Personal Stories

Personal stories of people who have discovered their Jewish heritage.

Tours of the Past through the Present -Returning to Sefarad:

Published August 25, 2011

The Ladinokomunita Group visit Spain October 6-18, 2010 For each of the last four years, Ladinokomunita (LK) members have gotten together to tour a country with historic or current Sephardic significance.1 After Israel, Turkey, and Argentina, in the autumn of 2010 we visited Spain, the land of our deepest roots. For many it was their [...]

Posted in HaLapid Spring/Summer 2011, News, Personal Stories | Tagged Spain | Leave a comment

Discovering My Crypto-Jewish Roots

Published December 11, 2010

My name is Joe Arnold Trujillo. I am the first son and second child of Jeremias (Jerry) Trujillo and Maria Rosana (Mary Rose) Quintana. I was born on the farm of Felipe Quintana, my maternal grandfather, near Capulin, Colorado. Capulin is located in the San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado. The Rio Grande River, the [...]

Posted in Articles, HaLapid, HaLapid Winter 2010, Personal Stories | Tagged U.S. Southwest | Leave a comment

A Thread in the Tapestry –

Published November 1, 2010

A Thread in the Tapestry –
The Narros of Saltillo, Mexico, in History and Literature
By Kathleen Alcalá

Posted in Articles, Personal Stories | Tagged Mexico, U.S. Southwest | Leave a comment

Seth Kunin: Rabbi and Scholar

Published October 31, 2010

Several years ago Professor Seth Kunin and I attended a national conference of messianic congregations, where I had been invited to lecture on the history of crypto-Judaism in New Mexico. As we passed by the numerous displays of talletim, kippot and prayer books, Seth whispered to me, “As a rabbi, I’m appalled, but as an [...]

Posted in Articles, HaLapid, HaLapid Fall 2005, Personal Stories | Leave a comment

Bob Hattem: Founding Editor of HaLapid

Published October 31, 2010

Early Member of SCJS , He Attended First Conference A bookshelf takes up a whole wall of the room. History books occupy most of the available space and a large portion of them are California History books. One shelf contains early first editions dating back to the late eighteenth century. Here is an eyewitness account of [...]

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A Letter From Brazil

Published August 31, 2010

The following was sent to Art Benveniste’s website, and is reprinted with the writer’s permission. We have tried to maintain her style, while making only a few corrections to her English. I was really very grateful to know that you are interested in learning more about the story of crypto Judaism in my family. First, [...]

Posted in Articles, HaLapid, Halapid Summer 2001, Personal Stories | Leave a comment

Buscando Mi Propio Verdad

Published June 4, 2010

(Seeking My Own Truth) “Who are you?” The nun’s habit was a course, black swirl of fabric with a unique scent all the old-time nuns shared, her face framed by the stiffest wimple imaginable. I took a nanosecond to wonder how her Mama starched it so stiff before dutifully answering, “I am a child of [...]

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Colorin Colorado, Este Cuento No Se Ha Acabado!

Published December 15, 2009

Several years ago, I was taken on a spiritual trip that to this day has revolutionized my life in a manner that needs explanation as does the title of this article. Before I translate, I must tell you that this phrase is used at the end of a story telling session. The phrase means: Color [...]

Posted in Articles, HaLapid, HaLapid Winter 2009, Personal Stories | Leave a comment

Papá’s Secret World

Published December 15, 2009

I raced to the kitchen as soon as I heard the door open. I could hear my mamá’s footsteps creak across the wooden floor. She stood over the table panting. A small puff of chicken feathers rose above her head. “Did you kill it?” I felt upset that Mamá had to kill my pollito . [...]

Posted in HaLapid Winter 2009, Personal Stories | Tagged U.S. Southwest | Leave a comment

Becoming a Part of the Society

Published December 3, 2009

Roger Louis Martínez is Board Member-at-Large and Vice President of Conferences Recently, the editor asked me to pen my own member profile for this issue of HaLapid . It is an odd task – to write about myself – and one certain to bring disaster upon me. Pride and false humility seem inescapable. Instead of [...]