Spain Offers Citizenship to Sephardic Jews
On Friday, Spain’s royal cabinet approved a bill allowing Sephardic Jews, who descend from Jews expelled from the Iberian Peninsula over 500 years ago, the right to Spanish citizenship.
The plan is aimed at righting what the Spanish government calls a “historic mistake” in sending Jews into exile starting in 1492, forcing them to convert to Catholicism and burning them at the stake during the subsequent Inquisition.
Sephardic Jews must have their heritage vetted by the Spanish Federation of Jewish Communities or by rabbis where they live, reported the AP.
Unlike a similar measure passed in 1924, the reform will allow dual nationality, enabling the newly minted Spaniards to retain their previous citizenship.
The bill is expected to pass easily in Spain’s Parliament.
any benefits?
Are their any benefits if one has family of Jews expelled from Spain?
Leibel
Their economy is real bad and they need Jewish investment.
Yossel
And I believe Jews were offered German citizenship after World War I. Big deal, really helpful. We all belong in the Holy Land, not in golus.