My grandmother gave me a copy of this special necklace when I was a baby. I have had the silver necklace since. My Grandma got it from the oldest Temple in South Carolina. This project got me closer to understanding the history of the Jews, because I studied the history of the Spanish Inquisition. I hope to pass this necklace down in my family. Also, I will teach my kids about the importance of the history of the Jewish people.

During the Spanish Inquisition the Jews in Spain had a couple of choices: convert to Christianity, or flee. Many people decided to convert, but chose to practice Judaism in their homes secretly. They were called Conversos. They spoke a language called Ladino. The original of this necklace must have been created so Jewish women could keep their faith. This necklace was shaped in the Star of David but could be taken apart and spread into butterflies when the Church officials were around. This artifact shows how important it was for the Jews of Spain to risk their lives to keep practicing their Judaism in secret.