Ronit Treatman

The magilla of Queen Esther is held close to the hearts of many crypto-Jews of Iberia and Latin America.  In this lecture, Ronit will discuss how syncretism transformed Queen Esther into Saint Esther, and Purim into the Fast and Feast of Saint Esther. based on evidence of the observance of the tradition found in the Inquisition files of Mallorca in an actual case study, and field research in the Southwestern United States, to include the tradition of santeros’ retablos of Saint Esther, including actual pieces of artwork.