Queen Sophia of Spain attended traditional Sabbath Eve services at the Madrid Synagogue Friday night, at the invitation of the local Jewish community, according to a report reaching here. It was the first time in modern history that Spanish Royalty visited a Jewish house of worship. The occasion was also Queen Sophia’s first public appearance since her husband, Juan Carlos, assumed the throne last year after the death of Generalissimo Francisco Franco.
The Queen, accompanied by numerous Court officials and government advisors, was welcomed at the Synagogue by Chief Rabbi Felipe Halioua and representatives of Spanish Jewry. A special prayer was recited in honor of the Royal Family and the Spanish people. The Queen’s visit was widely covered in the Spanish news media. It was viewed as an indication of the government’s intention to improve relations with Spanish Jewry and to help Spain gain a more liberal image abroad. According to Jewish organizations there are some 15,000 Jews in Spain, concentrated mainly in Madrid and Barcelona where synagogues and communal organizations exist and in Valencia.
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