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New Mexico

New Mexico’s Conversos and Crypto-Jews in Santa Fe

Program No. 22854RJ

Learn the history and experience the unique culture of conversos and Crypto-Jews — Spain’s Jewish citizens who were forced to leave their country for not converting to Christianity.

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Program

At a Glance

Duration

6 days

Program Begins

Santa Fe, NM

Program Concludes

Santa Fe, NM

Group Type

Small Group

Meals

12 ( 5B, 3L, 4D )

Activity Level

In 1492, the Alhambra Decree forced Spain’s Jewish citizens to make an unthinkable decision: convert to Christianity or leave the country. Over the next 500 years, the conversos and Crypto-Jews who practiced their faith in secrecy traveled to the New World and finally to New Mexico. Here their traditions melded with those of the peoples of the Southwest. In this land of canyons and desert, trace the struggle of New Mexico’s Conversos and Crypto-Jews and consider how their traditions have managed to survive against the odds.

Best of all, you'll...

Meet descendants of New Mexico conversos for personal insight.
Travel to Taos via the High Road and learn about its fascinating history.
Explore the history of Santa Fe with an expert on New Mexico’s conversos and Crypto-Jews.

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General Notes

Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less. For a less active version of this program, please see "New Mexico’s Conversos and Crypto-Jews" (#11007). It includes similar and complementary educational content and is based in Albuquerque.

Schelly Talalay Dardashti

Schelly Talalay Dardashti, a journalist and genealogist originally from New York, has lived in Tehran, Tel Aviv, and New Mexico. She is the U.S. genealogy advisor for MyHeritage, and has traced her Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi families across Iran, Spain, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine for decades. She created the award-winning "Tracing the Tribe - Jewish Genealogy on Facebook" group. She is a former board member of the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies; founding member, Sephardic Heritage Institute New Mexico; and president, Jewish Genealogical Society of New Mexico.

Please Note:

This expert may not be available for every date of the program

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Ron Hart

Ron Duncan Hart is a cultural anthropologist, writer, editor and translator who has focused his studies on Jewish folklore and Sephardic traditions. He has taught anthropology at universities around the world including Georgia State and the University of the Andes in Bogotá, and has worked in South America with UNICEF and the Ford Foundation. The author of more than a dozen books on religion and social change, Ron has received awards from the National Endowment of the Arts, the National Science Foundation, and Fulbright, among others.

Maria Apodaca

Maria Apodaca’s family arrived in what is today's New Mexico in 1598. She is a descendant of the B'nai Anusim, Spanish and Portuguese Jews who were forced to convert to Catholicism in the 15th century. Maria is a founder and board member of the Sephardic Heritage Institute New Mexico; a board member, former Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies; and a board member, Jewish Genealogical Society of New Mexico.

Ellen Morris Bond

Ellen Morris Bond has spent most of her adult years in northern New Mexico, graduating from the University of New Mexico Honors Program. She completed a Master’s Degree in Community Development at University of California-Davis. As a non-profit director, Ellen forged strong collaborations with local and regional organizations such as health councils, community foundations, tribal groups, hospitals, public schools, rural health clinics, and faith groups. She now volunteers with the local acequia/water organization and leads art and architecture groups at La Fonda of Santa Fe.

Terri Ross

Terri Ross is a longtime transplant to New Mexico. First arriving in 1994, she began exploring the rich history and varied landscape of the state. She has led more than 80 group programs around the corner and around the world. She is also a local speaker in her adopted hometown of Albuquerque, making presentations on a variety of topics including travel journaling and scrapbooking, New Mexico history, traveling the Navajo lands, and driving on New Mexico Highway 4.

Christine Phillips

Christine (Chris) Hazard Phillips was born and raised in London, England, moving to the U.S. after college. She is now a happy transplant to Albuquerque, New Mexico after a career as a clinical psychologist in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Christine likes to stay busy helping with her two granddaughters, volunteering at the Santa Fe Opera, Chatter ABQ, and with the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. Training for the latter has greatly expanded her knowledge of, and love for, her adopted state.

Activity Level

Keep the Pace

Walking up to 4 miles over uneven paved and unpaved terrain; standing up to one hour, some stairs. Elevation up to 7,000 feet. Due to the elevations during this program, physical activity may be more fatiguing than at sea level.

Small Group (13 to 24)

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Suggested Reading List

View Full List (5 Books)

You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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Call 800-454-5768

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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.
Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.