Unilateralism Versus Mutual Trust in the Holy Land:  The Sentinal Issue for the Twenty-First Century Part II

by Dr. Robert Dickson Crane

Credits:  Opening Narration:  The following is delivered as written word on the screen over the faded image of the Rizzi painting:  “In 1492 the Christians completed their re-conquest of Spain, which had been under Islamic rule for nearly 800 years since the 712 A.D. Muslim conquest of Spain.  The Jewish population was given the choice of conversion to Catholicism or expulsion.  In 1499 Spain commenced forced mass baptisms of the much larger conquered Muslim population.  Some of these forcibly converted Jews and Muslims who outwardly converted to Christianity continued to practice their religion in secret.[1] At great risk and against all odds, they passed their ancestral faiths down from generation to generation,….as best they could.  The Spanish Inquisition hunted down these secret Jews and Muslims and published guidelines warning Catholics to keep on the look out for activities indicating the secret practice of Judaism or Islam.  Gatherings of descendents of Jews on their Sabbath or of descendents of Muslims on their holy day of Friday were among the activities to be reported.  The Roman Catholic Inquisition commenced in 1235 A.D. by the Papal decree of Pope Gregory IX.  In his Papal decree “Ad extirpanda,” Pope Innocent IV authorized the use of torture by the Inquisition.  In 1492 A.D, the Inquisition commenced in Spain.  During these bitter years, secret Jews and Muslims more than once took each other into their confidence and revealed their secret lives to each other in what was -after all- a natural alliance between two similarly situated populations with a long history of unity.”

The Glance of Recognition: After the narration is complete the movie commences with a particularly ominous El Greco painting of Toledo, fading into current footage of Toledo from precisely the same perspective, but absent any sign of modernity such as cars, etc. along with the words: “1580 A.D. – Toledo”

Act I

At a wedding in the Catedral de Toledo, the mother of the groom – Juan - sheds tears as the vows are administered.  The proceedings are stiff and formal.  Juan (in his mid-20’s) and his new wife are deeply in love. 

Juan is in the sword shop his father has left him rummaging through bureau drawers clogged with papers and other items.  He discovers, hidden at the bottom of all the assorted documents and items, a very old book.  Juan opens the book and is shocked to discover that it is written in some sort of bizarre foreign script – Juan looks at the odd Hebrew characters dumbly.  A supplier, Tomas (a sword blacksmith - an older man in his mid-50’s), has in the mean time entered Juan’s shop, wandered to the back of the shop undetected and inadvertently stumbled upon Juan examining the Hebrew book.  Juan looks up.  Before a word can be uttered between the two, a customer enters the shop.  Tomas, who is a longtime customer of Juan (and his father before him), signals Juan that his secret is safe.  Juan puts the book away, tends to the customer and Tomas slips out of the shop exchanging a knowing glance with Juan. 

Days later Tomas visits Juan’s shop to sell him a sword and he and Juan haggle over the price (throughout the movie Tomas and Juan continue their business relationship including price haggling).  In a lull between price negotiations over the sword, at a moment when the shop is empty, Tomas says to Juan, “The book was Hebrew wasn’t it?” Juan angrily denies it and explains that he had never seen the book before.  Tomas points out that the letters in the book were not Spanish or Arabic.  Juan sharply asks Tomas how he knows it isn’t Arabic, since Arabic is the forbidden language of the Muslims.  Tomas is at a loss to answer.  He asks Juan, “So you want to pretend the book never existed?” Juan answers that it’s just a book and he is really not that interested.  Tomas asks Juan to close the shop door and bring him the book.  Tomas examines the book and, when Juan isn’t paying attention, pulls a loose page out and tucks it into his pocket.  Tomas tells Juan that if he wants to know what the book is he should show it to his mother and “watch her.”

Juan tells his mother how he found a book hidden in his father’s shop and shows it to her, examining her reaction carefully.  Juan’s mother tells Juan that she has no idea what the book is and suggests that perhaps it is an antique that Juan’s father came across.  Juan’s mother changes the subject, taking the book and setting it aside.

Tomas delivers a sword to Juan and asks if Juan showed the book to his mother.  Juan says, “Yes,” and Tomas asks what her reaction was.  Juan says she had no reaction.  Tomas asks where the book is and Juan tells him that his mother took it.  Tomas comments, “Of course she put it away, she knows exactly what it is.” Juan protests that this means nothing, and angrily concludes, “It’s not a Hebrew book.” Tomas answers, “then take it to the ones in the market place who speak many languages and translate for the foreign merchants and ask one of them.  Most of them are descendants of Jews; many will know Hebrew.” Juan says that when his father came across the book he probably did not even know what it was and just kept it anyway.  Juan mentions that he anyway cannot bring the book for anyone to look at since he no longer has it (his mother took it).  Tomas pulls the page which he had taken from the book out of his pocket and places it on the table in front of to Juan.  Juan asks Tomas why he pulled the page out of the book and Tomas responds that he knew that Juan’s mother would not let the book out of her hands.  Juan pushes the page aside and tells Tomas, “My father would have told me.  You are not my father!”

Alone, Juan throws the page out, but then retrieves it.  Finally, he gives in and walks through the market place looking at the Jewish conversos with disgust Juan enters one of the stalls where an old man is seated, confirms that the old man is also a translator and explains to the man that he wants to know the language of an old book he’s come across.  Juan shows the man the page.  The man warily avoids the page or answering the question and instead comments, “It’s just a worthless old book my boy.” Juan tells the old man that the book belonged to the father of a friend of his and asks if it is Hebrew.  The old man responds only, “If this is Hebrew, then this ‘friend’ of yours is a born Jew.” The man smiles sarcastically and continues, “I can’t help you anyway, I don’t speak the language of swine.”

(Note: conversations about secret religious practices are conducted in hushed tones) Juan reports back to Tomas that the translator he took the page to was rude and spoke in riddles that did not answer the question.  Juan comments that there is a reason people hate these Satan worshipping Jews.  Tomas strikes the blade of a sword hard with his blacksmith’s hammer, harder than necessary, and turns to Juan, “Burning people alive in the name of their God….is that not Satan worship?” Juan accuses Tomas of blasphemy to which Tomas responds with a cold stare.  An idea descends upon Tomas who slowly tells Juan,

“If you want to know, just compare the letters on the page to the letters in the marble engravings on the front wall of the Iglesia de San Benito Church.  It’s all Hebrew.  In ancient times it was a Jewish house of prayer.”

