Episode 30: The Healers and the Secrets of the Jewish Quarter - Healing, Magic and Superstition in Medieval Calatayud

Episode 30: The Healers and the Secrets of the Jewish Quarter - Healing, Magic and Superstition in Medieval Calatayud Duration: 19 minutesLanguage: English Description: Journey into the mysterious world of Jewish healers in medieval Calatayud, where medicine intertwined with magic, faith with hope, and science with mystery. Discover the extraordinary women who were guardians of ancestral healing secrets, combining knowledge of herbs with the power of prayer. Based on historian Álvaro López Asensio’s research in the Notarial Protocols Archive of Calatayud, this episode reveals a fascinating universe where the boundary between natural and supernatural was blurred. Meet Miriam and other healers who treated not only the body but also the soul, learn about the feared “evil eye” and its remedies, explore magical treatments that combined scientific knowledge with ancient beliefs, and discover the superstitions that protected pregnant women and newborns. From herbal remedies and protective amulets to sacred healing rituals, this episode unveils how these respected women operated within a network that served Jews, Christians, and Mudejars alike. The story culminates with the tragic persecution by the Inquisition, when healing became dangerous and ancient wisdom was forced into hiding. A moving tribute to the legacy of compassion and knowledge that survived despite centuries of persecution. Keywords: Jewish healers, medieval Calatayud, evil eye, magical medicine, herbal remedies, amulets, healing rituals, Inquisition, superstitions, folk medicine, Jewish quarter, Álvaro López Asensio, medieval healing, protective magic Series Information Narrator: Rabbi Yehudá ben Shlomó AlbilbilíDirection and production: Javier BonaGenre: History, Audio documentary, Sephardic cultureFrequency: Weekly episodes Series Description: “From Calatayud: Voices of Sefarad” is a documentary series that reconstructs the history of the Jewish community of Calatayud from the Andalusi period to the expulsion of 1492 and its subsequent legacy. Based on rigorous historical documentation, it combines academic precision with emotional narrative to honor the memory of the Sephardic families who flourished in this Aragonese city for centuries. Distinctive Features: • Historical rigor based on primary sources • Real documented characters • Emotional and immersive narrative • Focus on Sephardic memory and its legacy • Careful sound design • Research in historical archives • Bilingual production (Spanish/English) Target Audience: Those interested in Sephardic history, Jewish culture, medieval history of Aragon, Sephardic genealogy, historical archive research, folk medicine, and quality historical documentaries. All episodes available on iVoox with complete transcriptions and complementary material.