Despite the anti-Semitism graffiti attack this week, the mayor of the Spanish village vowed to continue the plan of the Hispanic Memory Center, whose former name was an ugly reminder of the persecution of the Jewish population in the country in the Middle Ages.
Seven years ago, 52 eligible residents of Castrillo Matajudíos-the camp where the Jews were killed in English, Voted in the referendum to change the name of the village back to Castrillo Mota de Judíos, which means the Jewish mountain camp.
Renamed Formally approved by the regional government Castile and Leon in June 2015.
Documents show that the original name of the village was the Jewish Mountain Camp. The name of the Jewish killing dates back to 1627-135 years later, when Jews in Spain were ordered to convert to Catholicism or were expelled.
Despite the authorities’ efforts to make up for the past, the village once again became a victim of anti-Semitism.
On Monday morning, Mayor Lorenzo Rodríguez (Lorenzo Rodríguez) Posted a photo of the graffiti on Twitter, Which includes things like “Jews go out [Jews out]”, “Long live the Catholic Monarch”, “The mayor was sold to the murderer’s Jews”, and a reference to the Grand Inquisitor Thomas de Torquemada. The walls of the City Hall and the Spanish Memory Center currently under construction The walls and signs leading to the village were defaced.
Rodriguez said that he had reported the graffiti to the Civil Guard, adding that “cowardly, disgusting, violent and intolerant” attacks would not prevent the village from opening its Jewish memory center next year as planned.
The mayor stated that the authorities of Castillo Mota de Judios will continue to “shape our present past culture for the village, for the people and the past.”
Rodriguez said he hopes that those responsible for the attack will be arrested and held accountable for “direct attacks on democracy, ideas, and individual and collective freedoms in the village.”
The Federation of Spanish Jewish Communities stated that the threat contained in the attack and graffiti “is unacceptable and indicated that it caused Europe To disaster”.
It added: “We fully support the Mayor of Castrillo Mota de Judíos and encourage him to continue his efforts to restore the Jewish past. We also want peace and tolerance.”
The village is believed to have been founded in the 11th century by a group of Jews who were expelled from nearby settlements. Although it became a popular trading center and home to more than 1,000 people, life changed dramatically when Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand expelled the Jews from Spain in 1492.
Some researchers believe that the name was changed to show loyalty to Catholicism and kingship, while others believe that this may be a clerical error and changed Mota (Mountain) to Eye (kill).
In 2015, Spain tried to make up for what it called The “historical error” of expelling and persecuting its Jewish community by providing citizenship Dedicated to the offspring of those who are forced to leave their homes.
The offer expires in October 2019, Led to 132,226 Hispanics applying for Spanish citizenship.