Juan turns and leaves.

At night after closing his shop on his way home Juan walks through the market place.  Two merchants argue bitterly.  The younger one shouts at the other “you son of Jewish swine.” Juan, who is walking down the street, turns as if he were being spoken to.  Juan realizes the words are not addressed to him, turns away and then watches with discomfort as the older man submits to the younger who just insulted him.

Juan runs back to the shop, searches in the bureau and pulls out the Hebrew page, lights a lantern and makes his way to the Iglesia de San Benito Church.  Juan eases the door open and makes his way to the front wall’s incredibly ornate and beautiful marble carved letters, places the lantern on the floor, pulls the page from his father’s book from his pocket and compares the letters on the page to the letters on the wall until he spots similar letters.  Juan closes his eyes and rests his head against the marble as he slowly moves his fingers across the stone letters.

Juan shows up at Tomas’ blacksmith shop.  Tomas asks, “So did you report me to the Inquisition yet?” Juan apologizes.  Tomas accepts the apology and reminds Juan that Tomas has been a friend of his family for many years.  Juan asks if Tomas knew that his father was a Jew.  Tomas answers, “These things are sensed but never spoken.” Juan nods. 

Juan asks Tomas to tell him about the Jews.  Tomas tells Juan of a time when Toledo was a city of Mosques overflowing with people on Fridays and Synagogues packed with Jews on Saturdays, of how for hundreds of years Muslims and Jews worshipped in peace with no inquisition, no killings in the name of God.  Tomas tells Juan that Jews and Muslims believe in the same God, one God,….no son, don’t eat pork, slaughter meat with a prayer, hold Jerusalem holy and that the Jews are descendants of Abraham as was the Prophet Muhammed.  Tomas tells Juan that the Jews were delivered by God from slavery in Egypt led by Moses who gave them their holy book, the Torah, a book the Muslims also hold holy.

Juan asks Tomas why he cares so much whether Juan is a Jew or not.  Tomas responds, “For one hundred years the Muslims and Jews have not conducted communal prayer in Toledo Juan….one hundred years.” Tomas tells Juan that both the secret Muslim and Jewish communities suffer from a similar problem,….the Muslims are unable to engage in communal prayer on Fridays since the Christians are on the look out for gatherings at the homes or stores of Muslim descendants on Fridays, and the Jews face a similar problem on Saturdays.  Tomas shares with Juan his dream that one day his people will find a way to engage in communal prayer as they had done so many years ago, and the Jews also, and that perhaps Juan and Tomas will serve as the leaders to find a way to fulfill this dream.  Juan asks, “So you want a place to pray on Fridays?” Tomas answers “Yes, and we will give your people a safe place on Saturdays.” Juan slowly repeats the words, “my people.”

Tomas simply says, “You can stop here my friend, or you can go the next step.  It’s up to you.  I swear I’ll never mention it again.” Juan gives a slight nod.  Tomas picks up a knife and cuts into the soft part of his palm beneath the thumb and squeezes his hand to stop the bleeding.  Tomas places the knife on the bench in front of Juan and nods in the direction of the knife.  Juan picks up the knife, hesitates and then cuts himself in the same spot on his palm.  Tomas ungrips his own cut and grasps Juan’s bleeding hand and places his wound directly over Juan’s and binds their hands together with a long piece of cloth as he tells Juan, “I want to live before I die.  We need a place to pray on Friday where they will not be looking for us.  We will give you a place on Saturdays.” As he pulls his hand away Tomas notices that Juan really cut himself pretty badly and comments, “You’re not supposed to cut your hand in half.” Tomas tends to bandaging Juan.

Tomas tells Juan that the last time he prayed together with other Muslims was thirty years ago when Tomas was married, after his Church wedding, in the cellar beneath his father’s store.  A dozen secret Muslims came and they prayed together and then they danced.  Juan asks Tomas how Muslims dance.  Tomas sings an Arabic melody and starts to dance and then dances with Juan, who does his best to imitate Tomas’ movements.

Act II

Juan returns to the old Jewish translator and tells him, “I saw in your eyes when you looked at the page I brought you, that you recognized the writing.” The man looks at Juan silently.  Juan tells the old man the name of his father and asks if he knew him.  The old man responds,

“For nine months God speaks to the embryo in the darkness of the womb.  Just before birth an angel touches the baby on the upper lip.  That’s the mark (the man touches his upper lip under his nose) – the fingerprint of the angel……With the angel’s touch all is forgotten.  It is all forgotten.”

The man looks angrily at Juan as he spits out the words, “all forgotten.” Juan is angered by the man’s nastiness and evasiveness and insists that the man stop speaking riddles.  The old man tells him, “You are either a very ignorant young man or a very clever investigator for the inquisition.  Which is it?” Juan begs to meet a Rabbi.  The old man responds, “Your talking makes me tired, tired and hungry.  Why don’t you invite an old man to your house for a meal?”

The old Jew and a very heavy set very tough young man sit at Juan’s home eating dinner.  The tough young man eats like an animal and keeps looking at Juan’s wife, to Juan’s annoyance and his wife’s discomfort.  After dinner, Juan walks the two down the street and asks the old man, “Why did you bring him (motioning to the barbaric young man).” The old man answers, “if you turn out to be an informer, he’s the one who will slit your wife’s throat….We will meet you tomorrow night.”

Tomas meets with several Muslims and discusses the idea to provide the Jews a place to pray on Saturdays in return for the Jews providing the Muslims a safe place to pray on Fridays.  There is resistance.  Some of the Muslims feel strongly that trusting a Jew will result in betrayal and endanger the lives of the entire secret Muslim population of Toledo.  Most of the group bear no animus towards Jews in general, but are hesitant.  A few favor the idea.  When push comes to shove and a decision must be made, their Imam (Muslim spiritual leader) tells them that it is a decision that no man can make for the other.  The Imam adds that in any event there cannot be regular Friday services – it would have to be done on an occasional basis.  One vigorous opponent of the idea – Alberto – turns to Tomas and states threateningly, “Dreamers like you get people killed,” predicts that the Jews will betray them and storms out.  The others leave shortly thereafter.  The Imam remains alone with Tomas.  Tomas asks the Imam, “Will you come to pray by the Jew?” The Imam answers, “Just remember Tomas, in the end the Jew will save the Jews.” Tomas asks again whether the Imam will come and the Imam answers that he will pray for an answer.

