By Karen Primack, Kulanu Newsletter, Summer 2009, p.1<\/p>\n
Next December Rabbi Stephen Leon will introduce a Resolution at the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism biennial convention to honor the victims of the Spanish Inquisition on Tisha B\u2019Av. (This is a solemn fast day that mourns the destruction of the First and Second Temples on the ninth day of the month of Av.) Leon\u2019s Resolution, which would apply to Conservative congregations, would also honor Bnai Anousim who have returned to Judaism.<\/p>\n
The text of the Resolution reads as follows: Whereas the holiday of Tisha B\u2019av recalls the very day that the expulsion of the Jews from Spain took place in the year 1492; and<\/em><\/p>\n Whereas many Jews were forcibly converted to Christianity publicly, but continued to practice Judaism in secret; and Whereas many of the descendants of these Jews who are called B\u2019nei Anousim have returned formally to Judaism today, and many are in the same process,<\/p>\n Now, therefore be it resolved that the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism calls upon all of its affiliated congregations to formally observe Tisha B\u2019av on an annual basis as an occasion to educate its members about the history and events of the Spanish Inquisition regarding the Jewish people, and to inform its members of the return of the B\u2019nei Anousim to Judaism today; and Be it further resolved that the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism helps to provide programs, speakers, films, and other appropriate materials for such Spanish Inquisition and B\u2019nai Anousim commemorations on Tisha B\u2019av.<\/em><\/p>\n Leon\u2019s synagogue, Congregation B\u2019nai Zion of El Paso, Texas, will be receiving an award at the December convention for its annual Anousim conferences. For the past nine years the congregation has brought in speakers, films and programs about the Bnai Anousim during the Tisha B\u2019Av service. Congregants have listened to Yaffa DaCosta, Sonya Loya, Art Benvenisti, Richard Santos, Rabbi Juan Meji, and Trudy Alexy, author of The Mezuzah in the Madonna\u2019s Foot. They have also viewed such films as The Longing by Gloria Bohm, about Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn\u2019s work with Anousim in Latin America.<\/p>\n Tisha B\u2019Av is the perfect time to mourn the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 and to celebrate the return of their descendants, the Bnai Anousim of today,Leon notes. he response to our programs has been wonderful. Rabbi Stephen Leon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Karen Primack, Kulanu Newsletter, Summer 2009, p.1 Next December Rabbi Stephen Leon will introduce a Resolution at the United <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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\nResolution on the observance of Tisha B\u2019av to be a day to commemorate the Spanish Inquistion and the return of the Anousim to Judaism<\/em><\/p>\n