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Juan Marcos Bejarano Gutierez

Jun 21, 2026, 5:27 PM

Converso Identity and the American Experience

Bima in the Amsterdam Esnoga 1695 by Romeyn de Hooghe

Not a day goes by that I do not remember the wisdom of Rabbi Byron L. Sherwin, z"l. Years ago, he taught a class titled “What is Judaism?" at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago....

Andrew Logan Lawrence

May 27, 2026, 3:56 PM

Shalom Y’all: A Jewish Story Older Than America

If you ask most people where American Jewish history begins, they'll say New York. Some might know about Newport. Almost no one says Georgia. And yet, just five months after the colony of Georgia was founded in 1733, a ship...

Michael Savvakis

Jan 1, 2026, 9:43 PM

From al-Andalus to the Inquisition: Spain’s Lessons Mislearned

Pro-Palestine protest in Madrid, Spain (Photo: Barcex / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Since Hamas’ terrorist massacre on October 7, 2023, antisemitism has surged worldwide. Spain has been a particular flashpoint. The Observatory of Antisemitism reported a 321% rise in antisemitic incidents in 2024. At Madrid’s Complutense University, banners equated Zionism with...

Sam Lehman-Wilzig

Dec 19, 2025, 11:25 AM

Judaism (and Hanukkah) in Light of History

I attended a modern Orthodox Jewish Day School from 1st through 8th grade, and then a similar high school. The secular education was quite good, and the Jewish part – at least from the standpoint of “dos and don’ts”...

Dec 16, 2025, 4:22 AM

Revoking the Alhambra Decree of 1492: Justice Delayed, Not Justice Earned

The inauguration of Madrid's Beth Yaacov Synagogue on December 16, 1968
(Photo credit: EFE, Reference: 8002416976)

On December 16, 1968, Madrid witnessed a moment that seemed almost unimaginable: the inauguration of the Beth Yaacov synagogue, the first new synagogue built in Spain in nearly five centuries. Six hundred guests filled the Chamberí district’s Balmes Street...

Jose Lev Alvarez Gomez

Nov 25, 2025, 5:49 AM

Toledo’s ‘Three Cultures’ Mirage

For decades, Spain has marketed Toledo as a medieval paradise where Christians, Muslims, and Jews supposedly lived in mutual respect and cultural harmony. The slogan “city of three cultures” has become a cornerstone of national identity narratives, tourism campaigns, and...

Justine Johnston Hemmestad

Oct 27, 2025, 9:57 PM

The Familiar, by Leigh Bardugo: A Review

At Menard's in Fort Dodge, Iowa

I picked up The Familiar, by Leigh Bardugo, because the story takes place in late 16th century Spain amid the Inquisition. The protagonist must keep her Jewish heritage a secret, given the threat that permeates all around her. Secrecy...

Sam Lehman-Wilzig

Oct 17, 2025, 7:26 AM

The Book of Genesis in Light of Climate Change

The Gaza War has captured Israel’s headlines these past two years. America, meanwhile has its own internal “fighting” (ICE anti-immigration raids, National Guards “invading” Democratic cities, etc.). Unfortunately, all this has diverted our attention from this century’s biggest story. Climate...

Jun 11, 2025, 6:35 AM

Ahoy Vey: When Jews became Pirates

"In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue..."—a rhyme etched into the minds of schoolchildren across America. It marks the dawn of European exploration in the New World, a date synonymous with adventure and empire. Our history books portray him...

May 29, 2024, 9:17 PM

European Religious Animosity Against Israel

The Religious Hatred of Jews by Ireland, Spain, and Norway. For Israelis and Jews, it was shocking to see Ireland, Spain, and Norway eagerly announce their recognition of a Palestinian state in the shadow of the horrendous events of 7th...

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