One night Juan meets the old man from the market and the tough young man.  Juan is blindfolded and taken through the winding narrow streets of Toledo.  His blindfold is removed.  Juan is seated at a candlelit table across from a man whose face is concealed by a jalaba hood.  Juan shows the man the page from his father’s book and tells him his father’s name.  The man asks Juan exactly what it is that he wants from him.  Juan answers, “I want to pray.” The man suggests Juan should pray.  Juan answers that he doesn’t know how to pray….he doesn’t know the prayers.  The man tells Juan that he need only whisper the names of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet and God will arrange the letters into words and sentences of prayer.  Juan tells the man, “I don’t know the Hebrew alphabet.” The Rabbi pulls back his hood revealing his kindly face, reaches out and touches Juan’s face, and says, “Then you will learn.”

When Juan mentions Tomas’ idea for communal prayer for both communities the Rabbi tells him, “We trust no one.  He could be working for the Inquisition.” Juan assures the Rabbi that Tomas is sincere.  Juan unsuccessfully argues the point.  The Rabbi says, “the Jews have not taken such a risk in a hundred years - a few more months will not hurt.”

Tomas rushes into Juan’s shop and tells Juan that the Muslims of Toledo agree that the town’s secret Jews can pray on Saturday in the cellar of Tomas’ blacksmith’s shop if the Jews would do the same for the Muslims on Fridays.  Tomas eyeballs the back of Juan’s shop where there is an open door to a cellar and smiles.  Tomas tells Juan that, “Since that first day I’ve felt there is a great thing we will do,….the reason God brought us together.  This is that thing.”

The Rabbi sits with Juan, but first warns him, “Every law, every custom, every rule that I teach you,….you must violate.  If you are offered pork, eat it.  If you must make fire on the Sabbath, light the fire.  You will continue to go to Church as we all must.  No one is to observe any change in who you are or what you do.  This is the ruling of our Rabbis.  God will forgive us.  Only one thing must you never violate – You must never desecrate the name of God in public.  For this you must die.” The Rabbi teaches Juan the Hebrew alphabet pointing and naming letters in his prayer book and having Juan repeat the letter names after him. 

At night Juan and Tomas work together to secure a door leading to the primitive dirt cellar beneath Juan’s store.  Finally, the day arrives when the refurbished cellars are complete and all is ready for the communities to commence their first secret prayers on their respective holy days. 

Juan meets with the Rabbi and the old merchant-translator and informs them that the cellars are ready in both his own store and the Muslim blacksmith’s shop for the communal prayers to take place.  Juan asks if the Rabbi is ready to tell the Jews to come.  The Rabbi is surprised to learn that Juan has proceeded with the project and warns, “If anything goes wrong, the Muslim will stick to the Muslim, no matter how close he becomes to the Jew.” After further discussion, the Rabbi gives Juan permission to go ahead and promises to inform trusted secret Jews, but warns that he does not know how many of them will be willing to take the risk.  After Juan departs the merchant-translator warns, “Stop him before he gets us all killed.” The Rabbi responds, “Let each one decide for himself.”

Friday arrives and Tomas sits in Juan’s shop waiting for others.  He tells Juan he has come early and others will surely arrive shortly.  As the day moves on and no one comes, Tomas dejectedly gives up waiting, retires to the cellar and commences prayer alone.  As he bows and whispers the words of prayer, the Imam enters the hidden room and joins him. 

On Saturday, the Rabbi shows up at Tomas’ store and he and Juan pray alone.  Juan doesn’t know how to pray and just closes his eyes.  The next Friday the Imam arrives at Juan’s shop and is shortly afterwards followed by another Muslim, who Juan shows to the secret place.  On Saturday another Jew joins the Rabbi and Juan arrive.

As mutual suspicions are overcome, more Muslims and Jews come out of the woodwork each week to participate in the secret prayer services.  The Muslims smuggle in copies of the Quran.  Jews sneak in a large Torah scroll.  The primitive cellars are adorned with carpets.

These whispered communal prayers, conducted for the first time in generations are the scenes of many tears, including those of Juan who whispers the names of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet again and again with increasing confidence, accuracy and fervor.

Scenes of the Muslims and Jews praying reveal minute similarities in prayer content and form, the modified bows of the Jews at the commencement of their silent prayer and the full prostrations of the Muslims, the invocation of the name of Abraham, the turning to the left and right and saying the words “Shalom” and “Salaam” at the conclusion of prayers, and the core prayer of each affirming the oneness of God.

With increasing numbers of people showing up to their places of work for secret prayer services on the one day a month for each group, Juan and Tomas become concerned - both fear discovery by the authorities.  Juan and Tomas each negotiate with their own people to take turns coming each week so that not so many attend the services at any one time lest they get discovered, but too many continue to come.

One day Juan’s young wife is in the shop alone.  She discovers the secret Muslim prayer place.  When Juan returns she accuses him of being a secret Muslim and curses him for concealing this from her.  Juan attempts to explain that he is not a Muslim, but his wife does not believe him.

At Saturday services as Juan bends forward to kiss the Torah scroll after the Torah reading as it is being returned to the ark, the Jew carrying to Torah seems to pull the Torah away from him.  The Rabbi has words with the man and the man stomps out of the services.  Juan waits until after the conclusion of prayers to ask the Rabbi what happened.  The Rabbi is evasive.  Juan asks if there is a problem.  The Rabbi reluctantly tells Juan that the man - Mr. Mendez - claims that Juan’s mother is not Jewish, but it is not true.  Juan asks what difference that would make.  The Rabbi tells Juan that it makes no difference, but Juan insists on an answer.  Finally the Rabbi explains that according to Jewish law, the faith of the mother determines the faith of the child.  Juan accuses the Rabbi of deceiving him the entire time just so that the Jews could get a place to pray.  The Rabbi insists that Juan’s mother would never have married his father if she were not Jewish, that there is no reason to doubt Juan’s lineage and that the man - Mr. Mendez – has no real information to the contrary, “No information whatsoever, it is pure slander Juan, please believe me!” Juan asks how Mendez could say such a thing if it were not true and the Rabbi responds, “Juan, we’ve been hiding for a hundred years.  We’ve hidden from each other and even ourselves.  There is no reason to think your mother was not Jewish.  The man is a fool.” Juan doesn’t buy it. 

