Between 1391 and the end of the 15th century, numerous Spanish Jews converted to Christianity, most of them under duress. Before and after 1492, when the Jews were officially expelled from Spain, a significant number of these conversos maintained clandestine ties to Judaism, despite their outward conformity to Catholicism. Through the lens of the Inquisition's own records, this groundbreaking study focuses on the crypto-Jewish women of Castile, demonstrating their central role in the perpetuation of crypto-Jewish society in the absence of traditional Jewish institutions led by men. Renee Levine Melammed shows how many "conversas" acted with great courage and commitment to perpetuate their religious heritage, seeing themselves as true daughters of Israel. Her fascinating book sheds new light on the roles of women in the transmission of Jewish traditions and cultures.

This title won the 1999 National Jewish Book Award, Women's Studies; and the 1999 National Jewish Book Award, Sephardic Studies (it was the first time dual-winner in the Jewish Book Council's 50-year history).
Reviews
Melammed has done a fine job of bringing what should have long been a central topic in converso studies from the periphery of the field to its rightful place. * The Jewish Quarterly Review *
The stories of these valiant women contribute profitably to Jewish and general history and to women's studies. * Choice *


Awards
Winner of 1999 National Jewish Book Award, Women's Studies; 1999 National Jewish Book Award, Sephardic Studies (first time dual-winner in Jewish Book Council's 50-year history).



Book Information
ISBN 9780195151671
Author Renee Levine Melammed
Format Paperback
Page Count 264
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 408g
Dimensions(mm) 164mm * 226mm * 20mm