eSefarad Noticias del Mundo Sefaradi
I had been to Zamora many times in the last several years but had never been there as a destination. Zamora for me, was always a transit point to Fermoselle, the Village of my ancestors for over 521 years and the place where I have done most of the research on the Crypto Jewish Roots of my family.
But today was different. I headed directly to Zamora with my husband and daughter to participate in the long planned Conference of the Reencounter and History of the Aljama of Zamora . As we drove into Zamora last week, the feeling in the air was very different from other times. There was a life and vibrancy that I cannot explain and with much anticipation arrived at the Hotel NH Palacio del Duero. The Hotel was charming and smack in the middle of the Historical Center. As I entered the lobby, the level of excitement was high and I immediately saw Dr. Abraham Haim President of the Cultural Council of the Sephardic Community in Jerusalem , Marion Fischel from the Jerusalem Post , Dr. Judith Cohen , Dr. Ruth Behar , and was greeted with a big bear hug from Jesus Jambrina, the main coordinator of the event. In a fraction of a second, one could feel the escalation of what promised to be a very special conference.
It had been over a year that Jesus had started to plan this event . He had gathered an Organizing Committee that included Alfredo Alonso, Ruth Behar, Anun Barriuso, Abraham Haim, Jose Manuel Laureiro, Carlos Zarur and myself. For months we had been poring over the speakers and the topics to be covered while at the same time, Jesus and Alfredo took care of even the most minute detail to make sure the event would be carried out flawlessly.
It was with great delight that we amassed as a group and walked to the old Juderia and went underground to a location that could have been a school or a synagogue during the times of the Inquisition . As Jesus showed us the acoustic points of the structure we stood around mesmerized by the significance of what we were witnessing en masse. As than 40 of us crowded into a cave replete with brick arches, we were awestruck by the size and architecture.
We then returned to the Hotel grounds where we mingled and visited with each other as we listened to the Sephardic melodies of Jambrina y Madrid and were treated to wines and cheeses from the Zamora region.
The next morning the conferences began in earnest with Jesus welcoming the group of academics and intellectuals that had come together to this location in Spain in order to give to Jewish History its’ lost day in this town that had somehow eluded study of its’ important Jewish past until now.
We heard from Dr. Avi Gross of Ben Gurion University as he spoke of Zamora as being the most important center of Jewish Study in Northern Spain during Medieval times and he was followed by the architect Emilio Fonseca who spoke about the Architecture of the Crypto Jewish Homes in Northwestern Spain and Portugal.
We were regaled with information from Anun Barriuso and Jose Manuel Laureiro from Tarbut Madrid and I was able to speak at length about my own Crypto Jewish Genealogy from the region which spanned 22 generations only from this region and nearby Portugal. We heard from Carlos Zarur as he spoke to us about the connections between Zamora and Aleppo and then as a highlight of the day, when he showed us the key to one of the synagogues in Zamora that had been in his family for generations.
We listened intently to Dr. Ruth Behar from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and to Dr. Abraham Haim as he spoke about the Sukkot Celebration. Also present were Dr. Leandro Rodriguez, Dr. Mario Saban , President of Tarbut Sefarad ,Santiago Trancon , and Gloria Mound. Music was rampant with Mara Aranda, Judith Cohen , as well as Jambrina & Madrid.
At one point in the conference, Abraham Haim and Michael Milgrom offered a prayer for the souls of those that were killed in the Inquisition. Everyone stood as they prayed in Hebrew and Spanish.
Jesus Jambrina and Alfredo presented their half hour long documentary on Zamora Sefardi and in conclusion a special Shabbat Meal was held on Friday Night .
This conference was a huge success and most importantly, the local authorities were so impressed with the wealth of information that was presented that they have offered to publish all the findings in a book along with all of the presentations given. There is also a commitment to rename some streets or a plaza in memory of the Sephardic Community.
I am proud to have been a part of the Organization and take my hat off to my dear friend and colleague, Jesus Jambrina for all his hard work to make certain that not only the conference would be a success but that all those present should feel welcome and comfortable.
Genie Milgrom , Author , My 15 Grandmothers
www.geniemilgrom.com
