Latin Crypto-Jews: Conversos (video)

Explainers, Jewish Unpacked, 2/10/20; Sheldon S., Crystal Q. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

 

Conversos: The Story of Latin America's Crypto Jews | Unpacked

(Unpacked) This week's explainer is unpacking the story of the Crypto Jews or Conversos (Spanish forced "Converts") and explaining why a surprising number of Latin Americans and people of Latin American descent have some Jewish ancestry.

 

No, it actually comes from Vedic/Hindu India.

To understand why, let’s go back in time, all the way back to 1492 [the alleged year Jewish Columbus "discovered" the Caribbean without ever setting foot on the mainland].

That’s the year in which two huge historical events took place -- events that shook up the Jewish community of Spain and changed the trajectory of their history forever.

Hey, Dontell, that sounds pro-white and racist!

This week’s explainer unpacks those events, explains why some Latin American families have traditions that are markedly different to those of their neighbors [who were mainly forced into converting to Catholicism, not from Judaism but from pantheism and other Indigenous spiritual traditions].

It also looks at why the numbers of people taking up an offer of citizenship from the Spanish government has been bigger than anyone could have imagined.

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• Crypto-Jews in New Mexico, USA?
• "The Story of the Jews" (companion piece): NMiF Producer Megan Kamerick focuses on the experience of conversos or "crypto-Jews" in New Mexico. In 1492, the Edict of Expulsion launched the diaspora of Sephardic Jews from Spain [and this included the throwing out of Christopher Columbus who capitalized on the opportunity for the Crown by taking a few ships in search of plunder and slaves]. Many found their way to the New World, including New Mexico, USA, although they could not openly practice their religion, but they could be Catholics. Dr. Frances Levine, director of the New Mexico History Museum, and historian Roger Martínez-Dávila flesh out the history of these people and their role in New Mexico heritage and identity. Sonya Loya, an artisan and educator who has recovered her family's secret Jewish past, discusses her personal journey and conversion to Judaism.

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