Read Poems by a Crypto-Jewish Writer


History & Definitions

  • Marranos, Conversos, and New Christians New
    The Jewish Virtual Library's essay on the terms, "marrano," "converso," and "new Christian," along with a concise history, usage and origins.
  • Definitions: Sephardim - Conversos - Marranos
    Crypto-Jewish definitions and a historical overview with a bibliography from JewishGen, an affiliate of the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
  • Anusim (Crypto Judaism) Page of Shulamith HaLevy
    Lexicon, articles, essays, and other resources from the Crypto-Jewish scholar.
  • Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies
    Created to foster research and networking of information on the historical and contemporary development of crypto Jews of Iberian origin. Be sure to check out the papers in HaLapid, the Society's journal including annual conference proceedings.
  • The Bloom Southwest Jewish Archives
    Housed at the University of Arizona Library, the research collection is dedicated to collecting and recording the history of Crypto-Jews and other pioneer Jews in the Desert Southwest, covering Arizona, New Mexico, and West Texas.
  • Arthur Benveniste
    Articles the scholar has written about the history of Sephardic Jews, with a special interest in Crypto-Jews.
  • Hidden Jews of the Southwest
    From the PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
  • The Debate Over A Crypto-Jewish Presence In New Mexico: The Role Of Ethnographic Allegory And Orientalism
    Paper from the Sociology of Religion journal by Michael P. Carroll.
  • Jewish Women of the Southwest New
    David Goldblatt writes about his research on the Hispanic crypto-Jewish woman and her role in preserving a crypto-Judaic culture.
  • Three Sources of Textual Evidence of Columbus, Crypto Jew
    Georgetown University scholar Estelle Irizarry's lecture presented at a conference in Ibiza, Spain, discusses Columbus' origins and the hidden messages and metaphors behind his practices. An especially interesting analysis of his poetic sensibilities. See the poem, "Kaddish for Columbus."
  • Destination: The New World New
    Howard M. Sachar, Professor of History and International Affairs at George Washington University, explores the legend that Columbus consulted with Jews and transported some to the New World at the time of the expulsion, thus giving rise to new Jewish communities around the world.
  • The Hidden Jews of New Mexico
    Nan Rubin's audio excerpts from the radio documentaries; includes an excellent bibliography.
  • Crypto Jews Unmasked
    This article from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture asserts that while historical, statistical, and demographic research on crypto Jews is undeniable, it is the personal and powerful stories of self-discovery that speak to our souls. Their sagas of return, often despite the protestations of family, friends and even rabbis, form a compelling and on-going chapter of modern American Jewish culture."
  • Crypto-Jews in Mexico During the Spanish Colonial Era
    Paper from the Nahum Goldmann Museum of the Jewish Diaspora in Israel discusses Spanish policy toward New Christians, accusations of Judaizing, the Carvajal affair, and the Auto-da-Fé of 1649; with bibliography and links.
  • On Being Sephardic: The Children of the Diaspora
    Victor Perera, author of The Cross and the Pear Tree: A Sephardic Journey, writes about the unique cultural identity of the Sephardic Jew, asserting that " [the] Sephardi lives in a state of flux between his Jewish origins and the Muslim and Christian 'others' who inhabit his psyche. Sephardim are prone to be polyglot and multicultural from infancy, as they crisscross religious and ethnic boundaries with deceptive ease."
  • Wandering Jew Grupo Hispano celebrates a buen 5767
    A Jewish Journal article about a group of Chicano Crypto-Jews who "came out" as Jews and now are members of Whittier California's, Beth Shalom Synagogue.
  • Members of the Tribe Who Live Extremely South of the Border New
    Roberta Sotonoff, freelance writer for JUF News, tells the rich history of Chilean Jews. The first migration to Chile was in 1536 when Pedro de Valdivia, along with an army of other crypto-Jews founded Santiago in 1541. These Jews soon thought of themselves as "big-time Spanish conquerors," and eventually assimilated. Even so, some of their descendants perished in Peru’s Auto de Fe in 1639. Today many living in southern Chile, known as Sabatistas or Cabañistas, don’t consider themselves Jews, although they maintain the old secret rituals of observing the Shabbat, lighting candles on Friday night, and reciting prayers in Hebrew.

