Heretics or Daughters of Israel?

The Spanish "conversos" were Jews who converted to Christianity both before and after the expulsion of 1492, many clandestinely maintaining ties to Judaism despite outward conformity to Catholicism. Through the lens of the Inquisition's own records, this ground-breaking study focuses on the crypto-Jewish women of Castile, demonstrating their central role in the perpetuation of crypto-Jewish society in the absence of any traditional male leaders. Rene Melammed shows how many "conversas" acted with great courage and commitment to perpetuate their religious heritage, seeing themselves as true daughters of Israel. Her fascinating book sheds new light on women in the transmission of Jewish tradition.