An historic condemnation of the Inquisition in Palma de Mallorca
It’s taken over 300 years but, for the first time in history, a Spanish regional government has condemned the atrocities perpetrated by the Inquisition against Bnei Anousim (Jews who were compelled to convert to Catholicism and whom historians refer to by the derogatory term Marranos).
This unprecedented event, which took place in the Spanish city of Palma de Mallorca last month, came as the result of a meeting earlier this year between Shavei Israel Chairman Michael Freund and a top aide to Frances Antich Oliver, president of Spain’s Balearic Islands. At the meeting, which was also attended by Rabbi Yossi Wallis, head of the Arachim organization, Freund asked Oliver to hold a public ceremony and express regret for the dark chapters of the past; the president acceded to the request.
It was agreed to hold the event on May 6 to mark the 320th anniversary of the Auto-da-Fe in 1691, when 37 Chuetas, as the Bnei Anousim of Mallorca are known, were put to death for secretly practicing Judaism.
The ceremony was held at the baroque Consolat de lar Mar in Palma before a packed audience of locals and journalists. In his remarks, President Oliver denounced the crimes of the Inquisition and called them “our worst sin. It horrifies us, but we must always remember it so that it never occurs again.”
Oliver added: “Memory opens wounds, but also helps to serve justice. The time has come to close these wounds that have bled generation after generation. We have dared to gather here to recognize the grave injustice committed against those Mallorcans who were accused, persecuted, charged and condemned to death for their faith and their beliefs.”
Shavei Israel Chairman Michael Freund told those present, “The Chuetas are part of the extended Jewish family, and the bonds of family can never be broken. We cannot turn the clock back on the past. We cannot change what happened centuries ago. But we can change the present. And I believe that we have a historical responsibility to do so – to reach out to the Chuetas and other descendants of the victims of the Inquisition, and to facilitate their return.”
“We asked the government for a memorial so the Chuetas know they no longer need to be afraid to be a Jew,” said Rabbi Wallis, who is a direct descendent of Rafael Valls, the secret rabbi of the Chuetas, who was burned alive at the stake in 1691. Wallis read a special 15th-century prayer that was composed specifically for secret Jews who were burned to death by the Inquisition, and Shavei Israel emissary Rabbi Nissan Ben Abraham recited aloud the names of the 37 victims of the 1691 execution.
Tens of thousands of “secret Jews” were murdered both before and long after the formal start of the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. Shavei Israel now works directly with the descendants of these Bnei Anousim – actively helping them return to the Jewish people.
The apology in Mallorca has particular significance. It is the only part of Spain where there is a community that is directly descended from Jews which has remained distinct, and where intermarriage was not known until just two generations ago. An estimated 20,000 such Chuetas still live in Mallorca today.
Through sustained lobbying, Shavei Israel aims to push other Spanish regional authorities, as well as the national government, to hold similar ceremonies, just as Pope John Paul II apologized on behalf of the papacy. While it can never right the wrong of years of state-sponsored violence, hatred and racism, generations of hidden Spanish Jews deserve an official apology and a public act of contrition.
We owe it, too, to the descendents of indescribably brave souls such as Rafael Benito Terongi who, while waiting for execution in an Inquisition prison, found a piece of glass and used it to circumcise himself before he – and his sister Catalina – were murdered for the simple reason of remaining faithful to the Jewish people and our tradition.
We need your help to continue our important work in Spain. Please consider a contribution earmarked for our activities in Palma de Mallorca and beyond, to support our emissaries and facilitate new discussions with the governments there, by visiting the Support page.
We have made dramatic inroads already. There is much more to do to encourage Spain to come to terms with the horrors of its past. We thank you in advance for your generous assistance.