Casa Shalom
Institute for Marrano-Anusim Studies

Casa Shalom - Report 1997-98

I am happy to have the opportunity to give this report to our greatly valued members. Again this year there has been numerous reports across the world about our researches and endeavours.As more people and organizations mention our existence on Websites,so our postbag and Database expands! I have continued to lecture and research and the office continues to receive a growing number of Genealogy enquiries. All contacts have been greatly facilitated by our being on E-Mail/ Internet,( please note our two web-sites). Being now an Amuta , (Charity Foundation),the amount of admin work has increased overwhelmingly and we are badly in need of further assistance with filing and general admim and urgently appeal for assistance so that our work can go forward.

Membership

Our numbers are approaching 200 . It is essential that we appoint a membership Secretary to aid us in sending out reminders and increase this main part of our revenue. I would like to appeal to YOU to endeavour and make at least ONE EXTRA member for us within the next three months.For a long time we have felt the lack of space and activities have only been possible because of our stalwart band of Volunteers who have so enthusiastically and positively assisted. I am particularly grateful to Mr. Shmuel Gadiel for the capable work of Hon. Bookeeper ,and to Mr. Phillip Hanbury, of Kall Kwik printers in Golders Green., London ,who has printed for us beautiful Brochures and other advertising material.

Research out of Israel

In the last twelve months the Institute has continued its efforts at research and given assistance to Marranos-Anusim. In October 1997 my husband, Leslie and I spent twenty important days in Majorca and Ibiza following up previous findings . In February and March we returned to the USA ., firstly to the University of Miami where I participated in the Sephard Festival under their auspices . The programme was headed by Prof. Henry Green, head of Judaic Studies. I also lectured most successfully to local Communities, where we made new members, as well as within the University . On a previous visit there I had pointed out that the family listings of the 18th.century immigration from Minorca (Balearic Islands,Spain) to Florida, showed families of Converso origin and that it could be worthy of further investigation, as per my March 1997 Paper that I gave at Brown University, "The Minorcan Immigration To Florida:Some Jewish Aspects". These findings pushed back the first Jewish settlement by more than 100 years. From my contacts in Minorca and San Augustine (the oldest town in the USA., to where the Minorcans went), I was able to arrange a research visit from Miami. From the positive results I obtained it has been decided to set-up a research project and Chair of Sephardi Studies at the University of Miami. I have been invited by Prof. Green (who has twice visited us here at Casa Shalom, on previous years), to join their Board and to go to Miami for a 2/3 week visit to further the research in February or March of 1999. We are greatly indebted to the assistance of the sponsorship of the Schalit family, for the visit to San Augustine, who have in addition agreed future support to add to the funding promised by the University for the continuance of this project. From Florida Leslie and I travelled to Denver.

Denver Conference

Univ. of Denver- "Litury & Ritual in Islamic & Jewish Traditions. Here I gave a very well received Paper entitled : "Customs, Prayer and Holy Day Ritual Amongst Marrano-Anusim Jews". Which will be published. In addition I lectured within the local large Jewish Community,as well as making contact with a number of Marranos -Anusim who have settled in the State of Colorado,a number of whom have joined the Institute.

The Casa Shalom Journal

The second edition appeared at the end of February and I am exceptionally indebted to all the members of the Editorial Committee who made its appearance possible. Especially Mr. Donald Wiseman & Mrs. Norma Remez,who aided us so much in the editing and production, as well as so many others who assisted in the postal distribution. It was decided to initially to present Complimentary copies to all levels of membership. To do this regularly will entirely depend on how much support we receive. We want to make two editions annually. One suggestion put forward has been that Organizations and Institutes who are members should pay a higher rate .The appearance of the Journal caused most praisworthy comment all over the world.It was reported on the Internet etc.

Seder in Ibiza

Balearic Islands of Spain.April 1998.

This year our Seder project engendered far greater expense as the Matutes Hotels who gave us free accommodation in 1997 were not yet open for the Season,and we had to rent an apartment at $66 per day for ten days. This extra burden was sponsored by Mr. Elie Schalit without whose aid the project would have been abandoned.

The Matutes company provided us with a car.

A few hours after we arrived all the shops closed for Easter (businesses shut Easter Thursday and Friday in Spain), however, we managed with the aid of some of the Community to find a place to purchase items needed like fish, eggs,vegetables and fruit etc. We cooked and served a tasty four course meal which was greatly enjoyed by all . When word had gone round earlier as to the unlikelihood of our coming because of lack of funds and accommodation, some of the group decided to leave the Island and go elsewhere,plus members whose families have Catholic ties, meant the fact that Easter was the same time. This created difficulties for them.

Four families opted out at the last minute , two of them because of sickness , one unable because of an imminent birth and another because of a death. In the end we were just twenty three persons at the Seder table.Leslie and I hired a car and delivered Matzot to these missing families plus twelve further ones ,who were spread all over the Island.These were most gratefully received, many accepted with tears in their eyes. Yet Leslie and I had pondered at one stage if we would indeed have any unleavened bread to distribute, but the ten kilos we carried ourselves on the plane, (together with the 90 kilos of other Kosher le Pesach foods from Israel courtesy of Futura Charter Co), because the 70 kilos that the American Joint Committee so kindly donated were impounded in Madrid by Customs and we were informed upon arrival in Ibiza they would not be freed until after Easter!

