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`Sephardic Journey'
Attracts Detroiters
4
-4
RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER
W
ho knew that
Jews were jug-
glers and lion
tamers a long
time ago in Spain?
Or that their Torahs
were inscribed on cowhide,
not parchment?
Or that many of these
Jews were executed in
1492 when the Roman
Catholic Church gave
them these options: con-
vert, leave the country, or
die.
Hundreds of Jews in
metro Detroit experienced
these historical events
last weekend when they
traveled back through
time to learn about the
Sephardim.
Sephardim are Jews
from Spain, Africa and
Arab countries. The event,
sponsored by Jewish
Experience For Families
(JEFF),
The Detroit
Jewish News, the Jewish
Community Center and
the Sephardic Community
of Greater Detroit, was
titled: "From Routes to
Roots: The Great
Sephardic Journey."
On Jan. 31, Jewish fam-
ilies — Sephardic and oth-
ers — came to the Jimmy
Prentis Morris Jewish
Community Center where
they ate Sephardic food,
listened to Sephardic
music, and wore colorful
clothing typical of wealthi-
er Sephardim living in
Spain during the 13th cen-
tury. Information and
activity booklets, in
English and Russian, were
distributed to partici-
pants.
These modern-day Det-
roit area Jews came to
understand how Sephardic
culture survived centuries
of attempts to wipe it out.
One room of the build-
ing was converted into a
"basement." Here, mem-
bers of B'nei Akiva youth
group described how the
Sephardim conducted
secret Shabbat ceremonies
during the Inquisition.
Other Jews converted to
Christianity to survive.
Some converted only in
name. On Shabbat and
other holidays, these Jews
risked their lives to con-
gregrate in neighbors'
basements to carry on
their faith.
"They would be Chris-
tians on the outside, but
Jews on the inside," said
Jay Wolf, a youth group
4
member.
Jews who were forced to
convert, but practiced
secretly, called themselves
conversos. Inquisitors
called them marranos,
(swine). When caught
practicing Judaism, the 4
conversos were often ban-
ished or killed.
"I think (conversos) are
important to us because
they were thinking about
people like us today," said
Geoff Dworkin, another 4
youth group member.
"They risked their lives
for Jews today. In a sense,
they saved Judaism."
Those who fled Spain,
and later Portugal, started
Jewish communities -4
throughout the Ottoman
Empire (including Istan-
bul, Izmir, Corfu), north-
ern Africa (including
Algiers and Tunisia), the
Roman Empire, and other
areas. They spanned three
continents and have car-
ried on their traditions to
this day.
Salonica, Greece, be- 4.1
came known as "the
Jerusalem of the Balkans"
for its many Sephardic
yeshivot.
Sunday's event was a 4
success, according to
J.E.F.F. Program Coor-
dinator Julia Bitton.
"One of the nicest things
is the educational
process," she said. "People
are being educated about
Sephardic Jews of today
and in the past."
Trying his hand at jug-
gling during "The Golden
Age of Spain," little Elliot
Resnick, who attended the
event with his mother,
agreed with Ms. Bitton.
"My mother is Sephardic
and I wanted to see my
background," he said. ❑
•
Feb. 7 Memorial
For Rabbi Levin
A memorial service one year
after the death of Rabbi
Leizer Levin will be held 8
p.m. Feb. 7 at Congregation
Dovid Ben Nuchim.
Among the speakers at the
service will be his son, Rabbi
Avrohom Chaim Levin.