The Spanish & Mexican Inquisitions

Resources for Those Researching Their Crypto-Jewish Heritage

  • Shavei Israel - "Israel Returns" New
    An Israel-based organization comprised of academics, educators and rabbis, whose goal is to assist "lost Jews," or those with Jewish ancestry in coming to terms with their heritage and identity "in a spirit of tolerance and understanding." Also see their "Anousim "section for articles and history about the Anousim.
  • Kulanu – All of Us
    An organization dedicated to finding and assisting lost and dispersed remnants of the Jewish people (anusim/crypto-Jews).
  • The Hispanic Jewish Legacy: To Be or Not to Be
    Richard C. Greenleaf's article is meant for those who are questioning their Hispanic Jewish lineage. The paper provides supplemental proof, tools, DNA options, and guidelines for further research.
  • Sephardic Websites for Crypto-Jews
    From Sephardic Genealogy Resources, includes general resources on Crypto-Jews, Sephardic Genealogy, and a bibliography for those wishing to research their Crypto-Jewish or Sephardic background.
  • Ezra L' Anousim
    An Israeli organization dedicated to assisting the descendants of the forced converts of Spain and Portugal in the western hemisphere to return to mainstream Judaism. Be sure to visit their library and read the rabbinical endorsements. In Spanish, Dutch, Hebrew, English, Portuguese, but more resources in Spanish.
  • Sephardim Hope International's Anusim Support Center
    The Anusim Support Center in Be'ersheva, Israel, is a support /teaching/seminar center for the education of the Anusim, Sephardic Jews returning to Judaism and Israel.

Crypto-Jewish Writers & Artists

  • The Searchers: Seven South Americans Uncover Their Converso Roots New
    Gabriela Böhm, filmmaker and a child of Holocaust survivors, discusses her film, The Longing. The film follows the return to Judaism of a group of South Americans who were raised as Catholics. They undergo conversion, but in the end face the heartbreaking reality that the Jewish community of Ecuador does not accept them into their community. For the filmmaker, a more important story emerged: "What happens when the forces who are saying 'no' are the Jews rather than the Catholic Church?"
  • The Hidden Frida: Covert Jewish Elements in the Art
    Author, Gannit Ankori, asserts that Kahlo's sources for her artwork, such as genealogical charts, poetic metaphors of immigration, Inquisition torture devices, and human cells suffocated by poison gas used during the Nazi era, expose a covert aspect of Kahlo's identity: her "hidden" Jewish roots.
  • Artist Diana Bryer
    Bryer has made the Espanola Valley of New Mexico her home since 1977, where she has been inspired by traditions and customs that reflect the centuries-old lives of its Spanish settlers. She is especially intrigued by the area's hidden Jews who retain elements of Judaism in their diverse religions. The artist often uses Sephardic symbols in her work, such as in her painting " Rosa de Castilla": it portrays a yellow rose that grows in northern New Mexico brought from Castille by settlers in the 17th century. Read more about Bryer's life and art in this Jewish News of Greater Phoenix articleNew
  • Writer Kathleen Alcalá
    Alcalá is the author of the short story collection, Mrs. Vargas and the Dead Naturalist, and three novels: Spirits of the Ordinary, The Flower in the Skull, and Treasures in Heaven. Her recent collection of essays, in which she explores her family's crypto-Jewish heritage in Saltillo, Mexico, The Desert Remembers My Name, was recently published by the University of Arizona Press. Also, read Alcalá's presentation to the Society for Crypto Judaic Studies, "A Thread in the Tapestry: The Narros of Saltillo, Mexico, in History and Literature."
  • Crypto Jewish Images by Photographer Cary Herz
    New Mexico's Crypto-Jews: Image and Memory, Cary' Herz's twenty-year search for descendants of crypto-Jews, with essays by Mona Hernandez and Ori Z. Soltes; published by UNM Press. More Herz photos.
  • Camille Pissarro's Jewish Identity New
    Article by Stephanie Rachum for the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, on the artist Pissarro, a marrano. Please also see "The Moses Of Impressionism" with photos of Pissarro family tombstones on the Friends of Marranos website.
  • Consuelo Luz
    Raised in Greece, the Philippines, Spain, Italy and Peru by Sephardic/Chilean/Cuban/Mampuche Indian parents, Luz now lives in Northern New Mexico. She sings Sephardic (Judeo-Hispanic) songs that "embrace all of humanity and envision a transformed and loving world celebrating its diversity while at the same time honoring its oneness."
  • Poet M. Miriam Herrera
    More information about this author on Wikipedia.

