Latin American and Iberian Studies Fellowship recipient Alex Daum ’20 researched the history and present-day societal status of the Jewish community in Spain by traveling to six different cities: Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Córdoba, Girona and Barcelona.

Daum said he initially contacted those in the Spanish-Jewish community with connections to his Synagogue in Los Angeles. He then interviewed various rabbis and leaders located in Spain about Jewish history in the country.

“I mostly researched correlations between the situation of the Jewish people in the past and in the present,” Daum said. “Spain has had a history of tolerance and intolerance toward the Jewish people, and as a Jew, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the present state of affairs.”

After visiting Spain, Daum created a documentary about his research and experience.

“It is a unique opportunity to actually see places you learn about in class and take a closer look at subject matter that genuinely interests you,” Daum said.