Exploring the Inquisition’s Religious and Political Roots

Delving into History with “Flames of Freedom REVEALED”

Welcome to the official blog for “Flames of Freedom Revealed,” brought to you by Lance Toland Entertainment. In our premiere episode, we are excited to have embarked on a fascinating journey into the historical roots of the Jewish quest for liberty. Hosted by Richard Stone, co-creator of the historical drama “Flames of Freedom,” Our first conversation is with Dr. Eliezer Papo, Senior Lecturer of Hebrew Literature at Ben Gurion University, and is the first of a three-part interview. In this first episode, we focus on the severe trials faced by the Sephardic Jewish community, including their expulsion during the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions.

Richard Stone and Dr. Papo delve into the harrowing experiences that led many Jews to flee their homes or face forced conversions. This period, marked by immense suffering and resilience, saw Jews risking their lives by settling in new lands such as the Ottoman Empire or fleeing to Portugal, where they were at first welcomed but then forced to convert to Catholicism or die. Dr. Papo elaborates on the drastic measures taken against Jews, giving us a thorough understanding of the persecution that defined the era.

Dr. Papo also skillfully compares the expulsion from Spain to other exiles in Jewish history, such as from France and England, emphasizing the uniquely catastrophic impact on the Sephardic Jewish community given that the other expulsions involved small numbers. In contrast, the expulsion from Spain is estimated to be in the range of 200,000 to 300,000 Jews. He outlines the significance of Spain as the “mind and heart” of Jewish intellectual life during the medieval period, describing its role in preserving Jewish rituals, traditions, and scholarly pursuits.

Survival and Adaptation

A point of focus is the diverse reactions among converted Jews (Conversos) to forced assimilation. The discussion reveals the various strategies employed to maintain Jewish traditions clandestinely, ranging from secret observance to outward conformity. Dr. Papo provides insight into the complex identity struggles Conversos faced and how these elements of hidden faith kept the Jewish spirit alive through centuries of persecution, as well as chronicling the subsequent migration of many Jews to the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, and, ultimately, the New World.