Crypto Jews in Iberia, the Spanish Inquisition, and Nation Building

One's identity frequently serves as a cornerstone for one's sense of belonging, often intertwined with their traditions and heritage. The case of Iberian Jews compelled to convert to Christianity, underscores their remarkable duality and resilience required to uphold their traditions and beliefs. These covert observances, deemed as Judaizing, were punishable by severe penalties, including execution by Inquisitional authorities in Spain and Portugal. The legacy of these Crypto-Jews persists in their descendants to this day.

Guest:

Rabbi Juan Bejarano-Gutierrez is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas where he earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering. He studied at the Siegal College of Judaic Studies in Cleveland and received a Master of Arts Degree with Distinction in Judaic Studies.His master’s thesis focused on Jewish Identity in the Second Temple Period.

He completed his doctoral studies at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago in 2015. Rabbi Bejarano-Gutierrez has published various articles in HaLapid, The Journal for Spanish, Portuguese and Italian Crypto-Jews, and Puntes-Theological Reflections from a Hispanic-Latino Context published by Southern Methodist University.

For a complete list of books written by Rabbi Juan Marcos Bejarano Gutierrez, please visit his author  page at the following link: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01ETZSEUO

Producers:

Ginelle Alvaro, Stefanie Hebel, and Raagini Singh Panwar