Juan tells his wife the whole story, that he’s not a Muslim, though he thought he was a Jew and has just now discovered that he is neither.  His explanation is none too helpful and a major argument ensues.  Finally, after much anger and much love, Juan explains himself.  His wife comments, “Anyway, they were just using you Juan for your shop – you’re the one who will get caught.  They don’t care about you.  None of them ever took such a risk.” Juan mentions that there is one who has taken precisely the same risk as he has.  His wife answers bitterly, “Then he’s a fool too.” Juan tells her, “It’s over,…..I promise.” Juan tells his wife that he will kick the Muslims out of his shop and forever break with the Jews.  It is all over,…Nothing will ever come between them again.

Juan tells Tomas of his recent discovery that he is not Jewish, how the book was his father’s but that his mother is not Jewish which means that Juan is not a Jew and will no longer pray with the Jews.  Tomas listens carefully and finally responds, “Then become a Muslim.” Juan is silent.  Tomas says, “It’s the same God…….Juan, neither of us can obey the rules of our religions anymore anyway, so what’s it matter?” Juan responds, “Tell them not to come on Friday – no more.” Tomas turns his right palm up revealing the scar that binds them.  Juan sees Tomas’ scar, but simply repeats, “No more,” and leaves.

The following Friday arrives and a Muslim – who evidently has not gotten the word - shows up at Juan’s shop to pray.  Juan explains to him that there will be no more prayers conducted in his shop and turns him away. 

Months later (seasons have changed) on a Sunday, Juan is in Church.  He kneels, but as those around him utter Latin words of prayer Juan remains silent.  Tomas spots Juan.  On the way out of Church Tomas seeks out Juan and as he passes him mutters, “your lips were not moving.”

One Saturday Juan spots two Jews walking down the street and from a safe distance he follows them and watches them enter Tomas’ store.

The Rabbi seeks out Juan in his shop and tells Juan that the Jews miss him at the Sabbath prayers and he is welcomed there.  He apologizes for their rudeness to Juan and explains that it was just one man who objected.  The Rabbi tells Juan, “You are the best Jew in Toledo, the one who brought us together in prayer for the first time in a hundred years.”

One-morning crowds rush towards the central square by the Cathedral.  Juan closes his shop and follows.  A woman is being executed by burning at the stake.  Men throw books onto the flaming pyre.  Juan moves closer and picks up one of the books that has fallen off to the side and sees that it is Hebrew.  A bystander observes Juan examining the book and Juan quickly throws the book onto the pyre and retreats from the scene, then breaks into a blind run as the crowd roars and the woman screams.

Juan sits silently in Church. His lips begin to move in prayer,….in Hebrew.  Juan lingers outside of Tomas’ blacksmith’s shop, makes sure it is empty, enters and embraces Tomas whispering, “I’m sorry brother.”

Juan returns to the Rabbi and asks, “How do I become a Jew.” The Rabbi insists that Juan is a Jew – that he was the victim of pure ignorant slander.  Juan demands to know how to become a Jew.  The Rabbi tells him that conversion is accomplished through circumcision and ritual emersion.  Juan demands to undergo the rituals.  The Rabbi responds, “Juan, very few of us are circumcised.  It is too dangerous – after they make an arrest, it’s the first thing they check.  Once they find that, you’re finished.” Juan undergoes circumcision and ritual emersion, becomes a full Jew and rejoins the Jews at the Sabbath prayers in Tomas’ cellar.

Juan’s wife notices him disappearing on Saturday mornings and follows him at a safe distance to Tomas’ blacksmith’s shop, where by the time she enters Tomas is no where to be found.  Having discovered that Juan is continuing to pray with the Jews, his wife is infuriated by his betrayal and lies.  She breaks down and tells her mother what has happened.  Juan’s father-in-law learns the shocking news that his son in law is a Jew.  He barges into Juan’s house and physically attacks Juan and threatens his life – threatening to turn him over to the inquisition authorities if Juan should ever have any contact with his daughter again.  The father drags his daughter out of the house and sends her to her uncle in Madrid.

At Sabbath services as Juan carries the Torah scroll back to the ark, Mr. Mendez (who accused Juan of not being a true Jew) goes to kiss the Torah.  When he makes eye contact with Juan, he hesitates.  Juan holds the Torah still for Mendez to kiss.

That winter in Toledo Juan is miserably lonely, as is his wife in Madrid.  She secretly sends him a message with a trusted friend.  Juan travels to Madrid and seeks her out.  They are smitten at the sight of each other.  She attempts to control herself and asks him, “Have you left them?” Juan tells her he cannot leave them for he is now one of them.  She turns in anger, but he pulls her back.  She collapses into his embrace.  The next day, Juan departs.  His wife begs him to abandon Judaism ("if your G-d is a loving G-d he will understand Juan").  If not, she asks that for both their sakes he never again return.

Juan travels home to Toledo.  Several months pass.  A competitor of Tomas observes people disappearing into his blacksmith’s shop one Saturday, only to suspiciously emerge from the store two hours later.  The neighbor betrays the Tomas - whom he refers to as “that damn son of a Muslim pig” - to the authorities.

Act III

An Inquisition authority, the Cardinal’s assistant, greets Tomas as he is escorted into his office by a guard.  The assistant briskly orders the guard to leave and offers Tomas wine and bread.  Tomas declines.  The Cardinal’s assistant pulls out several pages of paper and reviews them as Tomas sits nervously.  “We know it all Tomas, but I want it to come from you – this way you escape any punishment, your soul is cleansed and it’s over.” The assistant thumbs through the pages, “fifteen witnesses Tomas.” The pages the assistant thumbs through are blank.  Tomas does not speak.  The Cardinal’s assistant tells Tomas, in a friendly fashion, that he is free to leave.  As Tomas is about to exit the door, the Cardinal’s assistant calls after him, “I’d like to send a few men to look around your store a bit, you don’t have a problem with that do you Tomas?”

The authorities search Tomas’ store and discover the hidden prayer cellar beneath Tomas’s store and the Jewish prayer books and Torah scroll.  The Cardinal’s assistant howls, runs up the stairs, shouts that they know Tomas descends from Muslims and demands Tomas reveal the identities of the Jews who paid him to do this and every Jew who participated in the scheme. 

Tomas is brought before the Cardinal of Toledo and his assistant.  The Cardinal warns Tomas that should he continue in his obstinacy there will be no choice but to subject Tomas to the punishment of public humiliation – being paraded in the streets naked from the waste down followed by flogging at the door of the Cathedral.  Tomas stands silently.  The Cardinal nods to the soldiers who remove Tomas from the room.

