Re: Enriquez as a Sephardic name

Mr. Stein,
I have noticed you have posted many messages with the information that name so & so (Enriquez in this case) is a Sephardic name. I have also noticed that the initial reaction of a lot of folks is their impression that you have just told them "they are Jewish" and to many that is tantamount to being insulted, since they plainly know they are Catholic , Protestant, etc., probably equating being called Sephardic to believing in the Jewish religious philosophy.

I have no problem being called Jewish, although my belief is neither Jewish nor entirely Catholic, as I was raised.

Enriqez in this case was my Greatgrandmother's surname and my Great grandfather's name was Olivarez, both probably of Sephardic origin. Visiting Toledo Spain once I saw a Catholic convent, which was prior to that a Moorish mosque and before then a Jewish temple. The town of Segovia Spain was a prominent Jewish Center, as were others.

Perhaps, people's reactions are what is perceived as an "in your face" approach to telling them their name was originally considered the name of a Jewish family, living in Spain or Portugal and whose descendants, because of many reasons, chose or had to change their public and often their private religious beliefs.

I understand you mention the Office of the Holy See has a list of what they consider names of Sephardic origen. I am sure they do, although I doubt it is error free. A Church Hierarchy that would make lists to force the denunciation of one's religion at the cost of one's life, was capable of adding enemies' names also.

I welcome your efforts to educate people as to their origens, but perhaps a more informative or moderated approach would meet with less anger.

The name Perez does appear in the Torah, although I believe the other idea that the "ez" that was added in most other cases,is also generally correct, even if the family was of Jewish origen. I certainly believe Spain and other European countries were composed of many "nations", Visigoths, Romans, Vandals, Jews, Moors and many others. I have seen the statues erected in their historical memories in Spain.

The truth is we are all generally a mixture of Caucasian, Negroid, Oriental (Yellow),and others. Our religious beliefs are generally those taught us by those who raised us with exceptions where people later came to their own ideas, but we cannot change who we descended from. We should only be grateful for they gave us life, whoever they were.

Thanks for your information,

Alejandro Martinez