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Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain

The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE; Spanish: Federación de Comunidades Judías de España) is the umbrella organization representing the interests of most Jews in Spain. Domestically, the FCJE is the official voice of the Spanish Jewish community to the Spanish government.[1] Internationally, the FCJE is the Spanish representative to the European Jewish Congress and World Jewish Congress. In 2021, the FCJE estimated there were between 40,000 and 45,000 Jews in Spain,[2] 98.5% of which are estimated to be part of communities represented by the FCJE.[3]

Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain
Formation1964; 60 years ago (1964)
HeadquartersMadrid, Spain
Region served
Spain
President
Isaac Benzaquén Pinto
Parent organization
World Jewish Congress
European Jewish Congress
Websitewww.fcje.org

Activities edit

Under Law 25/1992 (Agreement of Cooperation between the State and the Israelite Communities of Spain) enacted on November 10, 1992, the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain (FCJE) is the only state-recognized umbrella organization representing the Jewish community of Spain. As such, the FCJE oversees the Superior Rabbinical Council of Spain (CSRE) (Spanish: Consejo Rabínico Superior de España), the application of Kashrut dietary laws, the certification of Jewish marriages, and Jewish burials in the county. The cooperation agreement between the FCJE and the Spanish government does not allow for publicly funded services, such as religious services and observances. The FCJE has declined government funding for Jewish instructors.[2]

The FCJE assisted the Spanish government with the implementation of the 2015 law offering Sephardi Jews of Spanish origin the ability to obtain Spanish nationality by naturalization.[2]

History edit

Organized Jewish communities (late 19th to early 20th century) edit

During Spain's Restoration era that began in 1874, the country's small Jewish community began to emerge from the shadows. The communities in Ceuta and Melilla, Spanish autonomous cities on the north coast of Africa, began to organize by the 19th century. Jewish life on the Spanish peninsula in the country's major cities existed in the latter decades of the 19th century, but only coalesced into organized bodies around the time of World War I. Synagogues in Seville, Madrid (1917), and Barcelona (1914) were established.[1]

After World War I, the Spanish government continued rapprochement with its Jewish community. In 1924, Prime Minister Miguel Primo de Rivera decreed that Sephardim who met certain provisions would be granted Spanish nationality.[4]

Spanish Civil War and Francist Spain (1936–1975) edit

Representatives of Spain's Jewish community of Spain attended the inaugural plenary of the World Jewish Congress in Geneva in 1936.[5]

During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), as many as 10,000 Jews came from Europe, Palestine, and America to join the International Brigades supporting the forces of the Second Spanish Republic against Francisco Franco's Nationalists. After Franco's victory in 1939, the Spanish right-wing moved against so-called "enemy elements" that comprised an "anti-Spain" working in the interests of Bolsheviks and a "Judeo-Masonic conspiracy". The government shut down the synagogues in Madrid and Barcelona.[1] Jewish marriages and brit milah were outlawed, and Jewish children were compelled to attend Catholic schools.[4]

In 1945, the Francoist government enacted the Fuero de los Españoles [es] as the fourth of the ultimately eight Fundamental Laws of the Realm, extendeding the right to private worship of non-Catholic religions, including Judaism. However, the erection of religious buildings or non-Catholic public ceremonies remained forbidden. Thus while the Jewish communities in Madrid and Barcelona began again to quietly practice their religion, they still operated outside the law. In 1964, the Jewish community was legalized not as a religious community, but as a political entity, as part of Franco's "25 years of peace" celebration. That year, the Jewish communities in Madrid and Barcelona created the Israeli Communal Council. The group's first secretary-general was Carlos Benarroch.[1] That year, the council affiliated with the World Jewish Congress.[5]

Spain's 1967 Law on Religious Freedom granted full public religious rights to non-Catholics, including Jews.[6] Under the law's framework, Jewish communities were formed in Malaga, Alicante, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Las Palmas, Torremolinos, and Marbella.[1]

