Sephardic New Yorkers say Spain is breaking promise of citizenship – The Jerusalem Post
Posted By admin on October 18, 2021
After Spain announced it would offer of citizenship to families of Jews it expelled more than 500 years ago, Mark Tafoya, a personal chef living in New York City, filled out an application.
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tafoya calls himself a proud Sephardic Jew rediscovering my roots. So from Inwood, in northern Manhattan, he tracked down all the required documents, created a genealogy chart and hired an attorney. He detailed his familys heritage from their departure to Spain and arrival in New Mexico some 500 years ago. He even bought a small stock in Santander Bank to prove a monetary link what the application requirement defines as a special connection to Spain. The Jewish Federation of New Mexico certified his application.
Tafoya had seemingly done everything right. But for the last 25 months, he has been waiting for an answer from Spain that hasnt come. He hasnt gotten any indication that hell ever get an answer.
The waiting is the hardest part, he said. If I knew I was rejected, I could start the appeals process. Appeals can take four to five months.
Until this year, only one applicant for the Spanish citizenship program had been rejected. But in 2021, over 3,000 applications have already been denied, according to the American Sephardi Federation, and more than 20,000 have found themselves in an extended period of waiting not just for citizenship, but for an explanation of what appear to be endless delays.
Tafoya was one of about 30 people who gathered in front of the Consulate General of Spain in New York on Monday to protest the denials and delays. Calling their protest Yo Soy Parte (I am a part), members of both Latino and Jewish communities to call out what they see as the injustice and hypocrisy of these rejections.
The protest was the result of a collaboration between American Sephardi Federation, a Jewish group, and The Philos Project, a New York-based nonprofit that helps Christian leaders, mostly evangelicals, understand and engage with important Near East issues, according to its website.
The event emerged after Jason Guberman, executive director at the American Sephardi Federation, spoke to Hispanic leaders around New York about the issue at the invitation of Jesse Rojo, the head of Philos Latino who often collaborates with Gubermans group.
Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democratic congresswoman from New Mexico, flew in for the event and spoke to the crowd in an expression of solidarity.
A congressional letter that she initiated addressed to Spanish President Pedro Snchez Prez-Castejn and would introduce on October 12 was read aloud at the protest.
We urge you to rescind these changes and ensure that every eligible Sephardic Jewish descendant can receive citizenship to their ancestral home under the law as the Cortes Generales intended, said the letter, signed by nine members of Congress, including New York Democrats Alan Lowenthal and Ritchie Torres.
Spains Law of Return passed unanimously in the Cortes Generales, the Spanish legislature, in 2015. It allowed for any descendant of Sephardic heritage to apply for citizenship. Similar versions of the law existed throughout the 20th century, but the 2015 version said applicants need not be practicing Jews, and that they could apply for dual citizenship.
That opened the door for over 132,000 people who applied for citizenship under the program, claiming ancestry through family trees that included Sephardic Jews with roots in Spain and non-Jewish descendants of crypto-Jews whose ancestors were expelled or fled Iberia during the Inquisition. More than half of those people began their application in the last month before the October 1, 2019 deadline.
But the 59,000 people who had submitted their materials well before before the October 2019 closing date should have gotten an answer by now. Of them, approximately 34,000 have been granted citizenship, and another 22,000 still await a response.
For the Sephardic descendants, it seemed as though Spain was genuine in its attempts to make reparations. It was an amazing gesture, said Guberman, who has worked with many applicants to get their documents in order.
Which is why it feels like such a betrayal when applications are suddenly and inexplicably rejected, protestors said.
Its an insult on top of an insult, said Tafoya, referring to Spain inviting its Sephardic descendants back in after acknowledging the horrific acts of the Inquisition, only to reject them once again.
The broken promise of the noble gesture of reparation wounds more than if Spain had never made the offer of return in the first place, the congressional letter concludes.
It is unclear why there has been a sudden slew of rejections. The congressional letter cites complaints by applicants who were approved by Spanish judges, only to be rejected by the Ministry of Justice a move that is illegal, according to the New York Times. Many applicants have been asked to provide more in-depth genealogy charts, and some face bureaucrats insistence that the special connection donation to the Spanish economy must have been made before the law was announced in 2015. Others have seen certificates of Sephardic origin from Jewish institutions outside of Spain rejected.
The window to apply closed on October 1, 2019, which makes it even more frustrating that the rules for approval changed after that deadline and applications were already in, a spokesperson from the Jewish Federation of New Mexico told The Jewish Week.
The New Mexico federation, located where a number of people claim Spanish Jewish ancestry, is one of only a few institutions in the United States that grants certificates of Spanish-Jewish origin to non-Jews. Many of those applicants have been denied.
The New Mexico federation helped certify 20,000 people from more than 50 countries across the globe, it said. A majority of the applicants came from Venezuela Colombia, and Mexico.
The wave of rejections is especially heartbreaking for Venezuelans who applied, Tafoya said. The law seemed to offer a safe, legal opportunity for them to leave their beleaguered country and become European Union citizens. Many had emptied their savings to afford the application process, which costs at least $7,000 to complete.
