Shavei Israel Q&A: Antonio Piña, Spain
Piña holding a knife used for schechita (ritual slaughter) which has passed through his family – often hidden – for generations
Antonio Piña, 59, lives in the town of Sóller on the island of Mallorca in Spain. Piña teaches cooking in a local technical school and is known throughout Mallorca as the leading expert on the island’s unique cuisine. He has written books on the subject and lectured widely about it as well.
Piña is married with three boys – Jordi, who works as an auditor; Samuel, who works in the Spanish environmental ministry; and Salvador, who builds dental prosthetics. His journey towards his Jewish roots began when he was just eight years old…
What was your relationship to Judaism growing up?
When I was eight, my schoolmates began to taunt me by singing a derogatory song that was popular in Mallorcan society: Xueta xuetó cames tortes i cul rodó [Xuetas, Xuetas, twisted legs, round behind]. When I told my grandfather, he said – “don’t mind it, it’s just envy.” My father later told me that we are descendants from the Xuetas [descendants of Mallorcan Jews who were compelled to convert to Catholicism in the 14th and 15th centuries].
My mother also told me of our past. One time, she gave my brother and I a gold necklace. Surprisingly, instead of a crucifix, there was a Star of David! I asked her why, and she told me straight: “you are a Xueta.”
Some of the things we did at home [which have a Jewish connection] included having separate plates for some foods and taking a shower on Friday afternoons. When cooking bread or pastry – we usually did it on Fridays [reminiscent of preparing challah for the Sabbath] – we would put aside a small ball of dough on the baking tray [Jewish law stipulates that one must set aside a portion of the dough when making bread].
How did you go about exploring your Jewish roots further?
I found a number of documents relating to the Auto-da-Fe [where 37 Xuetas in Mallorca were put to death for secretly practicing Judaism in 1691] from Memoria del Carrer [a Spanish research group dedicated to preserving written and oral history specifically relating to the Xuetas]. My brother Jaime is also a genealogist. Together we were able to construct a family tree that goes all the way back until the year 1500.
What did you know about Israel growing up?
When I was young, I liked to collect stamps and, thanks to that, I knew that there was a young state of Israel. But I thought the capital was Tel Aviv – I never related then to Jerusalem or the Galilee – although now I do. I would very much like to visit Israel, not necessarily to live there, but yes, to die there.
What is your current level of Jewish observance?
I’ve really just started. In 2010, I began attending classes given by Rabbi Nissan [Ben Avraham, Shavei Israel’s emissary in Spain]. I feel integrated, as if I did this my whole life. I haven’t learned Hebrew yet – it’s one of my immediate aims – but for now, I use phonetics for praying. I enjoy reading the Siddur Bircat Shlomo [a prayer book with a Spanish translation] – it’s very pleasant, especially on Shabbat. Through Rabbi Nissan, I have learned about faith, love for my people, the happiness of living, and the word of the Almighty. I wish to live my life as a Jew, with all my body and all my heart, the rest of my days on earth.
What dreams do you have for the future?
I want to be Jewish and I hope that my own return will help the souls of my ancestors who were converted by force. I hope that the other Xuetas will be in peace with G-d.
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Pina was a participant in the Shavei Israel-sponsored seminar in Palma de Mallorca in November, 2011. Read more about the seminar.