Notable Crypto-Jews

The first usage of the word Crypto-Jew (with Crypto meaning "secret) dates back to 1893 as published in a British Journal article. However, the earliest recognizable instances of Crypto-Jews were in Belmonte, Portugal . This was a community believed to be established in 1297. Another term used is the Hebrew-language word Anusim, stemming from the Hebrew word Anus or Anusa which means coerced. This is a classification of Jews who left Judaism forcibly. Usually their departure involved joining another religion. Other terms employed to refer to Crypto-Jews are:

• Meshumadim - Stemming from the Hebrew word meshumad or "self destroyed", these were Jews who voluntarily abandoned the practice of Judaism (fully or partially) during the Spanish Inquisition. Essentially, these were the willing converts.
• Marranos - This is a term that applies to those Jews that were coerced and baptized. Originally the word was used in place of crypto or secret Jews. It has a negative association with the word Marrano stemming from the Spanish word for swine or pig (Latin word verres or " wild boar" ).

A fascinating occurrence in that while many were converted by force to either the Catholic or Protestant sect of Christianity, they still kept many traditions related to Judaism throughout the centuries. The traditions upheld include but are not limited to:

1. Circumcision.
2. Lighting candles Friday night before the Jewish Sabbath.
3. Abstaining from eating pork, a prohibited animal according the Jewish laws of Kashruth

Terms in Crypto-Judaism

Execution or Blood Cleansing Process. Palace of the Forgotten, Granada, Spain.

There are many concepts involved surrounding Crypto-Jews. However, one key concept which was systematically in place as a means of checking ones lineage included limpieza de Sangre or "blood cleanliness" - This was one of the main methods of checking one's blood cleanliness or blood purity; meaning that one was free of Jewish or Muslim blood. The first blood purity statutes were enacted in 1449 after the anti-Converso riots, also known as the Toledo Revolt of 1449. This concept evolved in the mid-late 15th century and included but was not limited to the following applications:

• Preventing the participation of Jews in different areas of civic life.
• Forced testimony before elders and witnesses to uphold and obey the rules and customs of the Church.
• Ostracizing anyone and their families who were found to be of an impure bloodline.

Central figures in Crypto-Judaism

See also King David, Ottoman Empire , Oliver Cromwell

Dona Grasia Nasi Mendes.

Tombstone of Don Isaac Abarbanel.

• Abraham Senior (1412- 1493) - A major figured during the Spanish inquisition. Rabbi, Banker and politician. He was one of the more outspoken figures during the Spanish expulsion. His lineage can be traced back to King David of Israel and Judah. Abraham Senior was also a part of a delegation representing Jews in Spain protesting against the Spanish expulsion of 1492. He was the last Chief rabbi of Castile and was forcibly converted to Catholicism at the age of 80 .
• Grasia Nasi Mendes (1510- 1569) - Also known as Beatrice Nasi or Dona Gracia. She was one of the wealthiest woman in the world during the early 1500's. Along with her family she fled the Alhambra Decree and subsequent expulsion of Jews from Spain. Similar to Solomon Ashkenazi, she too rose to a high level within the government of the Ottoman Empire.
• Antonio Fernández Carvajal ( 1590-1659) - He was a key figure in the movement of Jews to the United Kingdom. Antonio was a Crypto Jew who came to England but was forced to reveal his identity publicly in order to protect Antonio Rodrigues Robles from an almost fatal judgment against him due to his Spanish nationality. Carvajal, along with several other established men came to Oliver Cromwell in search for help. The call for help went to higher authorities and finally a positive answer was given in the form of assurances by Cromwell: freedom to worship freely in private and a gesture of goodwill through the return of seized property .
• Isaac Cardoso ( 1603- 1683) - Also known as Fernando Cardoso. He was a physician, philosopher and writer. His parents were Marrano. Cardoso lived for many years in Madrid, Spain. He ultimately became the Chief physician of Madrid.
• Don Isaac Abarbenel (1437-1508): A 15th century commentary on the old testament, he decided to willingly leave Spain, instead of openly practicing Judaism with the permission of Queen Isabella1 of Spain; the first reigning Queen of Spain at the time.
• Solomon Ben Nathan Ashkenazi (1520-1602): He rose to a high level within the Ottoman Empire; gaining the role as Grand Vizier. He also became an Ottoman ambassador to Austria over time. One major contribution that he made was helping Venetian Jews . He helped them attain refuge in Turkey after their expulsion to Venice. He did so through his high level political connections within the Ottoman Empire.
• Isaac Cardoso (1603- 1683): He settled in Verona, Italy.

