^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Leonard Stein traveled to Dallas,Texas in 2014 to be a presenter.  In his capacity as a Masters candidate in Foreign Literatures and Linguistics at Ben Gurion University in Beersheva, Israel, he spoke to us about the spatial relationship between the Chihuahuan Desert and the wilderness of the Biblical journeying Israelites. He drew the parallels to modern day writers who implement the desert as a literary device for exploring identity formation in the uninhabited space of the desert.  

Leonard Stein Beersheva, Israel

Said Stein,"SCJS comprises the most significant academic researchers today in crypto-Jewish studies. Attending the conference last year was instrumental in helping me develop my thesis on crypto-Jewish literature. An interdisciplinary scope of current research is presented alongside personal testimonials from crypto-Jewish descendants. The conference had such a welcoming air to it, with all of the participants interested in hearing and sharing their work that I naturally rushed to be a member of the Society afterwards." 

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*  

Yliana Miller Garza and Benjamin Trevino meet for the first time in Dallas, Texas 2014

From Benjamin Trevino

Alvin, Texas

"My strategy at the registration table at my first SCJS conference in Dallas 2014 was simple; look lost and hopefully a volunteer would approach me. In what seemed to be a mostly Jewish assembly, I was confident someone would sense "a stranger" and I would eventually be well received.

 Within minutes, I was approached by Debbie Wohl Isard. After exchanging a few pleasantries, I informed her that my primary reason in coming to Dallas was to hear Yliana Garza, a conference speaker, and potential distant relative. Debbie quickly introduced me to Ms. Yliana and her husband David. Yliana and I shared genealogical information about the Trevino/Garza northern Mexico history and confirmed we shared a common heritage. I instantly felt at home as a result.

I was honored to have met speakers and attendees such as Professor Abraham Gross, Joe Lovett, Gay Yellen and Don Reiser. I am grateful for the way SCJS peels back the pages of history through academics, uncovering an identity and heritage that many of us are regrettably unfamiliar with. In spite of the ethnic, cultural and religious differences many of us "Marranos" were born with, or once forced into, the leaders of the Society have a genuine dedication to the SCJS mission 'to uncrypto the crypto-Jew,' as said by conference speaker, Rabbi Peter Tarlow."

Trevino shared his own prayer and vision: 

"For our fathers' sake, many of whom were executed for the crime of keeping and

observing the Law of Moses in the New World, as we remove the crypto from the Jew,

may the children of the Inquisition discover their divine heritage, declare it with joyful humility, and defend this heritage with honor."

 ^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

SCJS conference moments of discovery can be monumental.

During the 2013 conference in Colorado Springs, I was

Jane S. Gerber

seated in the audience next to featured speaker Jane Gerber, professor at the Graduate Center, Institute for Sephardic Studies, City University of New York.  Her presentation topic was "Crypto-Jews, New Jews, and the Art of Hebrew Printing in the Sixteenth Century."

 Jane and I were listening intently to the 

Daniel Diaz-Huerta

presentation being given by Daniel Diaz-Huerta on "Crypto-Jewish Ritual Innovation: Liturgical Expression and Transmission in New Mexico".

When Daniel mentioned the 1554 edition of the Ladino Bible from Ferrara, Jane sat up a bit straighter. With an audible gasp, this world-renowned expert recognized immediately the book about which Daniel was speaking, and with permission from Daniel to interject, Jane told those assembled at the conference that this was the first time she'd ever heard about this particular edition of the Bible crossing the oceans and appearing in the New World! 

Bible owned by the grandfather of Daniel Diaz-Huerta.

Matthew Warshawsky

According to Jane Gerber, this is a good 16th century sample of the Spanish and Hebrew book industry that was so crucial to the converso odyssey.

Daniel Diaz-Huerta recently clarified for me the great importance of this discovery.  As he mentioned in his lecture, "It was and still is imperative within the crypto-Jewish community to purchase the "Reina-Valera" (Casidoro de Reina -1569 & Cipriano de Valera - 1602) version of the Spanish Bible; the reason being that this version retained much of the Ladino from the 1554 Ladino Bible of Ferrara." 

Listening to the rapid dialogue between Jane Gerber, Matthew Warshawsky and Daniel Diaz-Huerta, I knew that we were all witnessing the excitement of seasoned researchers who simultaneously recognized the importance of this discovery.This was a discovery by connection, one that occurred because all the elements and individuals were in the same place at the same time with similar intentions.

For me, it was a privilege to just be a witness. ~Debbie