries ago, the nation was home to one of Europe’s largest and most vibrant Jewish communities — a group that flourished before its expulsion in 1492. Those exiled Jews — who came to be known as Sephardic Jews from the Hebrew for “Spain” — sought refuge around the Mediterranean and beyond, passing their Spanish Jewish traditions down.
Last February, the Spanish government approved legislation to grant dual citizenship to Sephardic Jews, calling the expulsion a “historic mistake.” Under the new law, Sephardic Jews will have a window of two years to apply for citizenship after the passage of the law, which is expected in the next few months. Many have questioned the motive behind the repatriation law, which makes Spain one of the few nations in the world to offer automatic citizenship to Jews. Spain’s justice minister said last March the offer doesn’t have “any economic goals or consequences.”
“It’s a development that has been brewing for a while,” said Doreen Alhadeff, who, along with her husband Joe and fellow community lay leaders Al Maimon and Joel Benoliel, visited Spain in September to meet with key administration officials. “When I first heard of it, I really didn’t think it would actually come to fruition. I kind of thought, ‘Oh yeah, that’s a good thought.’”
dessert will be served.
After Spanish delegates visited Seattle last spring, the group was invited by the Spanish government to visit four of the prominent Spanish historical Sephardic communities as representatives of Seattle’s Sephardic community. Their agenda included identifying areas of possible common sharing of historic, cultural, and educational opportunities; re-connecting Seattle’s Sephardic Jews to their Spanish Jewish roots and Ladino language; and helping strengthen the relationship between the University of Washington to Spain — specifically the city of León — where the UW has a campus.
It’s all part of a “sophisticated and robust effort by the Spanish government to foster these connections with Sephardi communities around the world,” said Benoliel.
“You have on many levels a renaissance of Judaism in Spain without the anti-Semitic sentiments you get in other countries,” he continued. “Since there hasn’t been a Jewish population, most of these people don’t have any idea who Jewish people are.”
On Jan. 14, Alhadeff and the group will present an informational program describing their mission, and its future benefits to Sephardim in Seattle. They’ll be joined by David Hatchwell Altaras, the president of the Jewish community in Madrid, as well as Luis Fernando Esteban, honorary Spanish consul for Washington and Oregon, and Dr. Antonio Sanchez, director of government relations at Central Washington University and international protocol consultant. After the presentation, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions.
Alhadeff said that while Sephardic Jews will get the chance to learn about and receive updates regarding the possibility of Spanish citizenship under the new law, the focus is the importance of preserving and promoting Sephardi Jewish culture.
“We’re looking to preserve the culture, the Ladino language, and the customs here — and wherever we can — because the Sephardic culture is sadly being lost,” she said.
“The amount of people in the community that will take advantage will surprise us,” Alhadeff said, adding, “I think it will be more than we expect.”