Lecture Focuses on the Plight of Mexican Jewry

The third session of a four-part series of lectures held at Congregation Or Atid titled “Our History Our Stories: Journeys of Jewish Communities Across Time and Continents,” was presented by Sam Richardson, Ph. D., Director of the Jewish Community Relations Committee at the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond. 

In his program “The Jews of Mexico: 1184 – 1924+” Richardson explained that he selected this particular slice of history because it is a period of time that might be of great interest to history buffs. From a personal perspective, he prefers to focus more on his family lore, which may not be as accurate as the information available from the times of the inquisition, but “it’s all we have.”

Richardson, is a descendant of the “Conversos;” Jewish converts to Christianity and their descendants who were more willing to present themselves as Christians in public. That was as opposed to the “Anusim;” Jews who were compelled to accept Christianity through overwhelming social pressure and physical threats, but were more likely to regularly observe some form of Judaism and maintain a relatively strong Jewish identity. The key distinction between the two is that the term Conversos comes from the Spanish while Anusim comes from the Hebrew. 

It wasn’t until he turned 30 that Richardson learned that he was Jewish through stories told by his grandfather and at family reunions, but most of all through discussions he had with his Aunt Isabel, who surprised him with her knowledge of Israel.

While there were many historic events affecting the Jewish population during this specific  timeframe, two that particularly stand out were the voyage to the new world by Christopher Columbus and crew, and the time of the inquisition.

Richardson noted that an actual letter from Columbus exists in books on Conversos history around the time of his voyage in 1492. However, history is unclear whether Columbus – and possibly his navigator – may have been either a Conversos or Anusim.

As of August 1, 1492, the country’s entire Jewish community numbering 200,000 were expelled from Spain.

As Colombus notes in his personal diary, Richardson quotes that this was all taking place…

“in the same month in which their majesties (Ferdinand and Isabella) issued the edict that all Jews should be driven out of the kingdom and its territories, in the same month they gave me the order to undertake with sufficient men my expedition of discovery to the Indies.”

The Jewish population in Mexico numbers around 41,000 Richardson estimates, comprised not only of Spanish and Portuguese but also Italian and Greek Jews, making it the 13th largest Jewish population in the world today.

While thousands were killed as part of the inquisition (not millions as in the Holocaust), nonetheless the inquisition was “a tool used by our enemies to try and make us go away,” he explained.

Today, there are congregations of Conversos and Anasim that are growing stronger and their children and grandchildren are coming back to Judaism, he noted.

 

Or Atid Celebrates a Special Hanukkah

A crowd of celebrants filled our sanctuary for Hanukkah 2025, enjoying food, drink, dreidels, Menorahs, dancing and much more. 

Music for the evening’s festivities was provided by Klez`m`or`a`mim Band, playing assorted Hanukkah music from Yiddish melodies to traditional songs in Hebrew, English and Ladino – the conversational language of Sephardic Jews. Vocals and trombone were provided by our own Arthur Todras.

The highlight of the evening came with the lighting of a living Menorah comprised of nine steed hollies colorfully illuminated in the synagogue’s Gan Chesed garden area. 

Philip Perschetz, head of the synagogue’s garden committee, thanked the dedicated group of volunteers who take on the responsibility of watering, seeding and harvesting the garden every season.

 

Or Atid Seniors Club Holds New Year's Celebration

Congregation Or Atid threw an early New Year’s party a couple of days ahead of time for members of its Seniors Club. 

The afternoon affair featured 2026 decorations and party favors, a DJ playing music from 1950s and 1960s, dancing, a variety of nosh and a lot of conversation. 

A good time was had by all.