Jews’ Return to Spain Recalls Tragic ‘never’ Oath of 1492

Spain is one of the few countries in the world where there does not exist a Jewish problem. But for the Jews themselves, Spain has remained a problem since the year 1492 when they were driven out of the Hispanic Peninsula to all four, corners of the world. Only lately, influenced, without doubt, by the conditions in Germany, this old problem seems to be nearer its final solution. The anathema that the Jews, tortured, pauperized and driven out, once hurled against Spain and that is still a vivid part of the consciousness of the “Spanioles,” direct descendants of those Spanish Jews, the German Jews fleeing from equally cruel persecution have canceled and wiped out in our days.

For Spain is no longer the old Spain of Ferdinand and Isabelle but a young Republic which has officially invited the Jews back to the country and which has facilitated immigration for the descendants of those who once were driven from Spanish soil. Since January, 1933, two thousand more Germans have settled in Barcelona, and these Germans are mostly Jews who, suffering under the intolerance of another country, have accepted sanctuary from those who centuries ago had dealt their race so deadly a wound.

SCARS OF 1492

The scars of that wound still throb in the memory of orthodox Jews. When in 1492, soon after the discovery of America, Spain, drunk with the gold of the New World, decided on its terrible edict against the Jews, not a man, woman or child of that faith remained in Spain. At that time the spurious race theory of Hitler had yet to be evolved out of warped and twisted minds, and Spain objected to the Jews merely from a religious point of view. Baptized Jews, even if baptized under duress and called Marannos, were permitted to reside in Spain and later on gained important public influence and often distinctive honors.

The president of the modern Spanish Republic, Alcala Zamorra, is a descendant of those Marannos and would be considered in Hitlerdom as tainted by Jewish blood. The Jews who were driven out, looking for a haven East as well as West, straying toward Turkey, Asia Minor and even India, settling in the Netherlands, drifting toward Poland and Russia, all united in one solemn oath never again to return to Spanish soil even if—impossible and fantastic as that seemed in that tragic hour—even if Spain should ever call back those who were so mercilessly driven from their beloved homes. This oath, this anathema against tolerance, ended with the thrice repeated word: “Never.” Never, never, never again would the banished return, never, never, never again would Spain be a home to the Jewish people.

DESCENDANTS NEVER RETURNED

Centuries passed and though individual Jews lived in one or the other Spanish city, no descendant of the original Spanish Jews ever returned to his old homeland. The main settlement of these Spanish Jews was located in Salonica and when the young Republic of Spain decided to recall the edict against the Jews, and to invite them to settle again in Spain, the government sent a telegram to Salonica offering important inducements to the descendants of the former Spanish Jews. One promised them immediate citizenship, complete freedom of occupation, all civil, political and economic rights. Yet, that “never, never, never” of the old oath was still echoing in the hearts of those whose forefathers had suffered under Spanish injustice and after long and heated deliberations the Sanhedrin decided to refuse the invitation of the modern, more tolerant Spain.

That was in 1931. But since then the menace of Hitlerism has come upon the world and the old memories have been wiped out by the tragic events of the present day. Germany has turned back the clock four centuries, and has made herself the heir of old Spanish intolerance and bigotry. Germany is now persecuting, driving out and defaming its Jews, not learning from history the significant lesson that since the day on which Spain expelled the Jews it ceased to be a world power, while those countries which showed hospitality to the Jewish people flourish politically and economically.

PEACE WITH SPAIN

And in view of this new menace the Jews have made now their peace with Spain. Before the new terror the old memories become paler and disappear, the old echo dies down and more and more Jews now turn toward Spain in the search for new homesteads.

They find there a very favorable soil. Just now the new immigrants are to be encountered mainly in Barcelona and Madrid, because Barcelona is the industrial and commercial hub and Madrid the cultural center of Spain. Into the inner Spanish provinces the new arrivals have not yet ventured. Tarrangona, Gerona, Sabadela, even Valencia and Saragossa are for the present not being considered by the immigrants as possible homes. But there exist already in Barcelona many Jewish stores, cafes, pastry-shops, Jewish laboratories, stamp dealers, and hardware merchants. And even greater and bolder enterprises are courageously undertaken by the new arrivals. As, for instance, the new Iberian Film Company, Limited, already producing its first Spanish language film with Spanish actors, although the director, the stage-manager, and the production manager all speak no word of Spanish.

The Spanish government in no way hampers the immigrants in any of their activities. In fact, State and civic officials do everything possible to make all these new ventures a success. Thus the ancient sorrow, the ancient shame, the ancient resentment is forgotten. The turn of the wheel is complete and in the full circle of historical and economic events the Jew has returned after 400 years to live and prosper again on Spanish soil and to help in the upbuilding and the flourishing development of modern Spain.