By Micah Halpern
I've Been Thinking:
Spain and Portugal are offering citizenship to the descendents of the families that they expelled in 1492 and 1493.
At first glance, you would assume this to be a magnanimous gesture. Think again.
The expulsion from Spain forced hundreds of thousands of Jews to run to Portugal. Eight months later when Portugal expelled them, they escaped to North Africa. Those who stayed were forced to convert to Christianity. The Inquisition was established to investigate those who converted and make certain that they were truly practicing Christianity, not secretly remaining Jewish. Those caught as still practicing Jews were torture and even burned at the stake.
There are three interesting elements missing from this citizenship invitation.
There was and still is no apology.
There was and still is no attempt to pay compensation
The deal is not being offered to the Muslims who were expelled in 1609.
Neither Spain nor Portugal has yet to see the wrong that was done and the horrors that were perpetrated in the name of keeping their countries Christian.
Today, with their warped and biased perceptions of Jews, they are trying to entice Jews to come to Spain and Portugal to help energize their terrible fledgling economies.
There is no attempt at contrition. There is no attempt at justice. And there is no desire to allow Muslims into their countries.
Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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