Community Magazine August 2017

42 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Step 1 - Determining Eligibility Eligibility can be demonstrated by: 1. A certificate issued by the Chairman of the Jewish community of the applicant’s place of residence or birth. 2. A certificate from the rabbinical authority that is legally recognized in the applicant’s country of residence. 3. The family language (Ladino or Haketia). 4. The birth certificate or the marriage certificate stating that the celebration was in accordance with Spanish Sephardic ritual. 5. The inclusion of the applicant or his or her ancestors on one of the special lists produced by the Spanish authorities in 1924 and 1948. 6. “Blood" (family) connections with the people indicated under point number five above. 7. The realization of studies about Spanish history and culture. 8. The realization of charity contributions to Spanish individuals or institutions, provided that they were dispensed on a regular basis. 9. Any other circumstances that demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that the applicant is eligible. 10. A certificate issued by the General Secretariat of the Spanish Federation of Jewish Communities. 11. Sephardic surnames are an additional mean of evidence, but not crucial. Although prospective applicants are not required to be practicing Jews, they must prove their Sephardic background through a combination of things, including ancestry, surnames, and a spoken language of either Ladino (a Jewish language that evolved from medieval Spanish) or Haketia (a mixture of Hebrew, Spanish, and Judeo-Moroccan Arabic). An applicant's "Sephardic condition" must be validated by means of a certificate from the Madrid-based Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain (FCJE). Applicants living outside of Spain may obtain certifications from Jewish associations or rabbinical authorities in their home countries, but those local certifications must still be validated by the FCJE. Applicants will need to visit Spain at least once, if not twice, and pass both a citizenship test and a language test, while showing ties to the community. Applicants must file an application within three years of October 1, 2015, when the law was enacted. Beth Yaacov Synagogue The Beth Yaacov Synagogue is the oldest and largest synagogue in Madrid, Spain. Map of the Sephardic Jewish Migration after the 1492 Spanish Expulsion. Steps for Applying for CERTIFICATION and Citizenship in Spain Step 2 - Testing Requirements Applicants must also pass a special test demonstrating their skill in Spanish language and culture. The culture test is developed by the Cervantes Institute, which promotes Spanish language and culture abroad. Step 3 - ApplYing for Spanish Nationality Applicants who successfully meet the requirements can then submit all of the documentation digitally to the Spanish Ministry of Justice. All documents, including birth and marriage certificates, as well as current police reports proving that the applicant has no criminal record, must be accompanied by official translations and certified by a notary. The Ministry of Justice has one year to approve or deny an application. If an applicant does not hear back from the Ministry within one year, he can assume that his application has been denied. Step 4 - Loyalty to the King of Spain Finally, applicants must affirm their loyalty to the Spanish king and pledge allegiance to the Spanish Constitution. This can be done either in Spain itself or at Spanish embassies or consulates abroad. Successful candidates are not required to relinquish their citizenships in other countries. For more information on the Spanish application process, visit https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/6010/spain-citizenship-jews or https://www.sephardic.es/