Some of the protestors speculated that the halt in approvals is due to sentiments of antisemitism in the new Spanish government, which is led by a left-wing party that came to power in November 2019. Others wondered if the ruling party, which was not responsible for the Law of Return, is wary of introducing new voters into the country who might support the previous, more conservative party that had accepted them.
The Consulate General of Spain in New York does not provide information on the status of pending applications, it told JTA by email.
I believed the Spanish government when they said that they were sorry for the sins of the past, said Jason Gomez. a third-generation New Yorker who learned about Spains citizenship program while it was under discussion. He subsequently interviewed his older Puerto Rican relatives about the strange customs of his childhood eating only beef, not pork; placing rocks on graves and only marrying into certain families, all reminiscent of Jewish traditions.
Gomez discovered that his family is descended from a community known as Xuetas, Mallorcan Jews who were forcibly converted to Christianity, but continued to practice their faith in secret.
In 2015 the Spanish government said that they recognized the generations of suffering in this terrible history and wanted to make amends, he said in his speech. But only six years later they have turned away from us.
Read the rest here:
Sephardic New Yorkers say Spain is breaking promise of citizenship - The Jerusalem Post
- What Hate Can Do: inside a devastating new exhibition on the Holocaust - The Guardian - July 16th, 2022
- Lily Safra, fabulously rich philanthropist whose life was peppered with drama and mystery obituary - The Telegraph - July 16th, 2022
- Which boy is the best boy for Kamala Khan? - Polygon - July 16th, 2022
- Blue Thread Performance Group Presents Series of Free Concerts Next Week - University of Arkansas Newswire - July 14th, 2022
- UK Conservative hopefuls strikingly diverse, firmly on right - ABC News - July 14th, 2022
- Married in the US; single in the EU - Rochester BeaconRochester Beacon - Rochester Beacon - July 14th, 2022
- Lily Safra, One Of The World's Richest Women, Dies at 87 - TheTealMango - July 10th, 2022
- Retracing the Old Havana Neighborhood of San Isidro - Havana Times - July 10th, 2022
- Greece Losing Battle of Thessaloniki to Anarchists, Hooligans - The National Herald - July 10th, 2022
- Moroccan Orange and Cured Olive Salad - Jewish Journal - July 4th, 2022
- The Shared Beliefs Of Muslims And Jews In Morocco Analysis - Eurasia Review - July 4th, 2022
- Poll: 66% of Haredi Voters Want Netanyahu to Step Down If He Fails to Forge a Government - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - July 4th, 2022
- Where is the Jewish 'Bridgerton'? In search of better Jewish period pieces - The Jewish News of Northern California - July 4th, 2022
- Daily Briefing Jun 22: Does Netanyahu have tricks up his sleeve to form a govt now? - The Times of Israel - June 26th, 2022
- Happy as this Jew in France - JNS.org - JNS.org - June 26th, 2022
- My Last Cup of Coffee with AB Yehoshua - Jewish Journal - June 17th, 2022
- Doron Almog, retired general and disabilities advocate, set to head Jewish Agency - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - June 17th, 2022
- The Ropa Vieja story: the National Dish of Cuba | Revolucin de Cuba - June 13th, 2022
- Jewish surname - Wikipedia - June 13th, 2022
- SF Jewish Pride Fund visits LGBTQ grantees in Israel - The Jewish News of Northern California - June 13th, 2022
- The Weird and Wonderful Foods of Star Wars Made Jewish - aish.com - Aish - June 13th, 2022
- Sephardic Matzah Spinach Pie Recipe | The Nosher - June 4th, 2022
- The Zionism Of Warren G. Harding - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - June 2nd, 2022
- What is the Lag BaOmer pilgrimage? - The Conversation - May 18th, 2022
- Spiteful Synagogue Syndrome stories | Elchanan Poupko | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - May 18th, 2022
- SF senior home recognized by Fast Company for virtual memory care J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - May 18th, 2022
- My Abortion Helped Make My Jewish Family Whole Kveller - Kveller.com - May 18th, 2022
- Executive director of embattled Jewish Federation stepping down after months of turmoil - Santa Fe New Mexican - May 18th, 2022
- OU PRESS announces the publication of Bridging Traditions: Demystifying Differences Between Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews by Rabbi Haim Jachter and... - May 4th, 2022
- Why are Mizrahi and Sephardic communities being misrepresented as anti-Israel? - JNS.org - May 4th, 2022
- Beit Harambam United in Times of Adversity - Jewish Exponent - May 4th, 2022
- Ruben Navarrette commentary: Faced with Ukrainians seeking refuge, Israel fails the immigration test again - West Central Tribune - May 4th, 2022
- Great Neck rabbi and Rambam boost Tiberias - The Jewish Star - May 4th, 2022
- 'Ace of Taste' shows the savory side of chef Duff Goldman - Journal Inquirer - May 4th, 2022
