Part 5 – Sephardic Jews of Spain
The Sephardic Jews left a wealthy legacy in Spain that has withstood the test of time
Spanish Jews contributed greatly to every area of Spanish life, their appreciation of objects from a theological perspective, their appreciation for nature and lessons that could be directly associated to human behaviour.
An important feature of Sephardic Culture was in its Popular compositions, ballads dating back to the Golden Age; poetic texts sang to Hebrew melodies called ‘Romances’ which narrated all aspects of daily life and which were passed down from father to son and mother to daughter, preserved as much for their music and literary qualities as for their value as a historical source. Popular compositions of variable themes, proverbs, admonitions, historical facts, etc. with a great variety of rhythms and symbolisms. These type of songs have also since been found in Morocco, Algeria and Tunez.
There has been a renewed interest in recent years for Spain’s Jewish past. The 1492 expulsion edict was officially repealed by the Spanish government and again in 1992 by King Juan Carlos. New synagogues are being reconstructed and Jewish settlements or ‘Juderias’ restored and retraced for public visiting. Judeo-Sephardic cultural days run for tourists interested in following routes between the medieval villages where you can visit the Jewish baths (called Mikva) and a 500 year old Torah which was found and is being restored.
Jews are still today being restored to their homeland, yet it is not without opposition and again it is on all sides, standing within its gates, Jerusalem, a compact city with constant tensions and disputes between its Muslim, Christian and Jewish inhabitants. Still suffering from persecution, rejection, domination and isolation; a nation watched for the God they represent. It is He who rescues them from their enemies, it is He who surrounds His people, for the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His habitation. It is there (if you will keep His commandments and walk in His ways) that He commands the blessing.(c)
“Behold the Kindness and Severity of God”