Fractured Faiths: Spanish Judaism, The Inquisition and New World Identities By Marcia FineRecently I visited Santa Fe, New Mexico for a conference. To my delight there was an exhibit at the New Mexico History Museum on a subject that I have written about and continue to research—the migration of Jews known as conversos or hidden ones fleeing the Mexican Inquisition north to what is today new Mexico, Colorado and Arizona in the 1600-1700s.For the first time anywhere 175 artifacts were gathered by scholars, historians and curators to show the extent of the beauracracy that terrorized so many. From Inquisition records of members of the martyred Carvajal family who founded today’s Monterrey, Mexico to a Torah on vellum, to an original of the Edict of Expulsion in 1492 Spain to abandoned pottery with a hamsa and cross, each item told a story of secrecy and the threat of death.The Inquisition lasted almost 400 years. The stories are boundless. Today many are tracing their Judeo-Spanish heritage to a time where they were not permitted to practice their faith. DNA has offered up many surprises in our modern era.The exhibit will be available until December 31 with a symposium September 9th and 10th featuring scholars. It is worth the trip to see what may never be seen again. I spent most of the day wondering how people survived.