In Search of the Past Jew from Fermoselle

Este artículo en Español aqui / This article in Spanish here

eSefarad.com readers will recall that we published the story a few days ago our friend Genie Milgrom written by herself, entitled «My 15 grandmothers» (also in Spanish «Mis 15 Abuelas«). From eSefarad we connect Anun Barriuso and Juan Manuel Laureiro (Tarbut Sefarad Madrid) to Genie; they are knowledgeable about the subject and met the 4 (including Michael, husband of Genie) in Fermoselle.

IN SEARCH OF THE PAST JEW FROM FERMOSELLE
Anun Barriuso y José Manuel Laureiro

The visit to Fermoselle , in the Province of Zamora had been planned a long time ago as we had to make sure and coordinate the arrival to the same location of four people who would be coming from two different sides of the Atlantic. On one side was Genie Milgrom and her husband Michael who were coming from Miami in the United States and we would be arriving from the region of Tras-Os-Montes in Portugal, although we habitually reside in Madrid.

Genie was born in Cuba , where her family had emigrated , but her true origins as well as all of her roots are firmly planted in Fermoselle.

She has been working for many years on the b’nei anusim and she has specialized in the Crypto Jews of Zamora and for easily understandable reasons, she is a true expert in the past jew of this Zamoran locality.

Together, we toured the town, and together we rediscovered cherised places , such as the location of one of the synagogues ,of which only the external arch is conserved.

The great discovery of that building is in its’ basement ¡ A great treasure; the possible mikve that was used by her ancestors!

The preservation , to this day, has been possible due to the fact that during all these years , the small room has been used as a wine cellar which has allowed the original walls to be left intact, as well as the fountain where the water freely flowed.

This incredible discovery, and others that we shall continue to recount, filled us with so much emotion that at one point, the tears flowed freely from Genie’s eyes….

It was a wonderful day , which not only sealed our friendship, but also stregenthened our resolve to bringing to light, that immense legacy that our history treasures and that for some, like Genie, ties them directly to their ancestors.

On our behalf ,we would like to thank Genie and Michael, for their love as well as their generosity in sharing with us their research and dedication.

Translated from de Spanish by Genie Milgrom

NdR: Thank you Genie, Michael, Anun and José Manuel!

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