SPANISH TEXTBOOK VIEW OF THE EXPULSION OF THE JEWS
by Arthur Benveniste

from HaLapid Summer, 1995 

Following is a passage from La Historia De Espana by Balisterros, published in 1957.  It was the textbook used in Spanish public schools.  Someone sent me a photocopy of this page.  I don't have the next page so it ends in mid sentence.

Rabbi Garzon of Spain has assured me that the Spanish schools have adopted new books and this passage is no longer used.

LA EXPULSION DE LOS JUDIOS

Clamor general de aquella epoca, como eco postrero de la Edad Media, fue, el. abominar de la raza deicida, pidiendo su expulsion de la Peninsula.  Ya no podian repetirse las matanzas de antano: los judios eran muy poderosos, y su estirpe de banqueros, industriales y ricos mercaderes estaba enlazada con linajes esclarecidos de Castilla.  No tardaron los Reyes en acoger los latidos del sentirniento general, que, Como expresion clara de la opinion publica, se pronunciaba en contra de los hebreos.  Era preciso echar de Espana a aquellos habiles agiotistas que manejaban los caudales hispanos e que industriosos, solicitos y trabajadores, habian acaparado todo el numerario de los reinos espanoles.  Como chispa que produhera el incendio, hubo de ocurrir entonces el profeso del Santo Niño de la Guardia, sacrificado por unos judios despues de martirizarlo en simulacro de la Pasion de Cristo'.  Para el vulgo esto no era un hecho aislado sino que constituia la practica de la mruerte ritual autorizada aconsejada y practicada por los judios del orbe entero.  Se equivocaban en esta creencia, pues los sucesos aislados denotan, si, persticion y un fanatismo de algunos judios, pero no fue nunca procedimiento tolerado por las comunidades hebreas.
    El ano antes de morir Enrique IV se habian repetido las Matanzas en -Jaen, Cordoba y Andujar, si bien en menor escala que en el siglo xiv.  Se extremaron la separacion en aljatnas y las prohibiciones del trato con cristianos, ya en desuso.  Eran los prelirninares.  Por fm, el 31 de mayo de 1492, se promulgo el edicto de expulsion; se las duba de plazo hasta el mes de julio para que vendiesen sus bienes.  El dilehna era convertirse o salir de Espana.  Los hebreos espanoles escribieron una famose carta a la aljama de Constantinopla, …

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

 THE EXPULSION OF THE JEWS

  The general clamor of that age like an echo from the end of the Middle Ages, was hatred of the god killing race, asking for their expulsion from the peninsula.  The killings of the old times could not be repeated, the Jews being too influential and their families of bankers, industrialists and wealthy merchants were intertwined with clearly established relationships in Castille.  The king wasted no time in perceiving the general heartbeat of the clear expression of public opinion that was being pronounced against the Jews.  It was necessary to expell from Spain these clever agitators that handled the Hispanic wealth and whos industrialists, solicitors and workers had monopolized it in the many Spanish kingdoms.  Like a spark that starts a fire, there then happened the ritual of The Santo Niño De La Guardia, sacrificed by some Jews, after torturing him to simulate the passion of Christ.  For the populace this was not an isolated happening,  but it constituted the practice of ritual death authorized, recommended and practiced by the whole Jewish world.  They were mistaken in that belief, because in the few isolated events, it showed, yes, the superstition and fanaticism of some Jews, but it was never the procedure tolerated by Jewish communities.
    The year before the death of Henry IV the killings were repeated in Jaen, Cordoba and Andujar but on a smaller scale than in the XIV century.  The separation of the aljamas was increased as were the prohibitions on trade with Christians which had been in disuse.  These were the preliminaries.  Finally on May 31, 1492 the edict of expulsion was proclaimed, they were given until the month of July* to sell their possessions.  The dilemma was to convert or leave Spain.   The Spanish Jews wrote a famous ...

*The text is mistaken here.  They were given until August.  This is the least of the errors in this passage.

 

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