After Tomas is removed, the Cardinal’s assistant reminds the Cardinal that the standard inquisition punishment is harsher than public humiliation; the punishment is forfeiture of all property.  The Cardinal answers, “the dog will speak.” The assistant hatches a plan to plant Tomas in his store on Saturday with soldiers waiting in hiding to arrest the Jews as they arrive, “in that way we’ll get the Jews and let the Muslim go and avoid inflaming the Muslims of Toledo.” The Cardinal agrees. 

A small group of Muslims meet solemnly.  Alberto, the Muslim who originally warned them against the scheme and never participated in the communal prayers in the Jew’s shop, explains that it is obviously the “Jew swine” who has turned over Tomas, and if he hasn’t already informed on all the Muslims, the Jew will do so shortly.  Alberto concludes, “Now there is only one solution.” The Imam states that there is no reason to suspect Juan of betrayal and demands to know what Alberto has in mind.  Alberto answers, “The life of a Jewish informant is not equal to all of ours.” The Imam objects and tells Alberto to be silent.  Alberto blurts out, “He’s the only one of the Jews who knows who you are.  If he’s gone we’re safe.” The Imam shouts Alberto to silence and Alberto reluctantly and bitterly submits to the authority of the Imam.

A small group of Jews meet.  One Jew tells Juan that the blacksmith will turn over the Jews.  Another Jew says, “Thank God we were smart enough to never give the Muslim our real names.” The Rabbi says, “He does know one of us.” All eyes turn to Juan.  The Rabbi tells Juan, “You must leave.” Juan insists that Tomas will not inform.  The old merchant-translator (who Juan first contacted to identify if the page from his father’s book was Hebrew) shouts at Juan, “Your Muslim dog has not yet tasted the Inquisitionor’s torture you fool!  You will get us all killed!” Juan refuses to flee, but agrees to the Rabbi’s compromise solution that Juan hide outside of the city.

The Cardinal’s assistant and soldiers lie in wait in Juan’s shop on Sabbath in order to catch the Jews, but Tomas runs to the street and warns them.  The Jews escape.  The assistant drags Tomas back into his shop, opens the door to the cellar, pushes him down the crude flight of stairs, pulls a knife from one of the soldier’s belt and flies down the stairs after Tomas.  The assistant holds Tomas in a strangle hold and grabs his hand, separates his pinky from the rest of his fingers and cuts it off.  The assistant stands, hyperventilating, and realizing what he has just done calls up, “Guards, the man’s been hurt – come and bandage him.” The assistant bends down and picks up the severed finger, pulls a cloth out of his pocket it, places the finger in the cloth and places it in his pocket.

A small group of Muslims meet.  Alberto points out that now even according to the Imam’s belief that it was not Juan who betrayed the Muslims, the following are the facts: Because Tomas has openly defied the Church authorities by warning the Jews right in front of their faces, they will torture him.  Tomas will reveal Juan’s identity and the Jew will then inform on all the Muslims.  The Imam cuts Alberto off and tells him that he still forbids the killing of the Jew.  Alberto is silent.  The Imam points out that Juan can’t inform on Alberto since Alberto never came to the prayers in the Jew’s shop.  Alberto answers that he too is at risk, since “once the Jew bastard informs on all of you and they round all of you up, you’ll be tortured for the names of every secret Muslim in Toledo.  One of you will break and inform and I will sit in prison with you.” The Imam approaches Alberto and slaps him in the face.

The Cardinal and his assistant enter Tomas’ cell. The Cardinal tells Tomas that if he does not speak now – “right now” – and give them the names of each and every Jew involved, Tomas will stand trial and the Church will seize all of his property and he and his family will be thrown penniless into the street.  Tomas looks away.  The Cardinal and his assistant leave.

The assistant angrily tells the Cardinal that now that Tomas has openly defied the Church by publicly warning Toledo’s secret Jews, property forfeiture is no longer the appropriate penalty.  The Cardinal answers, “If we execute a Muslim, the Muslim population of Toledo will rise in revolt.  The Church hasn’t executed a secret Muslim in a decade.” The assistant shoots back, “perhaps that why they feel perfectly free to openly defy us.” The Cardinal reminds his assistant that he can’t even read Latin – the only reason he holds his position is because he is a relative of the King, to which the assistant replies, “Exactly,” and adds bitterly, “but I read Spanish and I have read the laws of the Inquisition.  Perhaps you should too, holy father.”

In Madrid, Juan’s wife has made a series of discrete inquiries to discover the identities of those in the city who descend from Jews and summons up the courage to approach one of them.  The man is quite hostile to her – much as one would suspect if a stranger approaches a practicing Christian in sixteenth century Spain and asks if they are secretly practicing Judaism.  After the woman forces the suspect Jew to listen to the details of her situation and begs him, he arranges a secret meeting.

Juan’s wife sits across a table from a man whose face is enveloped in a jalaba hood so that she cannot see him.  She explains her desire to convert to Judaism.  The man explains to her that this is very serious matter and that it is forbidden by Jewish law to permit a person to convert to Judaism because they are in love and wish to marry a Jew (or as in this case, resume marital life).  Juan’s wife insists that she has decided she wants to become a Jewess.  The Rabbi, who doesn’t buy it for a minute, requests the woman take an oath that she wants to become Jewish from love of God and not her love for her husband.  This she cannot do.

After the Cardinal departs the prison, his assistant and a soldier reenter Tomas’ cell.  The assistant greets Tomas cordially, “Tomosito, you seem to have misplaced something.” The assistant tosses Tomas’ severed pinky to Tomas, who pushes it to the floor in revulsion.  The assistant continues, “Let’s see, ten minus one is,…..uhhmm, oh yes, that would be nine.  Nine fingers to point at nine Jews and if one of them can’t finger a Jew, well it just isn’t worth having is it Tomosito?  The assistant takes a knife from the soldier and politely asks Tomas, “Shall we get right down to business or would you like me to tell you a story first?” When Tomas doesn’t answer the assistant shouts, “business or story!?” to which Tomas, in tears, whispers, “story.” The assistant grimaces, “oh bad choice Tomasito, bad bad choice…..you see the story I’m going to tell you sometimes makes me very mad and that might not be good for you, but here goes.  Ten years ago my father fought the Muslims in the revolt of Alpujarras.  He was killed.  They found his body and returned it to my family for burial and Tomosito, the strangest thing, my father wore a beautiful ring and when they brought the body back, it was missing that finger…..The Muslim dogs that killed him didn’t bother to pull the ring off, they just cut the finger off.  You see what I mean Tomosito?”

