Ambassador Fernando Carderera explains newly-enacted law of return for Sephardic Jews.
Due to considerable confusion and misinformation regarding Spain’s newly enacted Spanish Citizenship Law for Sephardim who can furnish proof of their ancestry and their ongoing connection to Spain, Fernando Carderera, Spain’s Ambassador to Israel held a press briefing at his embassy on Friday in which he outlined some of the background to the new legislation and what it will entail for applicants.
He was aided in this by Hansi Escobar, the Spanish Consul General in Jerusalem, Manuel Gonzales, the Consul and Cultural Attache at the Spanish Embassy in Tel Aviv and Carmen Alvarez the Director of the Cervantes Institute in Tel Aviv.
Carderera opened the meeting by quoting Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala, who said with regard to this historic development in Spanish-Jewish relations: “Spain closed a door in 1492. This door fully reopens on October 1, 2015. Spain is today an open, inclusive, tolerant society.” Catala had also emphasized that the law was by way of recognition of the outstanding importance of the Sephardim in Spanish history and culture.
Noting that the law was unanimously passed by all political parties in the Spanish Parliament, and has the full support of the Spanish Jewish community, Carderera said that this was a unique case in that the Sephardim whose ancestors were expelled in 1492 have kept Spain in their hearts for five centuries. Though scattered throughout the world, often in small, non-connected communities, they have maintained their memories, their songs, their traditions, their prayers – and very significantly, said Carderera, “their nostalgia for Sepharad."