Post-Franco and formation of FCJE (after 1975) edit

The 1978 Constitution of Spain and the 1980 Organic Law on Religious Freedom created a new framework for religious minorities, establishing state-sponsored religious pluralism for religious denominations with "notorious roots" in Spain. To obtain the "notorious roots" designation and sign agreements with the state, religious groups had to join in a single federation.[7] On July 16, 1982, the Federation of Israelite Communities of Spain (Spanish: Consejo Comunal Israelita) was formed by the Jewish communities of Barcelona, Ceuta, Madrid, and Melilla.[1]

By March 1992, the federation represented approximately 15,000 Jews in Spain, most of whom first- or second-generation immigrants from North Africa and South America.[8]

In 2004, the organization changed its name to the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain (Spanish: Federación de Comunidades Judías de España).[1]

Presidents of FCJE edit

  • Samuel Toledano (1982)
  • Carlos Schorr (1994-2003)
  • Jacobo Israel Garzón (2003-2011)
  • Isaac Querub Caro (2011-2020)
  • Isaac Benzaquén Pinto (2020–present)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "About". Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Spain 2021 International Religious Freedom Report" (PDF). U.S. State Department. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  3. ^ Portero de la Torre, Luis. "Law Granting Spanish Citizenship to Sephardim" (PDF). Rhodes Jewish Museum.
  4. ^ a b "Spain". JGuide Europe. Foundation du Judaisme Francais.
  5. ^ a b "Community in Spain". World Jewish Congress. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  6. ^ Curvino, Melissa (2013). "Church-State Cooperation Does Not Violate a Guarantee of Religious Freedom: A Study of the 1978 Spanish Constitution and 1979 Concordat with the Catholic Church". Emory International Law Review. 27 (1). Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  7. ^ Zolia Combalia, Maria Roca. "Religion and the Secular State of Spain" (PDF). International Center for Law and Religion Studies. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  8. ^ Montabano, William (1992-04-01). "After 500 Years, a Wrong Redressed : Religion: Spain's Juan Carlos prays with Israeli president in Madrid synagogue on anniversary of expulsion of Jews". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 July 2023.

