The Last Marranos

Barcode: 58946051 Call Number: International Jewry Material Type: Video -DVD Date: c1990, c2009 Language: Portuguese Creator: Directed by Fredric Brenner Description: In the late fifteenth century, the glory of Sephardic Jewry on the Iberian peninsula came to an end. In 1492, the Jews of Spain were expelled; in 1497, the Jews of Portugal forcibly converted. Now they were subject to the Inquisition's harsh punishment for heresy. Despite the danger, however, many of the converted - called marranos (or pigs) by Christians - continued to secretly practice Judaism. Five centuries later, The Last Marranos takes a fascinating look at the village of Belmonte, Portugal. Its rites and prayers are an amalgam of Christianity and bits of Judaism tenaciously preserved through the ages, a tradition that bears the scars of history - distorted by clandestine practice and couched in symbols of fear. Now, brought into the open and reacquainting itself with mainstream Judaism, the community faces a new challenge. Subjects: International Jewry Collection: Martin Salinger Resource Collection