Countries of escape

See also Communism, Hungary.

Flag of Hungary.

There were many countries that Jews fled to during the Spanish Inquisition. This included the Ottoman empire as well as Italy. Some famous examples included but are not limited to:

Bet Eliahu Synagogue. Belmonte, Portugal.

While the more well-known Crypto-Jews immediately following the Spanish Inquisition is one of the most well known examples of the 16th century, there were also examples in the 20th century. A key difference of Jews hiding their Judaism in the 20th century is that they were not necessarily forced to convert. However, the discovery of ones Jewish identity by the wrong person or group of people in 20th century Europe could, and often did mean danger. These examples include but are not limited to:

• Hungary - During the Holocaust over a half a million Jews were murdered in Hungary. In the years following Hungary fell under Communist rule ( 1956-1989). Many Jews living in Communist Hungary were Crypto Jews in that they wouldn't reveal their true identity for fear of death or other anti-Semitic gestures.

• Chuetas (pronounced Xuetas) of Majorca - This particular community's conversion took place in the late 1430s. The word Chueta comes from the Balearic (Catalan) definition for "pork lard" since often times the secret Jews of the Balearic Islands, who were forced to convert, keep boiling pork lard on their porch. The term Chueta was one of abuse. This population that was forced to live separately from the rest of the Majorcan population.
• Belmonte, Portugal - One of the first signs of this community dated back to the 12th century. An area located between Spain and Portugal, the conversos of Belmonte kept their secrecy all the way until the early 1900's when they were discovered by Samuel Schwartz. This is one of the more recently discovered Converso communities made. Discovered in 1917, many of the Jews at that time still feared different forms of persecution should they be revealed as Jewish. One of the earliest signs of a Jewish community in Belmonte was in 1297 via the Bet Eliahu synagogue.
• Brazil - With the arrival of the Europeans to the Americas, the Jews were among the first and most eager ones to settle in the new lands, seeking for the religious freedom that was negated to them in Europe, as well as seeking new and better economic opportunities. As Cristãos-Novos ("New Christians") many settled in Brazil and some settled in regions away from the new centers of power in order to avoid the Portugese Inquisition. and many continued their hidden practices in the arid Sertão region of Northeastern Brazil, as documented in the film "A Estrela Oculta do Sertão", by Elaine Eiger and Luize Valente.

Modern-day Crypto-Jews

In Theodore Ross's article Shalom on the Range there is a very well laid out discovery of Crypto Jewish Ancestry. Citing a New York Times article Ross points out many examples of modern day Crypto Jews during his research. Daniel Yocum was found to be a Crypto Jew and ultimately paved the way for the discovery of a Crypto Jewish community in New Mexico. He revealed this during a New York Times interview . Additionally, one of his roommates Perry Pena was also able to trace his family and their respective customs back to New Mexico. Ultimately there were many instances of Crypto Jews discovered in present day New Mexico; many of whom have their roots in Portugal and Spain.

See also

• Spanish Inquisition
• The Jewish People

Explore more about notable Crypto-Jews

• Conversos on the MyHeritage Knowledge base
• Alhambra Decree project at Geni
• New Mexico Ethnicity Distribution at MyHeritage
• Hungary’s Secret: New Study by MyHeritage Reveals that Hungary Has the World’s Second largest percentage of Population with Jewish Ancestry on the MyHeritage blog
• Did your Abuelita…? Seeking Jewish Heritage
• Beyond Crypto Judaism II
• To the End of the Earth- A History of the Crypto - Jews of New Mexico by Stanley M. Hordes
• A Righteous Woman: Dona Gracia Mendes Nasi
• Beginning Hungarian Genealogy
• From Spanish Court to Italian Ghetto Isaac Cardoso: A Study in Seventeenth-Century Marranism and Jewish Apologetics

References

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