Lecture with Dominique Tomasov Blinder: “Jewish Contributions to Spain in the 20th Century”

Who was David Oliver and where did he come from? How did Marcos Menkes become a worldwide known manufacturer of Flamenco dance shoes? Who started the wedding wear “pret a porter”? Is there a Spanish H&M? When was it opened?
Jews started arriving in Spain in the early 1900’s after centuries of absence, having been kicked out in 1492 by the Catholic kings Isabel and Ferdinand. Involved in all fields of science, industry and culture, they have contributed their talents and know-hows to the development of this country, once again.

In a very amenable way Dominique will introduce you to some of these figures whose initiatives had a long reach beyond the Pyrenées and the coasts of the Mediterranean. Join us for this virtual trip across the ocean.

Joining this discussion will be CWB scholar Avi Ben-Hur.

Dominique Tomasov Blinder
Born in New York and raised in Buenos Aires, Dominique is the grandchild of Jews from Belarus and Ukraine. She obtained her Architecture degree at the University in Buenos Aires and is the founding member of the first egalitarian synagogue in Spain, responsible for its Funerary Society. In the last three decades, Dominique has developed expertise in Jewish identity culture and heritage as a way to contribute to the construction of a pluralistic society. After living and working in three countries, she brings together a special combination of history, current affairs, opinions and personal experience.