Personal Stories of Crypto Jews/Anusim

  • The Jewish Shepherd of Tijuana
    The story of Carlos Salas Diaz, founder of Congregacion Hebrea de Baja California. A converso, born in Mexico to a Catholic family, he was ordained as a Methodist minister, later converted to Judaism and became a rabbi. Diaz tells about his life and how he returned to Judaism. He has converted many Mexicans and also provides Jewish instruction to Mexican Jews, including conversos, such as the hidden Jews of Venta Prieta.
  • Hanging By a Wick
    Musician Vanessa Paloma, who has a CD of Ladino music with Flor de Serena, tells her family's story by following the lives of strong female predecessors, starting with the expulsion from Spain as they moved from country to country through the Netherlands, Italy, Morocco, Panama, Columbia, and eventually to the United States.
  • Zakhor: A personal Account New
    Rabbi Juan Mejía, a descendant of Columbian Anusim, recounts the personal story of his decision to pursue the rabbinate. He asks, "After all, who was I? Just a Jew back from the dark woodwork of the Inquisition after 500 years? Could I aspire to learn as much as people who has been Jewish all their lives...?"
  • Los Judios Nuevos: The Plight of the Anusim
    Rabbi Juan Mejía discusses some typical Latin American oral traditions that attest to the Jewish origins of some of its inhabitants.
  • Researching a Name New
    Southern Californian Enrique A Navarro-Pinto tells the story of how researching his name led to the discovery of his Jewish roots. Be sure to check out the rest of the website, Am I Jewish?: Questions and Answers as it offers many resources for those interested in tracing their Jewish ancestry.
  • Reclaiming Jewish Traditions in Mexico New
    Rabbi Daniel Mehlman, of Southern California, was asked to provide guidance to a group of crypto-Jewish Mexicans practicing Judaism in a Mexicali home on their own, without rabbi or synagogue. This is the story of his visit.
  • Sparks of Holiness Rekindled
    Through the stories of anusim from Mexico, Spain, Portugal, and Bolivia, Rabbi Daniel Ginerman and Shumith HaLevi answer the question of why Crypto-Jewish families don't just come out openly as Jews and put the Inquisition in the past.
  • Amazon Conversion
    With the help of New York rabbi, Marcelo Bronstein, hundreds of Peruvian descendants of Jewish merchants are reclaiming their heritage.
  • The Inquisition: Full Circle New
    The story of Nuria Guasch Vidal, a crypto-Jew from Barcelona who discovered her family's secret when her grandfather lay on his deathbed and pulled her aside, instructing her not to allow a priest in the room once he died.
  • Wandering Jew Grupo Hispano celebrates a buen 5767
    A Jewish Journal article about a group of Chicano Crypto-Jews who "came out" as Jews and now are members of Whittier California's, Beth Shalom Synagogue.
  • Finding Their Way Home New
    Andree Aelion Brooks gives an overview of the hurdles faced by bnei anousim who seek to join traditional Jewish communities as well as some of the outreach programs designed to help them with integration. The sense of exclusion has led many anousim to take on leadership roles by organizing their own communities and entering the rabbinate.
  • Latina Discovers Her Jewish Heritage Explains MysteryNew
    The story of Gloria Trujillo, a board member of the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies (SCJS). Ms. Trujillo says that there exist many Latino families of the Southwest that either haven't yet made the connection to their Jewish heritage, or choose to still keep their secret. Trujillo makes herself available to help other Latinos who think their family might be descendants of crypto-Jews, both through her geneological research and her work for the SCJS.

