New edition of Ferrara bible shows how persecuted Jews kept faith alive in Spanish

The Guardian - World NewsEN 4 min read 100% complete by Sam Jones in MadridFebruary 24, 2026 at 11:56 AM

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long article 4 min

In 1553, exiled Spanish and Portuguese Jews in Ferrara, Italy, printed the Ferrara Bible, a complete translation of the Hebrew Bible into Spanish. This was significant because many Sephardic Jews, forced to convert to Catholicism in Spain and Portugal, had secretly maintained their faith but lost access to Hebrew texts and knowledge due to persecution. Under the protection of the Duke of Ferrara, they sought to relearn their traditions, but lacked Hebrew literacy. The Ferrara Bible served as a crucial tool for reclaiming and preserving their religious heritage in their native language. The new edition of the bible highlights how persecuted Jews kept their faith alive. Other Sephardic Jewish communities also tried to reclaim their faith.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Ottoman Empire 30% Pope Alexander VI 40% Lucrezia Borgia 40% Italy 40% Amsterdam ×250% Ercole II d'Este 60% Ferdinand 60% Isabella 60% Paloma Díaz-Mas ×270% Portugal ×270% Spain ×280% Ferrara ×690%

Keywords

ferrara bible 100% sephardic jews 80% spanish jews 70% hebrew bible 70% religious persecution 60% crypto-jews 60% jewish diaspora 50% spanish inquisition 50% ferrara 40% language translation 40%

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Positive

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The Guardian - World News

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90%

Geographic Perspective

Ferrara

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ferrara bible sephardic jews spanish jews hebrew bible religious persecution crypto-jews jewish diaspora spanish inquisition ferrara language translation

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