Back in Madrid Juan’s wife stares into the face of the Rabbi to whom she is unable to promise she wants to convert for love of God and not man.  The Rabbi concludes the meeting, but as she rises to leave she informs the Rabbi that she is pregnant.  The Rabbi rather impolitely confronts her with the fact that she’s been separated from her husband for over a year, ie. the baby is a bastard.  Juan’s wife tosses the zinger back at the Rabbi, “three months ago my husband came to Madrid and we had quite a nice ‘little chat.’” The Rabbi gets it, is stunned and apologetic, but too late.  She bitterly tells the Rabbi, “I have the child of a Jew in my belly and I want my child to be a Jew because its father is and I love my husband.  What do your books say about that Rabbi?”

Alberto sits in the shop of the old Jewish merchant-translator who Juan first contacted to identify if the page from his father’s book was Hebrew.  The old Jew draws a map for Alberto identifying where Juan is hiding and tells him that tonight they will meet there. 

As the assistant taunts Tomas, a soldier appears in the cell and summons the assistant to the Cardinal who has asked for him “immediately.”

The Cardinal addresses the assistant who he leaves standing, “You have mutilated a prisoner – and now you wish to do more.  Do you not know that the Church forbids any breaking of the skin of a prisoner?” Tomas responds sarcastically, “Breaking bones, not skin,….I forgot.” The Cardinal responds angrily, “You are not a court appointed interrogator, you have no stenographer.  Any admission you elicit cannot be used at trial.” The assistant responds, “The man can lead us to the Jews!” The Cardinal roars back, “Do not touch that prisoner again.  You are not on the battlefield man!”

Tomas is led into a room and left standing before a seated Inquisition interrogator, next to whom sits a stenographer jotting down notes in a large book on a desk in front of him.  The interrogator instructs Tomas, “state your full name,” which Tomas does.  The interrogator continues, “The court has authorized this interrogation in order to permit you to save your soul by identifying the secret Jews whom you have shielded and protected.  Before we get started I will ask you to name each and every one of them.” The camera pulls back revealing a room containing various instruments of torture and two soldiers.

Alberto and two assassins stand in the woods outside of a hut.  Inside the hut, the old merchant-translator (to whom Juan first took the page from his father’s book) sits with Juan.  The merchant-translator tells Juan that soldiers are searching all over the market place for Juan – Tomas has informed.  Upon learning that Tomas has betrayed him, Juan becomes furious and curses the Muslims and the Jews, Tomas and, finally….the day he became a Jew.  Juan grabs his sword belt and sword and flees on horseback to Madrid.  Alberto and his two assassins follow.

The old merchant-translator stands outside the hut watching Alberto and his two men ride off after Juan.  The oversized tough young man (who the merchant-translator took to dinner at Juan’s home) emerges from the woods.  The old merchant tells him, “He believed me.  He’s headed out on the road to Madrid.  The lunatic could change his mind.  Go down the Madrid road slowly.  Watch for him – he cannot return.” The tough young man asks what to do if Juan tries to return to Toledo and he catches him, to which the old man replies, “If the Muslim bastards don’t do the job, you do it.”

Soldiers race through the old market place where the assistant points out stores of those who descend from Jews.  The soldiers roughly search the stores for any signs of Jewish observance.

The Rabbi and the Imam meet secretly.  The Imam asks the Rabbi, “Can the Jew in Cadiz be trusted?” The Rabbi responds, “He’s gotten our people to Algiers before.” The Imam asks, “How much does he charge?” The Rabbi responds, “Too much.” The Imam says sadly, “Perhaps he’ll give us bulk rate.” The two smile sadly and the Rabbi continues, “We’ll worry about the money once we’re all safe in Cadiz.  Tell your people not to bring too many possessions – it will give them away.  If we have to, we’ll raise the money from our brothers there.” The Rabbi hands the Imam a piece of paper, “This is where to find the man in Cadiz.  I will be in his house.” The Imam handles the paper thoughtfully, “And what will we do in Algiers my brother?” The two embrace and depart. 

Several Jewish and Muslim families, those who participated in the secret services, quickly gather a few possessions and sneak out of Toledo.

Tomas is back in his cell, showing signs of torture.  The interrogator enters the cell and announces, “The court has not authorized any further interrogation.  You will have one visitor prior to trial.  Soldiers usher Tomas’ wife into Tomas’ cell.  She tells Tomas of the good news that a deal has been worked out with the Church authorities – her uncle intervened – Tomas will be given another chance to speak and the Church will spare him any punishment whatsoever if he gives them the identity of even just one Jew.  Tomas obviously adores his wife and, overjoyed to be together with her, listens to her receptively.  Tomas asks her if she really believes they will seize all their property if he doesn’t speak – “when was the last time they did that?” - or just let him sit in jail for a few months until the incident blows over.  The wife tells Tomas the bad news,….if he does not speak he will stand trial and the penalty will be death.

Tomas’ wife speaks to her stunned husband.  She emphasizes that the authorities want only one Jew, just the name and place to find one Jew involved in the secret prayer group.  Tomas lies and answers that he doesn’t know the Jews by full names.  The wife asks if he knows where any of the Jews live or work.  Tomas hesitates and finally nods his head.  His wife holds his hands and Tomas lowers his head to his wife’s hands and whispers, “just one.”

In Madrid Juan’s wife undergoes a secret ceremony of the ritual bath and converts to Judaism.  The Madrid Rabbi sends off a messenger to Toledo to inform Juan of the good news.

On the road to Madrid as they spot Juan down the road ahead, one of Alberto’s two assassins unsheathes his sword and says, “Let’s go.” Alberto commands, “Wait until he is further away where no one will recognize the body and trigger an investigation back in Toledo.

On the road to Madrid the messenger on his way to Toledo to inform Juan of the news that his wife has converted to Judaism passes Juan who is going in the opposite direction on his way to Madrid.

The messenger from Madrid arrives in Toledo and seeks out the Rabbi and asks to speak to Juan.  The Rabbi informs the messenger that Juan has left Toledo and they think he is headed for Madrid, to return to his wife.  The messenger tells the Rabbi about Juan’s wife’s conversion and the Rabbi thanks God for his mystical blessings - Juan’s problems are over.  He will discover a Jewish wife upon his arrival in Madrid.

In his prison cell, Tomas concludes his lengthy and intense discussion with his wife.  In the end he shakes his head in refusal and his wife lunges at him, hitting him with both hands and then embraces him weeping.  Tomas has refused to inform on a Jew.