Only thanks to one of our new Marrano members,Edmundo, who works in the Ibiza airport , and has considerable influence as well as initiative was this traumatic impasse overcome. He impressing on the chief of the Madrid Customs the urgency of the matter, they finally agreeing to open up and free the matzot. Edmundo instructed his Madrid representative to collect the packages and put them on one of his company's (In Europa Handling Ltd.) planes . Making no charge for transportation ,he brought the Matzot himself as he came for Seder. We were heavily taxed for the Matzo import.

After the Festival finished we went to the Matutes Apartment Hotel , on the other side of the Island, in San Antonio, as in 1997 . Again we were treated royally and given every assistance for our Kashrut needs during the remaining ten days of our stay. We have photos and slides and look forward to having the pleasure of showing you all in the not too distant future.We find that holding the Seder always brings forth people who have information for us. Therefore these days after the Festival finished were spent in further researches including arranging the restoration of the 14th.c Megilla Esther that we found there and discussions with local Government offices about buildings being restored and commemorated that have a Jewish history.

Sadly I report that these matters continue to progress only very slowly, but we are now dealing directly with the Government in Madrid on these matters.It has to be kept in mind that Pesach 1999 is before Matutes opens ,so funds will have to be raised again. It is NOT just a Passover project; throughout the year we correspond and collect material about past and present Marrano-Anusim communities as well as assisting those who wish to settle in Israel. At the moment from the Ibiza Seder group alone three couples and two single men are making preparations to make Aliyah. We endeavour to host Marranos-Anusim that visit Israel.

Trip to Spain July 1998

E.A.J.S. Conference Toledo and Andalucia. At the the Euro. Assoc. For Jewish Studies (Oxford ) Conf., I gave a Paper entitled "The Marrano and Jewish Connections in the Friendship between Prinz Luis Salvador of Hapsburg and Nathanial von Rothschild of Vienna".My dissertation based on hitherto unknown findings over the past fifteen years in the Balearics, was well received. This has now been published by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Off-prints are available to members.

The Conference organizers have already promised publication. From Toledo , where we still found a residue of Jewish life,and customs , we were able to travel south , for five days , thanks to the repeated support of Mr. Elie Schalit. Information came to the Institute from a member in Israel who is from a Spanish Marrano family that in the remote village from whence she originated, a 16th.century secret Mikva had been found in the house of her grandmother. We were truly privileged to have the opportunity to view and photograph it. Her cousins the present owners being anxious not to make the matter publically known, but we finally obtained permission to take photographs. We were exceptionally concerned that some of the Mikvaot, like the floor and basement as well as the Magen David's seen by our member's brother , had been covered over . We also researched other Jewish history in the area , like remains of Jewish Quarters (Juderias), in other nearby towns including the 11th. century Mikva in Baza, which has Magen David's on the ceiling and the remains of the 14th. Century Synagogue in Guadix.

Proposal to move to Hebrew University

The need to move to larger and more central premises where the research could continue after my husband and I are no longer able to direct the affairs of the Institute, has been apparent for some time. It is now most important that we not only have day to day assistance but we are considering the training of successors. This problem has been very much on the mind of the Board. Thanks to Mr. Neil Davis, of the Davis Foundation in London, who for so long has taken the most positive interest in our endeavours, negotiations have been in progress for the last six months as to which arrangements would be to our mutual benefit. He has most generously offered to financially support the move to Jerusalem. We, being desirous of maintaining a certain amount of independance. Professor Yom Tov Assis ,Head of the Department of Jewish History at the University has been on hand to recommend our course of action and his advise has been invaluable.

The present position is that the Humanities Dept., is itself very short of accommodation until their new building , which is already started, will be finished in the year 2000, so until then we would only have a very small room, which means we would have to continue in Gan Yavneh as well , but with extra help it could be possible to open in Jerusalem three days a week . Eventually , unless more local support ,which was promised but has not materialised comes from Gan Yavneh Council, we would endeavour to move over completley to Jerusalem within the next two to three years. We will of course keep our members informed of developments,but the general feeling is that this offer can only enharnce our work and prestige . We have the deepest gratitude for Neil Davis and all who have worked so hard to make this possible.

Books and publications

As you saw in the "Casa Shalom Journal " quite a number of publications have come out since the last report. Of particular attention is the recent "Jews in Places you Never Thought Of" . In which I have contributed two pieces.Published by Ktav. Price $29.available at our office .

Last words

Remember: I am at all times anxious that although our members are spread all over the world, we keep in contact, and in this respect would like to thank those who have in the past months been such a tower of strength .Your ideas , suggestions and questions are always welcome.

Yours sincerely

          Gloria Mound
          Hon. Exc. Dir
          Hon. Research Fellow, Dept. Hispanics, University of Glasgow

Last updated: 29 Jan, 2007