A Glimpse into the Conversos’ World
Welcome back to Flames of Freedom REVEALED, the blog companion to the historical drama podcast Flames of Freedom. In our latest podcast episode, we spoke with Dr. Eliezer Papo, a noted scholar in Hebrew Literature at Ben Gurion University, about the intricate historical roots of the Jewish quest for liberty. In the recent episode, Dr. Papo takes us through the lives of Sephardic Jews and Conversos — Jews who converted to Christianity but often continued to practice Judaism secretly. These historical intricacies provide fascinating insights into how Jewish, Spanish, and Portuguese cultures intertwined and influenced one another over centuries. Through oral histories and literary works, such as those by Rabbi Solomon ibn Verga in his book “Shevet Yehuda” (The Scepter of Judah), we understand the lived experiences and philosophical evolutions that shaped the Jewish diaspora.
The Emergence of Church and State Separation
Dr. Papo reveals how the Conversos, caught between two worlds, began conceptualizing the separation of church and state — a revolutionary idea for their time. Forced conversions and laws like the “pureza de sangre” (purity of blood) left the Conversos in a societal limbo, unable to fully assimilate into Christian society or freely practice Judaism. This dual existence led to early thoughts about secular governance, influencing ideas that would fully express themselves in the American quest for religious freedom.
Cultural Identity and Historical Footsteps
When conversos migrated to England in the 17thand 18th Centuries, their arrival in London marked a new chapter in their quest for identity and freedom—amidst a climate where it was often worse to be a Catholic than a Jew in England and other Protestant regions, provided a paradoxical sanctuary, allowing returning Jews opportunities for a new beginning.
These Jewish refugees’ nuanced and layered cultural identities— expressed through their dual use of Spanish for religious contexts and Portuguese for everyday life — highlight the complex navigation of cultural memory and heritage. Community names like “She’erit Yisrael” (Remnant of Israel) symbolize loss and resilience, reflecting a self-perception of aristocratic dignity amidst adversity.
Tune in for more in-depth discussions and historical explorations in the next Flames of Freedom REVEALED episodes.