federation, jewish, communities, spain, fcje, spanish, federación, comunidades, judías, españa, umbrella, organization, representing, interests, most, jews, spain, domestically, fcje, official, voice, spanish, jewish, community, spanish, government, internatio. The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain FCJE Spanish Federacion de Comunidades Judias de Espana is the umbrella organization representing the interests of most Jews in Spain Domestically the FCJE is the official voice of the Spanish Jewish community to the Spanish government 1 Internationally the FCJE is the Spanish representative to the European Jewish Congress and World Jewish Congress In 2021 the FCJE estimated there were between 40 000 and 45 000 Jews in Spain 2 98 5 of which are estimated to be part of communities represented by the FCJE 3 Federation of Jewish Communities of SpainFormation1964 60 years ago 1964 HeadquartersMadrid SpainRegion servedSpainPresidentIsaac Benzaquen PintoParent organizationWorld Jewish Congress European Jewish CongressWebsitewww wbr fcje wbr org Contents 1 Activities 2 History 2 1 Organized Jewish communities late 19th to early 20th century 2 2 Spanish Civil War and Francist Spain 1936 1975 2 3 Post Franco and formation of FCJE after 1975 3 Presidents of FCJE 4 See also 5 ReferencesActivities editUnder Law 25 1992 Agreement of Cooperation between the State and the Israelite Communities of Spain enacted on November 10 1992 the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain FCJE is the only state recognized umbrella organization representing the Jewish community of Spain As such the FCJE oversees the Superior Rabbinical Council of Spain CSRE Spanish Consejo Rabinico Superior de Espana the application of Kashrut dietary laws the certification of Jewish marriages and Jewish burials in the county The cooperation agreement between the FCJE and the Spanish government does not allow for publicly funded services such as religious services and observances The FCJE has declined government funding for Jewish instructors 2 The FCJE assisted the Spanish government with the implementation of the 2015 law offering Sephardi Jews of Spanish origin the ability to obtain Spanish nationality by naturalization 2 History editMain article History of the Jews in Spain Organized Jewish communities late 19th to early 20th century edit During Spain s Restoration era that began in 1874 the country s small Jewish community began to emerge from the shadows The communities in Ceuta and Melilla Spanish autonomous cities on the north coast of Africa began to organize by the 19th century Jewish life on the Spanish peninsula in the country s major cities existed in the latter decades of the 19th century but only coalesced into organized bodies around the time of World War I Synagogues in Seville Madrid 1917 and Barcelona 1914 were established 1 After World War I the Spanish government continued rapprochement with its Jewish community In 1924 Prime Minister Miguel Primo de Rivera decreed that Sephardim who met certain provisions would be granted Spanish nationality 4 Spanish Civil War and Francist Spain 1936 1975 edit Representatives of Spain s Jewish community of Spain attended the inaugural plenary of the World Jewish Congress in Geneva in 1936 5 During the Spanish Civil War 1936 1939 as many as 10 000 Jews came from Europe Palestine and America to join the International Brigades supporting the forces of the Second Spanish Republic against Francisco Franco s Nationalists After Franco s victory in 1939 the Spanish right wing moved against so called enemy elements that comprised an anti Spain working in the interests of Bolsheviks and a Judeo Masonic conspiracy The government shut down the synagogues in Madrid and Barcelona 1 Jewish marriages and brit milah were outlawed and Jewish children were compelled to attend Catholic schools 4 In 1945 the Francoist government enacted the Fuero de los Espanoles es as the fourth of the ultimately eight Fundamental Laws of the Realm extendeding the right to private worship of non Catholic religions including Judaism However the erection of religious buildings or non Catholic public ceremonies remained forbidden Thus while the Jewish communities in Madrid and Barcelona began again to quietly practice their religion they still operated outside the law In 1964 the Jewish community was legalized not as a religious community but as a political entity as part of Franco s 25 years of peace celebration That year the Jewish communities in Madrid and Barcelona created the Israeli Communal Council The group s first secretary general was Carlos Benarroch 1 That year the council affiliated with the World Jewish Congress 5 Spain s 1967 Law on Religious Freedom granted full public religious rights to non Catholics including Jews 6 Under the law s framework Jewish communities were formed in Malaga Alicante Valencia Palma de Mallorca Tenerife Las Palmas Torremolinos and Marbella 1 Post Franco and formation of FCJE after 1975 edit The 1978 Constitution of Spain and the 1980 Organic Law on Religious Freedom created a new framework for religious minorities establishing state sponsored religious pluralism for religious denominations with notorious roots in Spain To obtain the notorious roots designation and sign agreements with the state religious groups had to join in a single federation 7 On July 16 1982 the Federation of Israelite Communities of Spain Spanish Consejo Comunal Israelita was formed by the Jewish communities of Barcelona Ceuta Madrid and Melilla 1 By March 1992 the federation represented approximately 15 000 Jews in Spain most of whom first or second generation immigrants from North Africa and South America 8 In 2004 the organization changed its name to the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain Spanish Federacion de Comunidades Judias de Espana 1 Presidents of FCJE editSamuel Toledano 1982 Carlos Schorr 1994 2003 Jacobo Israel Garzon 2003 2011 Isaac Querub Caro 2011 2020 Isaac Benzaquen Pinto 2020 present See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to World Jewish Congress Antisemitism in Spain Beth Yaacov Synagogue Madrid Yehuda BenasouliReferences edit a b c d e f g About Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain Retrieved 13 March 2023 a b c Spain 2021 International Religious Freedom Report PDF U S State Department Retrieved 13 March 2023 Portero de la Torre Luis Law Granting Spanish Citizenship to Sephardim PDF Rhodes Jewish Museum a b Spain JGuide Europe Foundation du Judaisme Francais a b Community in Spain World Jewish Congress Retrieved 13 March 2023 Curvino Melissa 2013 Church State Cooperation Does Not Violate a Guarantee of Religious Freedom A Study of the 1978 Spanish Constitution and 1979 Concordat with the Catholic Church Emory International Law Review 27 1 Retrieved 13 March 2023 Zolia Combalia Maria Roca Religion and the Secular State of Spain PDF International Center for Law and Religion Studies Brigham Young University Retrieved 13 March 2023 Montabano William 1992 04 01 After 500 Years a Wrong Redressed Religion Spain s Juan Carlos prays with Israeli president in Madrid synagogue on anniversary of expulsion of Jews Los Angeles Times Retrieved 19 July 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain amp oldid 1195302917, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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