Spanish Town Called ‘? Jews’ Has Changed its Name
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http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/spanish-town-called-‘kill-jews’-has-changed-its-name/ar-AAc7Xou
A town in northern part of Spain called Castrillo Matajudios, which translates to Camp ? Jews or ? Jews Fort, has changed its name. The village of roughly 50 residents, which is located 165 miles from Madrid, will now return to its historic name, Castrillo Mota de Judios, or Jews’ Hill Camp.
The majority of residents voted in favor of the change last year after the local mayor broached the issue to regional government. On June 18, regional officials finalized the change, according to the government’s Official Bulletin of Castilla and Leon. The official notice said the reason for the name change was “to recognize the Jewish origin of the town and considering that the current name is racist.”
Historians believe that the Jews’ Hill Camp name dates to 1035 and referred to the exiled Jews who settled there. By the 1620s, however, documents listed the name as Camp ? Jews. It’s possible that the change from mota to mata, or hill to ? , was accidental, but historians have said that it more likely was related to the Spanish Inquisition and the royal decree of 1492, which forced Jews to flee the country or convert under threat of death. Jewish converts may have changed the name then in order to show their loyalty to the anti-Jewish cause.
Mayor Lorenzo Rodriguez has in recent years made an effort to emphasize the Jewish history of the village. The official city seal features the Jewish Star of David, and last October he hosted the Israeli ambassador to Spain, Alon Bar, on a visit.
The name change comes one week after the Spanish government finalized a bill that will allow descendants of Jews expelled in 1492 to apply for citizenship. Those descendants will have to submit documentation of their Sephardic Jewish heritage and take an exam on Spanish language and history, among other conditions.
The effort to make Spain more welcoming for Jews occurs as anti-Semitism seems to be growing in Europe and more people are immigrating to Israel. As Slate points out, in France last year, local officials declined to change the name of a hamlet called La Mort aux Juifs, which translates to "Death to Jews," after a request by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization. A deputy mayor who oversees the hamlet reportedly told Agence France Presse: “Why change a name that goes back to the Middle Ages or even further? We should respect these old names.”
A town in northern part of Spain called Castrillo Matajudios, which translates to Camp ? Jews or ? Jews Fort, has changed its name. The village of roughly 50 residents, which is located 165 miles from Madrid, will now return to its historic name, Castrillo Mota de Judios, or Jews’ Hill Camp.
The majority of residents voted in favor of the change last year after the local mayor broached the issue to regional government. On June 18, regional officials finalized the change, according to the government’s Official Bulletin of Castilla and Leon. The official notice said the reason for the name change was “to recognize the Jewish origin of the town and considering that the current name is racist.”
Historians believe that the Jews’ Hill Camp name dates to 1035 and referred to the exiled Jews who settled there. By the 1620s, however, documents listed the name as Camp ? Jews. It’s possible that the change from mota to mata, or hill to ? , was accidental, but historians have said that it more likely was related to the Spanish Inquisition and the royal decree of 1492, which forced Jews to flee the country or convert under threat of death. Jewish converts may have changed the name then in order to show their loyalty to the anti-Jewish cause.
Mayor Lorenzo Rodriguez has in recent years made an effort to emphasize the Jewish history of the village. The official city seal features the Jewish Star of David, and last October he hosted the Israeli ambassador to Spain, Alon Bar, on a visit.
The name change comes one week after the Spanish government finalized a bill that will allow descendants of Jews expelled in 1492 to apply for citizenship. Those descendants will have to submit documentation of their Sephardic Jewish heritage and take an exam on Spanish language and history, among other conditions.
The effort to make Spain more welcoming for Jews occurs as anti-Semitism seems to be growing in Europe and more people are immigrating to Israel. As Slate points out, in France last year, local officials declined to change the name of a hamlet called La Mort aux Juifs, which translates to "Death to Jews," after a request by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization. A deputy mayor who oversees the hamlet reportedly told Agence France Presse: “Why change a name that goes back to the Middle Ages or even further? We should respect these old names.”
Comments
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Wow a population of 50 ? They must've had to remove what, 1 sign ?
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Wow a population of 50 ? They must've had to remove what, 1 sign ?
true but ? jews is funny
