I am a descendant of Samuel Abravanel. 20th generation !!!’ 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I am not Jewish at all but have been fascinated by the history of the Jews. I have listened to some of those lectures and learn a lot

Professor Abramson. I would like to congratulate you for this wonderful series of lectures about the history of the Iberian Jews and the Sephardic diaspora. I think someone has already commented that during the late 1500s to mid 1600s in New Spain (Mexico) Portuguese became a synonym of New Christian or Crypto-Jew. As you have explained, hundred of thousands of Spanish Jews crossed to Portugal after the great expulsion of 1492. When Spain annexed Portugal in 1580, the Spanish king Phillip II allowed his new Portuguese subjects to migrate to the New World. For 60 years Portuguese New Christians were able to migrate to the Spanish American territories. As a result the European population already settled in New Spain began to identify the Portuguese newcomers as Jews. The last name of my grandmother from my mother's side is Cano. Although Cano is a Spanish surname in origin, it was bear by many New Christians that arrived from Portugal during the 1600s; therefore the surname Cano became a synonym of Portuguese Jew in Colonial Mexico. Finally, you don't need to worry about the jokes. Your lectures are fantastic anyway. Cheers.

Another Terrific lecture. I am fascinated by my Sephardic ancestors they used the names Gomez and Eastman but all had Hebrew Names like Isaac Jacob etc. And they arrived in the New world in the 1690s.

From Spain to Portugal to Mexico to the Philippines to Macao / China .... Thank you for giving me understanding of the past... I am from the Philippines my great great grandfather on my father's side is said to be a Spaniard or Portuguese Ship's Captain

Professor many thanks for your lecture.

Excellent at last people are talking about us Sephardim.

As a descendant of the Jews of Sepharad who emigrated to Latin America and later became crypto/jews, I found these lectures , an incredible manner to know more about my family history. I am greatful for this project to document the precious history of the Jewish and Spanish community. Now with the new law "Retorno to Sepharad"by the Spanish government , many descendants are able to become Spanish citizens.

So glad your back.

Shalom Dr. Abramson.Thank you for these videos, i have learned a lot. I live in Portugal, i am from a village older than 1000 years (sorry for my bad english) in northern Portugal interior called Semitela. All these region call us jews still today. Our family house from the 14/15 century has some inscriptions and images formed by distorted hebrew letters in a distorted way, like to hide. I cant speak hebrew but i know the aleph,bet. The inscriptions /images are very eroded/destroyed but i could see some letters. I put them in a online dictionary and the result was: Yigal Zar Rav and other words. I have pictures. There is a deep pain in my soul since i was very young. When i was young as my sister we use to have the same nightmares, at the entrance of the "judiaria" meaning jewish quarter we dreamed roman soldiers coming at night with the sounds of drums coming and hurting us. I since very young felt a deep sadness and opression.I would like to ask what "zar rav" mean. Thank you for the attention and God bless you very much.Flávio Jacques

Very interesting story, thank you very much.

Henry Abramson: The endnote in your office does resonate with me as being someone of mixed Ashkenazic and Sephardic ancestors. Mainly, with how I have experienced acceptance and rejection among the two major branches in Judaism. There was forced conversion on both my father's Ashkenazi side and my mother's Sephardic side, I have always been made to feel more welcome as a Jew by the Portuguese side of my family than the Germanic side. So at least in my own personal experience I think that your distinction is valid.

I learn so much from your lectures. Thanks.

Thank you very much

The use of "Portuguese and Spanish" is probably derived from the fact that between 1580 and 1640 Portugal and Spain became one united kingdom (União Ibérica) and in those year many Jews and crypto-Jews went to the colonies in America (the continent, not USA). In fact, that very the synagogue and cemetery in New York were found by the jews expelled from Brazil in the context of the Dutch Expulsion from Maranhão (a provincial colony in Brazil).

on his deathbed, Voltaire, when asked to return to the faith of his fathers and renounce the devil, responded with, “This is no time to be making new enemies.”

Shalom, son of the exalted father. Baruch HaShem one and all. I was raised Pentecostal Christian, but I have always venerated Judaism and am currently a student of Judaic studies at the University of Central Florida, as well as a congregant of Kol Mashiach in Melbourne, Florida. My choice to convert to so called Messianic Judaism is largely due to a personal quest for a purer form of worshipping HaShem, while remaining an adherent to the Messianic teachings of and belief in Yeshua. My maternal grandmother's mother was of Ashkenazi stock and this is another reason that I am drawn to Judaism in general, in order to connect with my Jewish roots. I hope you take a tolerant view of my faith, especially in light of my pursuit of Hebrew language and history. That being said, superfluous though it admittedly is, I want to address your use of jokes in your lectures. As an attendant of many churches and synagogues through the years, I have seen many a pastor and rabbi incorporate this practice. Though your jokes may not often "kill," as a comedian might say, even seeming to "bomb," if you will, at times, I enjoy the practice. Occasionally, you have me laughing out loud. Invariably, I equate your humor with dad jokes. I also appreciate your frequent mention of your children. As shepherds and exalted teachers, I see clergymen in general as fathers of their congregant children. In brief, I would like to encourage you to continue your humorous anecdotes. That is all.

Very good.lecture today i see the trail of my lineage

yay!!! class is back :)

The word Iberia comes from the Anukim word Ibiru (Hebrew). The word Sefarad/Sefardi has it's roots in the hebrew word sefer [ ספר ] meaning 'of the book'.