On the road to Madrid it is sunrise.  Juan dismounts at a watering troth and lets his horse drink.  Juan ties the horse to the troth, walks into the field, takes in the sunrise, removes his sword belt placing it on the ground and prostrates himself in prayer….whispering in Hebrew.  Afterwards, Juan rushes back to the horse, remounts and turns the horse around facing the direction he has come from and gallops off back towards Toledo,….having forgotten his sword.

Alberto and his two assassins sit on the side of the road eating and talking.  They are so deeply involved in their food and conversation that they do not even look up at the horse and rider galloping by towards Toledo, for they are anyway not on the lookout for a rider going towards Toledo.  The rider passes them.  It is Juan. 

Alberto senses something, tells the assassins he’ll be right back and takes off after Juan.  As he gets closer to Juan, Juan turns and sees he is being chased and spurs the horse to go as fast as it can.  Alberto draws his sword while riding. 

In Toledo, in the square in front of the Catedral de Toledo (the Cathedral in which Juan was married), a massive crowd is gathered for the auto-da-fe, the public sentencing of the condemned.  The Cardinal and his assistant sit on a raised platform with other Church dignitaries.  The Cardinal reads out a lengthy written document in Latin.  Tomas stands below the platform, as he is condemned to death by burning at the stake.

Juan’s horse gallops madly gaining about a hundred yards distance ahead of Alberto.  Juan reaches for his sword, only to discover that he has left it back at the troth.  Juan yanks full force on the reins bringing his horse to a sudden stop almost throwing Juan.  Juan sharply pulls the reins to the side turning his horse around 180 degrees to face his pursuer, charges head on at Alberto and turns his horse into Alberto’s as the horses near each other, knocking both men off their horses.  Alberto hits a rock and is knocked unconscious or dead – it is unclear.  Juan’s horse is injured, but Alberto’s is fine.  Juan grabs Alberto’s sword from the ground, mounts Alberto’s horse and rushes off towards Toledo.

In Toledo, the Cardinal’s assistant rises and addresses the crowd. 

“This man hid Jews so they could secretly engage in their filthy satanic rituals.  A century ago we gave their ancestors the choice – accept the true faith or leave Spain.  But some preferred the path of deceit – to take a sacred oath to the Church and to violate it.  I speak to those secret Jews among today.  Emerge from your dark hiding places.  Come to the Church, confess your sin and there will be no punishment…..or continue and burn.  Toledo shall be cleansed of this filth.”

The crowd roars. 

As Juan rides around a corner he spots the tough young man (who came to his house for dinner with the old merchant) down the road slowly heading in his direction.  As the tough young man approaches Juan, the tough young man subtly reaches for the reins with his left hand as he drops his right hand from the reins towards his belly and the sword which hangs from his left side.  Juan observes the threatening hand movement with concern and removes something from his right coat pocket and places it in his left.  As the tough young man approaches Juan he lifts his right hand from its readied position near his sword.  In a motion of greeting to Juan the tough young man raises his right hand, “Peace my brother.” Juan replies, “Peace my brother, where are you headed?” to which the tough young man responds, “Where are you headed?” Juan does not reply.  The tough young man says to Juan, “Come sit down with me.  I want to tell you what’s happened in Toledo.” Juan invites the man to get off his horse.  The man does not move.  The horses slowly circle each other.  Juan asks, “If you want to talk why were you reaching for your sword?” The tough young man responds, “You are a dead man anyway.  I am here to save the rest of the Jews of Toledo.” There is silence.  The tough young man continues, “Let it be quick and merciful.” Juan thinks it over and finally resignedly asks, “Will you swear one thing to me?” The tough young man nods his head.  Juan tells the man how to locate his wife’s uncle in Madrid.  Juan asks the tough young man to deliver a packet of money to the uncle for Juan’s wife.  The tough young man agrees.  Juan shouts, “Swear!” The tough young man takes an oath to do as Juan has asked.  Juan reaches into his left coat pocket with his left hand and removes a packet of coins.  As he carefully but not obviously positions his horse, Juan asks the tough young man, “Will it be quick?” The tough young man responds, “Very quick.” Juan tosses him the money bag from his left hand, intentionally tossing it high, causing the tough young man to reach out with both hands as Juan very quickly reaches for his sword with his right hand.  As the tough young man sees what is happening, but before he can draw his sword, Juan slices the backside of the tough young man’s horse, cutting it deeply.  Juan looses grip on his sword from striking the horse so hard.  Though Juan tries to catch his falling sword, it slips from his hands and falls to the ground.  The tough young man who has by now drawn his sword, notices Juan’s sword falling to the ground.  The young tough raises his sword back over his head to strike.  The tough young man’s horse rears up on its hind legs in pain, but the tough young man none the less manages to take a wild swing at Juan, narrowly missing striking Juan in the face.  The tough young man’s horse rears up on its hind legs a second time throwing the tough young man to the ground.  Juan kicks his horse hard and gallops off towards Toledo.  The tough young man’s horse, yelping in pain, gallops off wildly in the opposite direction. 

In Toledo huge crowds flow down the narrow streets leading into the square in front of Catedral de Toledo.  Juan enters the city with a cloak draped over his face.  As Juan follows the crowd down a narrow street towards the square, he asks what the commotion is all about.  Juan is told that they are “executing a Muslim dog for hiding Jews.”

Upon hearing the news that Tomas has remained steadfast to the point of death, Juan makes his way through the crowd closer to plaza.  The Inquisition soldiers appear with the bound prisoner and make their way towards the stake and pyre.  As they lead Tomas through the mass of jeering peasants, Juan pushes through the crowd towards Tomas.  Two soldiers push Tomas across the pile of wood to the stake, to which Tomas is then bound.

The Cardinal’s assistant approaches the pyre and the crowd quiets as the assistant shouts out the crime and condemns the victim to death by fire, “that his corrupt soul be purified by flame.” With the help of a soldier, the assistant climbs over the wood and approaches close to Tomas and holds up a large cross to Tomas’ face and calls to Tomas, “kiss the cross and you will be removed from the stake and have a merciful quick death by garrot.” Tomas is silent.  The assistant continues, “renounce your faith or have green branches added to the fire so that it will burn slower.” Tomas closes his eyes.  The assistant calls up to Tomas, “so, you’re in no rush to go to hell.”

