The Left, of course, hates the democracy in the Middle East, Israel....and, daily, there seem to be articles suggesting that Europe fumes with anti-Semitism, as well.
But, wait......
1. "Over five centuries after the wicked monarchs cruelly expelled the country's Jews in 1492, Spain now finds itself clamoring for their return...
2. ...the government in Madrid approved a draft bill on February 7 offering citizenship to descendants of Sephardi Jews while also easing residency and other requirements
3. ....neighboring Portugal, which forcibly converted and expelled its Jews in 1497, announced that it too is preparing a draft bill along the same lines.
4....an economic rationale also lies behind the new law on citizenship.....forging anew a link with potentially millions of people of Sephardi ancestry, and the possible windfall that might ensue as a result of increased investment and tourism, was surely not lost on the decision-makers...
5. ....what makes this development so decidedly ironic: the Expulsion happened in part because Spain wanted the Jews' assets, and now they are welcoming Jews back for the same reason.
6. Coming at a time of rising anti-Semitism across Europe, it is refreshing to see European states making an effort to welcome Jews so openly.
7. It behooves Israel to take notice of this and to consider making its own historic gestures, particularly to the Bnei Anusim, the descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Jews who were compelled to convert to Catholicism in the 14th and 15th centuries.
8. ....many of the Bnei Anusim continued to practice Judaism covertly despite the Inquisition,...descendants can be found in every corner of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world, and their numbers are estimated to be in the millions.
9. ....we have seen a huge increase in recent years in the number of Bnei Anusim looking to reaffirm or reclaim their Jewish identity, in places as far afield as northern Portugal, Chile, El Salvador, Sicily and Colombia.
10. .... it is time for the State of Israel to "ease the way for their return."
As Anti-Semitism Waxes Throughout Europe, Spain Makes Historic Move - The New York Sun
First Russian immigration to Israel.....
...now Spanish and Portuguese?
In full disclosure: I love Tapas.
But, wait......
1. "Over five centuries after the wicked monarchs cruelly expelled the country's Jews in 1492, Spain now finds itself clamoring for their return...
2. ...the government in Madrid approved a draft bill on February 7 offering citizenship to descendants of Sephardi Jews while also easing residency and other requirements
3. ....neighboring Portugal, which forcibly converted and expelled its Jews in 1497, announced that it too is preparing a draft bill along the same lines.
4....an economic rationale also lies behind the new law on citizenship.....forging anew a link with potentially millions of people of Sephardi ancestry, and the possible windfall that might ensue as a result of increased investment and tourism, was surely not lost on the decision-makers...
5. ....what makes this development so decidedly ironic: the Expulsion happened in part because Spain wanted the Jews' assets, and now they are welcoming Jews back for the same reason.
6. Coming at a time of rising anti-Semitism across Europe, it is refreshing to see European states making an effort to welcome Jews so openly.
7. It behooves Israel to take notice of this and to consider making its own historic gestures, particularly to the Bnei Anusim, the descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Jews who were compelled to convert to Catholicism in the 14th and 15th centuries.
8. ....many of the Bnei Anusim continued to practice Judaism covertly despite the Inquisition,...descendants can be found in every corner of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world, and their numbers are estimated to be in the millions.
9. ....we have seen a huge increase in recent years in the number of Bnei Anusim looking to reaffirm or reclaim their Jewish identity, in places as far afield as northern Portugal, Chile, El Salvador, Sicily and Colombia.
10. .... it is time for the State of Israel to "ease the way for their return."
As Anti-Semitism Waxes Throughout Europe, Spain Makes Historic Move - The New York Sun
First Russian immigration to Israel.....
...now Spanish and Portuguese?
In full disclosure: I love Tapas.