Spain: Anti-Semetic village-name changed to "Castrillo Hill of Jews"

The small town of 'Castrillo Matajudios' (Castrillo Kill the Jews), located in Burgos province, officially changed its name on Friday morning to something less offensive. The name of the town had been an issue widely discussed among the residents, who last May decided to vote to change the name of their town in order to get rid of the literal anti-Semitic meaning. As of Friday, the town will be called 'Castrillo Mota de Judios' (Castrillo Hill of Jews). Sephardi Jews have a long history in Spain and the Iberian Peninsula. Their residence was brought to an end starting with the Alhambra Decree by Spain's Catholic Monarchs in the late 15th century, which resulted in a combination of internal and external migrations, mass conversions and executions.Israel's Ambassador to Spain attended the re-naming ceremony, calling it "a happy event."