Fifth grade students at Denver Jewish Day School received a one-of-a-kind lesson on Columbus Day this year, thanks to their Judaic studies teacher, Rabbi Refoel Levitt.
Rabbi Levitt invited Jami Grove and her mother, Anna Martinez, to speak to the class on Columbus Day because they are descendents of Jews who lived in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition.
Grove and Martinez are descendents of crypto-Jews, who secretly adhered to Judaism while publicly professing another faith, commonly Catholicism.
Grove did not know she was descended from crypto-Jews until about five years ago. Her aunt, who was very ill, told Grove the truth. Grove then went to her mother to get more answers.
The day Grove and Martinez visited Denver JDS was the first time Groves mother spoke publicly about her Jewish roots.
Martinez kept it a secret for so long because that is what she learned from her own mother and grandmother. I thought people would hold it against me and treat me badly, Martinez said.
However, Martinez still kept certain Jewish traditions while Grove was growing up Grove just never understood them. For instance, Martinez would cover the mirrors in the home when a family member died, which is one of the customs in a Jewish home when someone is sitting shiva.
She lights a candle on the anniversaries of death of loved ones her version of a yahrzeit candle.
She always kisses a picture near the front door a picture that actually covers a mezuzah.
Martinez herself learned of her Jewish roots when she was a teenager. Her own mother lit candles on Friday nights. She lit three candles, so that if she were caught, she could say it was in honor of the trinity.
Martinez still lights candles, but does it only in private. When asked why, she simply said, Its private.
Her family also did not eat pork, they salted their raw meat and spoke Ladino, a language primarily spoken among Sephardic Jews.
Growing up, Grove said she was always drawn to Jewish people, but didnt know why.
I had insecurities growing up and questions about who I was, she said. Now, we dont have to hide anymore, but it is still hard for my mom.
But Martinez is working on overcoming the secrecy. She went to shul for the first time with her daughter recently.
I felt comfortable, like I had been there before, she said.
Grove is now committed to bringing Judaism back into her familys life; she converted to Judaism last August.
Because she does not have a documented family tree showing that the maternal side had always been Jewish, she required a conversion to be sure, said Rabbi Levitt.
As for the Denver JDS students, they each had the chance to shake hands with Grove and Martinez and ask them questions about their lives.
I want you to remember that you met people today who are descendents of Jews who were persecuted in Spain in 1492, Rabbi Levitt said to the fifth graders.
This is how you learn about Columbus Day and Jewish history: by hearing and seeing a part of living history right here.
Avi Halzel, head of school-CEO, further added:
At every grade level, K through 12, we add age appropriate lessons on such important events like the Inquisition, the Holocaust, terrorism and world events to better educate and prepare our students for living in the community and the broader world.
I applaud Rabbi Levitt for introducing the Inquistion in a manner that enables fifth graders to more readily relate to its impact then and today.
