(Jewish Group) For Mallorca's Jews, their first 'public' sukkah is a triumph over the Inquisition
For Mallorcas Jews, their first public sukkah is a triumph over the Spanish Inquisition
Before the Spanish Inquisition, the island of Mallorca had a sizeable Jewish community. Every fall, the island became dotted with the leaf-roofed huts that Jews are commanded to erect during the holiday of Sukkot.
But that all changed under the Inquisitions campaign of persecution that began in 1488 (four years before it started on Spains mainland) and was only officially abolished centuries later in 1834.
This year, however, the islands tiny Jewish community in the capital Palma is determined to reintroduce its Sukkot tradition with a public statement.
Ahead of the holiday this week, the Jewish community along with the municipality of Palma have erected what organizers are calling the islands first public sukkah since the Inquisition, situated in the citys former Jewish Quarter.
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