Dani Rotstein and Toni Pinya: Reviving Jewish Culture on Majorca

Dani Rotsein and Toni Pinya, both living on the Spanish island of Majorca (also spelled Mallorca), are working to revive Jewish culture there. Rotsein (pictured above) is a transplanted Jew from New York City; Pinya, a lifelong Majorcan, is a Chueta, a descendant of Jews who were forced to convert to Catholocism or be executed during the Spanish Inquisition. A side note: Chueta in the Catalan language means “bacon,” an obvious attempt to further humiliate the converted Jews. Many of the Jews who did convert were later tortured and burned at the stake.
 
Quotes: “I literally came to Majorca thinking I would never find anyone Jewish or anything Jewish.” | “There is no rabbi and chazzan, but people volunteer [to lead the services]. We sometimes struggle to get a minyan on Shabbat. Four years ago, synagogue life was the only life going on here… but Jewish identity is not just about the synagogue and prayer.” — Dani Rotstein
 
Sources: bbc.com
 
Learn more about the history of the Jews on Majorca from Wikipedia. >>
 
Read about the revival of Jewish life on Majorca. >>
 
Photo: bbc.co.uk