- Synagogue Spotlight: Keter Torah Currently Has Members From About 20 Countries Among Their 100 or so Families - The Jewish News - April 29th, 2022
- Ladino's gives sneak peek of Mediterranean cuisine ahead of grand opening - mySA - April 29th, 2022
- Following Roman Abramovich scrutiny, Portugal tightens ... - March 20th, 2022
- Funeral for Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, zt'l: Roads to be Closed, Hundreds of Thousands Expected to Attend - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - March 20th, 2022
- Plane belonging to oligarch Abramovich reportedly lands in Israel - The Times of Israel - March 20th, 2022
- Ukraine crisis sharpens Israel's existential need for conversion reform - The Times of Israel - March 18th, 2022
- Lisbon Jewish Community - cilisboa.org - March 14th, 2022
- A Date with a Purim Destiny and The Rolled Up Sweetness of Fijuelas - Jewish Journal - March 14th, 2022
- Inspired by the river, settlers chose the name Atrisco - Jacksonville Journal-Courier - March 14th, 2022
- Lyric Fest Presents Concert of World Premieres, THE SONG CATCHER: THE FOLK SONG RE-IMAGINED - Broadway World - March 14th, 2022
- Lily Henley's upcoming album dialogues with centuries of Sephardic Jewish women - Grateful Web - March 8th, 2022
- Chatham Baroque Brings East of the River To Pittsburgh For A Program Of Medieval Sephardic Music and More - Broadway World - March 8th, 2022
- Obituary: Matilda Rosenberg, 69, social worker who strived to honor the memory of Holocaust survivors like her parents - Shawnee Mission Post - March 8th, 2022
- Poetry and Music | The UCSB Current - The UCSB Current - February 28th, 2022
- The Five Minute Read - Lowell Sun - February 28th, 2022
- Kissing Children In The Synagogue - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - February 28th, 2022
- 40% Of Americans Might Be Eligible For Dual Citizenship (And A Second Passport): Here's What You Need To Know - Forbes - February 28th, 2022
- TABC Sephardic Student Inquiry: Is It Acceptable for Me to Wear My Tzitzit Out? - The Jewish Link - February 11th, 2022
- Five Towns Chabad honors the Friedmans | Herald Community Newspapers - liherald - February 11th, 2022
- Top UK Jewish body tells visiting far-right MK Smotrich to get back on a plane - The Times of Israel - February 11th, 2022
- Drop the Goldberg name you co-opted, Whoopi -- you don't deserve it - New York Post - February 7th, 2022
- Review: In Prayer for the French Republic, Echoes of the Past - The New York Times - February 7th, 2022
- Tell Us Your Encanto Opinions And We'll Give You A Perfect Book Recommendation - BuzzFeed - February 7th, 2022
- Shut your doors, close your eyes, and silence your hearts - The Jewish Standard - January 30th, 2022
- The Club Recreates the Ladino-Speaking World of Jewish Istanbul - Jewish Currents - January 24th, 2022
- What's the future of the Judeo-Spanish Language? | AL DA News - AL DIA News - January 24th, 2022
- The Texas Synagogue Attack: A Mountain of Jewish Intergenerational Trauma - The Times of Israel - January 24th, 2022
- the key to the anne frank mystery - The Times Hub - January 24th, 2022
- Feeling right at home in Toledo - The Irish Times - January 24th, 2022
- And Then: The 1961 West Side Story in 2022 - jewishboston.com - January 4th, 2022
- Jacques Fresco, 'a major figure in the birth of modern molecular biology,' dies at 93 - Princeton University - January 4th, 2022
- In Memoriam 2021: The Musicians We Lost | Morning Edition - KCRW - January 4th, 2022
- Ringing the New Year in with luck - The Clanton Advertiser - Clanton Advertiser - January 4th, 2022
- Albert Bourla Of Pfizer Is The CNN Business CEO Of The Year Greek City Times - GreekCityTimes.com - December 26th, 2021
- What Is A Sephardic Jewish Person? chicagojewishnews.com - December 22nd, 2021
- Greek-Jewish archives return home nearly 80 years after they were looted by the Nazis - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - December 20th, 2021
- The deepest secrets of Sephardic cooking are buried here - Forward - December 18th, 2021
- Holidays Bring a Diversity of Celebration on the South End - southseattleemerald.com - December 18th, 2021
- Mexico: how to apply for Spanish nationality if you have surnames of Sephardic Jewish origin - Market Research Telecast - December 5th, 2021
- Ignored by the UN, Mizrahi Jews survived pogroms and expulsions, too - The Times of Israel - December 5th, 2021
- Five Israel-Infused Picture Books for Year-Round Reading - Jewish Journal - December 5th, 2021
- What happened to the ideal of multireligious Arab modernity? - aeon.co - December 5th, 2021
- National Museum Of American Jewish History Renamed "The Weitzman" In Recognition Of Significant Gifts From Entrepreneur And Philanthropist... - December 5th, 2021
- A Delicious Twist on Latkes, and the Perfect Sephardic Donut - Jewish Journal - November 30th, 2021
- PHOTOS: Jews gather across Bay Area for public menorah lightings J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - November 30th, 2021
- Western Wind Vocal Sextet Will Perform 'The Light Returns: Joyous Music For The Holidays' - Broadway World - November 30th, 2021
Comments