Culture & Folklore

  • "Let it go to the garlic!": Evil Eye and the Fertility of Women Among the Sephardim
    Rosemary Levy Zumwalt examines the belief and ritual surrounding "mal ojo" (the evil eye) among Sephardic communities. She focuses on the prominent position of women in maintaining the evil eye belief system.
  • Preserving the Heritage New
    Renee Levine Melammed, author of A Question of Identity: Iberian Conversos in Historical Perspective, writes about the practices of crypto-Jewish women of Spain and how they managed to observe some Jewish holidays, especially Yom Kippur, even after the forced conversions and under the watchful eye of the Church.
  • Converso Dualities in the First Generation: The Cancioneros New
    Cancioneros are collections of popular poems that flourished in the fifteen- century. Often satirical and irreverent, using plain language and simple rhyme, the poems dealt with current events, people, and cultural norms. The Cancioneros provide a glimpse into "the converso situation and its early dualities." Many authors of the poems were conversos of the first generation, as was the first compiler of their work, Juan Alfonso de Baena. Several poems use Hispanized Hebrew idioms, and many attack as well as defend conversos. (From Jewish Social Studies Volume 4, Number 3, by Yirmiyahu Yovel.)
  • Texas Mexican Secret Spanish Jews Today
    From Sefarad.org. An interesting article by Anne deSola Cardoza on how Jewish food, oral traditions, culture, and secret religious customs are in evidence today in the folklore, habits, and practices of the descendants of early settlers in South Texas and the nearby areas of Northern Mexico.
  • Flour Tortillas and Other Jewish Legacies of Colonial Texas
    Charles M. Robinson, historian and McAllen, Texas author, discusses the unleavened tortilla and other culinary traditions of the crypto-Jews of the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.
  • Cross Embracing Stars Of David: Image New
    Photo of a Texas tombstone most likely belonging to a Crypto Jew forced to convert to Catholicism. Also, an interesting blog dedicated to the history, meaning, and usage of the Star of David in various cultures.
  • Manifestations of Crypto Judaism in the American Southwest
    Article by Shulamith Halevy; appeared in Jewish Folklore & Ethnology Review 18(1-2), pp. 68-76, 1996.
  • La Herencia Magazine: The Heritage & History that is New Mexico
    An indispensable resource for those interested in borderlands history and culture of New Mexico and the Southwest. Often covers personal stories of the area's crypto-Jewish inhabitants. Edited and published by Ana Pacheco (Be sure to also check out her fascinating genealogy page).
  • Judeo-Spanish Ballads from New York (e-book) New
    The Sephardic community of New York City, numbering over twenty-five thousand, is an excellent source of ballads representative of the Judeo-Spanish communities of Turkey, Morocco, the Balkans, and South America. Maír José Benardete collected the ballads from mainly women older than forty years of age. Their archaic ballad repertoires retain many features of the Spanish ballad tradition as it existed at the time of the expulsion from Spain. Many narrative types date back to medieval times and still survive among Sephardic Jews.

Book Reviews: Secret Jews of the Southwest

  • Remnants of Crypto-Jews Among Hispanic Americans New
    The author, Gloria Golden, first became acquainted with Crypto-Jews of the Southwest while taking a photography course in New Mexico. She began taking portraits and recording the oral histories of conversos. Golden states that she was "not specifically searching for Jews, but for remnants of Judaism practiced by people living in Catholic communities.” Read more about her work in Glimpses of a Secret, a review of her exhibit presented at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center in Foster City, CA.
  • To The End of the Earth: A History of the Crypto-Jews of New Mexico
    By Stanley M. Hordes, Columbia University Press, 2006; reviewed by Abraham D. Lavender, PhD. See also WhirledView's excellent Review.
  • The Heart Is a Mirror: The Sephardic Folktale New
    Tamar Alexander-Frizer, chair of the Folklore Program and director of the Gaon Center for Ladino Culture at Ben-Gurion University, presents a study of Judeo-Spanish folktales based on over four thousand stories told by descendents of the Spanish Diaspora. Contains an analysis of several genres present in the folktales, including legends, ethical tales, fairy tales, novellas, and humorous tales, as well as a discussion of the folktale's role in helping to create a cohesive group identity. The book's table of contents is available here.

Links updated on March 24, 2008