Remnants of Crypto-Jews Among Hispanic Americans [Paperback]

Gloria Golden (Author), Andrea Alessandra Cabello (Editor), Sohaib Raihan (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2004

Hidden deep in the heart of the American Southwest among the larger Hispanic population are descendants of the Sephardim, Jews from Spain and Portugal. Five hundred years after their expulsion from Spain remnants of Judaism are still practiced within Southwestern Hispanic communities. Often unaware of their origins, conversos have revealed, through oral history, how the ancestral faith of the Crypto-Jews has been passed on from generation to generation. "Five hundred years after the Inquisition, Gloria Golden manages to turn the little-known subject of crypto-Jews into an inspiring tale of identity. The rich portraiture and captivating oral histories offer a poignant view of what it means to discover and embrace one's Judaism." Elana Harris, Managing Editor, B'nai B'rith Magazine "Gloria Golden's images and text provide a valuable insight into the Crypto-Judaic world. All who are drawn to this fascinating subject will find great rewards in this volume." Rabbi Joshua Stampfer, Founder and First President of the Society for Crypto Judaic Studies "The impact of these photographs and related interviews cannot be measured. Surely, through their existence, we touch a part of our past, and preserve it for our children's children. It is another piece in the great puzzle of our scattered people." Flora Sussely, Director, Adult Programs, Mittleman Jewish Community Center

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Floricanto Press; 1st edition (December 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915745569
• ISBN-13: 978-0915745562
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,242,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gloria Golden was born in Brooklyn, New York. For twenty-three years she taught in the New York City elementary schools. Remnants of Crypto-Jews Among Hispanic Americans, her first book, was published by Floricanto Press in 2005. She interviewed eighty descendants of Jews from the Spanish Inquisition in New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. Sixty oral histories, accompanied by photographs, have been published in the book. Many descendants from Spain and Portugal continue to practice Jewish rituals, often without knowing their origin. Only those willing to reveal their stories could shed some light on how remnants of Judaism, however diluted, were brought forward into the twenty-first century. Based on her work, Gloria Golden exhibits and gives slide presentations across the United States.

Gloria Golden recently published Desaturated Soul. The book contains ninety-six photographs, accompanied by prose. Many of the images have been accepted in juried competitions, and several have gained special recognition. Most recently, High-Spirited, has been chosen for a traveling exhibit, curated by Jamie Lee Curtis, through the Texas Photographic Society.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BOOKLOVER's review, February 4, 2005

By 

Booklover - See all my reviews

This review is from: Remnants of Crypto-Jews Among Hispanic Americans (Paperback)

For many years I have followed the career of prize-winning photographer Gloria Golden, and I consider her a great artist. In her new book, Golden has transcended the world of the visual arts and become an important scholar, photojournalist, and chronicler of Jewish history. Despite the many chronicles that fill CRYPTO-JEWS with human interest, both the book's opening essay and its compelling accounts of Golden's interviews with southwestern American Crypto-Jews embrace an impressive range of intellectual disciplines, Jewish history, world history, sociology and anthropology among them.

Though this landmark study will appeal to scholars, Golden's absorbing page-turner reads like fiction. Anyone fascinated by the human condition should purchase this gem of a book. I look forward to reading more of Golden's writing.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Gloria Golden's Work, May 8, 2005

By 

Nadine Ellman (New York City, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Remnants of Crypto-Jews Among Hispanic Americans (Paperback)

The interview and photographs of the people in Gloria Golden's book Remnants of Crypto-Jews Among Hispanic Americans show a special dedication to the story these unique people have to tell. Careful attention to detail make their stories very enlightening. The photographs help the reader make the human connections to each story.

I am of Sephardic ancestry on my father's side with his ancestors leaving Spain during the Inquisition and settling in Turkey. Our family was fortunate and never had to question our Jewish background as the Crypto-Jews do.

After reading Gloria Golden's book I was able to get an insight into an unusual and often difficult transition these people of Jewish ancestry had to face when they found out about their Jewish heritage.

Gloria Golden's book not only informs but also shows in a very dramatic way, how these Hispanic Americans are coping with their identity crisis.

Nadine Behar Ellman