Definitely check out this article from Catholic News Service about the descendants of Spain’s crypto-Jews. In the 15th century under the pressure of royal a-holes King Ferdinand’s and Queen Isabella’s bloodbath, many Jews converted to Catholicsm to avoid some of the most gruesome torture techniques even conceived. Eventually, the murderous royal duo decided their money would be better spent on sending Christopher Columbus out to conquer the world than using hounds to sniff out Sabbath candles, so they expelled the marranos from Spain. The refugees kept their Jewish flame burning in private and passed down certain rituals to their families who settled in Latin America and part of New Mexico. Consequently, many American Hispanics are rediscovering their Jewish roots.
Bailamos la hora!