Rabbi Pleased with Spain's Progress in Jewish Relations

In 1492 a document was signed in the Alhambra Palace of Granada, Spain that expelled the Jews from Spain.

Five centuries later, Jewish-Spanish relations are reestablishing themselves. This week, the Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel, Shlomo Moshe Amar, visited Granada and the famous Alhambra Moorish Castle, and has expressed that he is pleased with Spain's progress in Jewish relations.

This marks the visit to Granada by a Jewish religious leader since the expulsion.  Today, Granada has a population of over 250,000 people with very little Jewish presence. In fact, Shlomo had to dine in the gardens of the Alhambra in a kosher picnic due to the lack of establishments that can fulfill his Jewish dietary requirements. The frugal lunch consisted of hummus and biscuits, but the chief rabbi showed no concern when he said: "When you are have a place that no longer has Jews, you also cannot expect it to have the proper structures to cater to the needs and eating habits of Jews."

José María Castillo Sánchez, a former theology professor at the University of Granada, was part of the welcoming party for the rabbi. He estimates that the Jewish community in Spain is only made up of 25,000 to 45,000 people, a tiny fraction of what it was before 1492.

And yet, Shlomo Moshe Amar showed that he was pleased with Granada and the rekindling relationships with the Jews.  He told the Granada mayor that Granada is a city "full of the light of wisdom, liberty and splendor" and that he considers "this visit to be very special because, after centuries, we are erasing the darkness that has covered this relationship".

Torres, the mayor of Granada, emphasized that a "perfect harmony between cultures" exists in modern Granada and that he hoped that  "not so much time goes by until the next visit” of a Jewish religious leader.

The rabbi went on to suggest that Spain would become a beacon for Jews from Latin America who have been struggling with social instability.

The 1492 Jewish expulsion was a dark moment in European Jewish relations, but the chief rabbi, himself a descendant from the expelled Iberian Jews, confirms that no further steps are needed to reconcile and that "we should instead be looking to the future and not the past.”

The visit shows Spain's willingness to confront Spanish history. In fact, last month in Majorca a memorial for Jews was held by the Spanish regional government.

Some studies suggest that anti-Semitism still plagues Spain, but others argue that the poles are actually reflecting Spaniards disagreement over Israel's policies towards Palestine.

No apology was made by Spain regarding the events in 1492, but this moment did represent a significant step in healing the wounds of the past. .

Diego de Ojeda, the director of Casa Sefarad-Israel stated:

“It should not have taken 519 years for a Jewish religious leader to come back here, but what matters is that this has finally taken place…”