Daniel Barnett: The Incredible Story of Spain’s Secret Jews

JTalk at Beit Emanuel Progressive Synagogue

JTalk - The Incredible Story of Spain’s Secret Jews This week’s talk will be presented by Daniel Barnett, former chairman of Limmud SA and presenter at Limmud UK and Australia. Intense anti-Semitism in 14th century Spain resulted in thousands of Jews converting to Christianity. Despite this, many continued practicing Judaism, usually in secret. Suspicion of them resulted in Inquisition, exile and execution. Instead of fading into history, those who survived achieved enormous success in their new lands. Some sought to build an autonomous Jewish state in the Holy Land, creating Jewish centres in Tiberius, Hebron and Safed. Others made enormous contributions to building Western society as we know it today.