In May 2013 I visited Portugal on a Jewish Heritage Tour. Both images use the background of actual signed Inquisition edicts I saw. The first image focuses on an etrog container used by Crypto Jews. The second image shows several carved crosses that the newly “converted” Jews of Trancoso had to carve on their doorposts. However, they subverted the public display of their new faith in order to remain true in spirit to their old one by modifying the crosses with the inverted letter “shin” or gave them bases to appear like “menorot”. The prohibition of all forms of Jewish life forced the practice of Judaism underground where amazingly it has survived for 500 years.

Miriam Stern is a painter, printmaker, and installation artist. She has exhibited both in the United States and Israel, and has won numerous awards and prizes. Ms. Stern usually works in series that often use Jewish values and ideas as her themes. Her art has been reproduced in magazines and books of poetry. In addition to producing art, she has curated several art exhibitions and lectures about the relationship of art to Jewish interpretations of texts and idea. In 2016 a monograph of her art was published.