Juan fights his way through the agitated crowd towards the pyre.  A local Jew spots Juan from a distance and pushes through the crowd to reach him with the urgent news from Madrid.  Juan breaks out to the front of the crowd just 10 yards away from the wood and stake to which Tomas is bound. 

The Cardinal’s assistant descends from the pile of wood and signals to the soldiers.  The soldiers throw the fresh green branches on top of the pyre. 

Tomas opens his eyes and spots Juan.  Soldiers light torches with which to ignite the fire and the crowd quiets as they do so.  Tomas and Juan lock eyes.  Juan does not turn away, even as a few people begin to notice the obvious powerful connection between the condemned man and Juan.  Juan screams out the Jewish invocation to faith, the Shma.

The Jew seeking to reach Juan, who by now is just yards away from him, stops and steps back away from Juan.

The Cardinal’s assistant orders the soldiers to extinguish their torches, walks to Juan, takes an extinguished torch from a soldier and beats Juan to the ground with it.

The assistant orders a soldier to erect another stake and pyre.  The soldier whispers to the assistant, “But sir, there’s been no trial.” The assistant angrily whispers back, “Do you know who I am?” The soldier responds, “Yes sir.” The assistant spits out, “Then burn the Jew bastard or I’ll burn you.”

Juan and Tomas are tied to stakes facing each other.  Tomas turns his right palm outward revealing his scar to Juan.  Juan returns the gesture.  The two of them close their eyes and begin to whisper prayers.  We hear the whisperings as a barely audible mixture of their two voices, one Hebrew and the other Arabic. 

As the pyres are lit, Tomas shouts out the Islamic invocation of faith,…. the Shahada.  Juan shouts out the Jewish invocation to faith,….the Shmah.  And so it goes, one answering the call of the other in turn before the silenced crowd, as the flames lick higher and higher.  As the flames consume them, their voices join as one.

Film Theme Song: 

The Glance of Recognition

I walked among the hidden ones,
locked in another’s face,
The one they wanted me to be,
then you revealed yourself to me.

You told me of a lifetime,
without uttering a word,
The glance of recognition,
traveling so far so wide,

Crowded markets of Damascus,
barren mountains of the west,
two thousand years behind us,
two thousand yet to come.

You walked me to the forbidden room,
Where we take off all the masks,
Through the door of danger,
From which there’s no return,

But not the greater danger,
of never having lived.
And when they found out who we were,
And dragged us to the pyre,

We looked into each others’ eyes,
With a glance of recognition, not consumed by flames,
Two thousand years behind us,
two thousand yet to live.

Concluding Narration or Written Words:

[The following words appear over various scenes of the coast of Algeria]:

“As a result of their suspected continued secret practice of Islam, in 1609 the Muslims of Spain were expelled.  A half million Muslims were deported.  Most of them returned to the coast of North Africa from whence their ancestors had come to Spain 900 years earlier.  There, back in North Africa, these Muslims rejoined the descendents of their Spanish Jewish brethren, most of whom had been expelled from Spain a hundred years earlier in 1492.

On July 8, 1775 King Charles V of Spain led the Spanish navy in an attack on Algiers.  The Muslims and Jews of Algiers banded together in battle against their ancient enemy and turned back the Spanish invasion.

The Inquisition followed the Jews to Latin America and Mexico, where the Roman Catholic Church hunted down and executed hidden Jews up to the until the mid-1800’s.”

Concluding Endorsements:  Instead of credits appearing immediately at the conclusion of the film, the following words appear, “These guardians of our past, protectors of our future, Imams and Rabbis from all over the world endorse this film.” A stunningly long dual list of Rabbis and Imams scrolls down the screen.

Film and Music Development: The simple story of The Glance of Recognition had a powerful emotional impact upon Palestinians and Israelis with whom it has been shared.  Similarly, Jews and Muslims, old and young alike warmly received the lyrics to the theme song.  Music will be composed and recorded by a mixed Arab-Israeli band setting the theme song’s lyrics to Arabic and Hebrew.  The song will fuse modern and sacred music of Middle Eastern music familiar to both Israelis and Arabs.  The Arab-Israeli band will record the song in Arabic and Hebrew for release and heavy promotion of the Arabic version in the Arab world and the Hebrew version in Israel.  Only later will it be revealed that a mixed Arab-Israeli band made the recording (or that the song’s subject was Jewish-Islamic relations).

Music Video:  The work of the Arab-Israeli band, from its first meeting until the release of the song and their joint public performances of it, will be recorded by a videographer for possible use in a music video or documentary.  After the airing of the made for TV movie The Glance of Recognition, a music video will be produced integrating scenes from the movie and the full version of the theme song including its sacred Jewish and Islamic music. 

Notes:  The roles of the Muslim Tomas and the Jew Juan can be switched (and the story modified to adapt it to the switched roles) depending upon the conclusions of those involved in the development of the film.  Careful consideration will paid to the results of the Zogby International focus group’s response to the movie summary in this regard (which role to have played by the Muslim and which by the Jew). Besides character development, humor needs to be laced into the script, for the presence of humor is often what separates true drama and tragedy from melodrama. 

Key Ideological Points of the Film:  The historical information conveyed by the film does more than teach history, it imparts an ideology of Jewish-Islamic trust and shared destiny.

§ There are profound similarities between Islam and Judaism in both religion and historical experience. 

§ There is a longstanding bond and alliance between Islam and Judaism which has in the past sustained, protected and nourished both religions.

§ Jewish-Muslim unity advances the practice and depth of each of their religions.

§ The Jewish and Muslim bond has an eternal nature to it and will reemerge with renewed strength and healing power in the future – It is our destiny.

§ Despite the perceived dangers of doing so, ultimately Jews and Muslims can and should trust each other.

§ It is God’s will that Jews and Muslims live in unity.

§ Though there are those on both sides who hate, the bond between Jews and Muslims who trust each other is truer and stronger than the forces of hate on both sides.

§ Observance of Judaism and Islam offer meaning and fulfillment in life.

copyright 2006 Ed Miller

[1] Forcibly converted Muslims and Jews in Spain were both called “conversos.” The Jews were derisively referred to as “Morranos” (Spanish for swine) and the Muslims as “Moriscos” (Spanish for little moors).  The terms “crypto-Jew” or “crypto-Muslim” refer to Morranos or Moriscos who secretly continued to observe their religion.  Rather than using any of these terms, this film summary refers to them as “secret Jews” and “secret Muslims” or simply “Jews” and Muslims.”

Part I is at http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/neo_con_unilateralism_versus_mutual_trust/009132