Spaniards, Portuguese whose ancestors were forced to convert join efforts to support Israel

IMRA ^ | 5-26-09

[SJackson]

Spaniards and Portuguese whose Jewish ancestor were forced to convert during the Inquisition join efforts to support Israel

May 26, 2009
- Press Release -
www.shavei.org
For further details contact: Arik Puder - Spokesman at ArikPuder@gmail.com
or +972 52 5820820

For the first time, Bnei Anousim in Europe
enlist to join Israel's Hasbara (Public Diplomacy) efforts

Dozens of participants, whose ancestors were forced to convert to
Catholicism during the Inquisition over 500 years ago, gathered this past
weekend in Barcelona for a special seminar run by Shavei Israel to train
them in making Israel's case to the media

Barcelona (25 May 2009) - Amid rising anti-Semitism and anti-Israel
sentiment throughout Europe, and especially in Spain, the Shavei Israel
organization convened a special seminar this past weekend in Barcelona (from
May 22 to 24, 2009) with the aim of training Bnei Anousim to become
effective advocates for Israel and its cause in their home countries.
A number of experts on Israel advocacy were brought in to take part,
including Dr. Raanan Gissin, a former spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon, and Ambassador Einat Kranz-Nieger, Israel's Deputy Ambassador
to Spain. Both conducted training sessions for the participants and provided
them with guidance and tools for defending the Jewish state in the local and
international media.

The seminar was held at the Jewish community center in Barcelona (known as
the CIB), and drew some 70 participants, mostly from Spain and Portugal, all
of whom are Bnei Anousim (whom historians refer to by the derogatory term
Marranos).

This marks the first time in the history of the State of Israel that Bnei
Anousim are actively volunteering to be part of Israel's hasbara efforts in
their own countries.

The idea behind the seminar arose several months ago, when dozens of Bnei
Anousim participated in a demonstration in support of Israel that was held
in front of the Israeli Embassy in Madrid during the recent conflict in
Gaza. Many had traveled for hours to Madrid for the sole purpose of
expressing their support for the State of Israel.

According to Shavei Israel Chairman, Michael Freund, there are tens of
thousands, and possibly hundreds of thousands of Bnei Anosim in Spain and
Portugal who are conscious of their identity and their special relationship
with Israel and the Jewish People. "The fact that Bnei Anousim are taking
the initiative and expressing a desire to take part in Israel advocacy
efforts in their own countries is an exciting development," Freund noted.
"The Bnei Anousim can serve as a wonderful corps of goodwill ambassadors for
the Jewish state, and it behooves us to reach out to them and forge a
stronger relationship with them," he said.

About Shavei Israel

Shavei Israel is a non-profit organization founded by Michael Freund, who
immigrated to Israel from the United States, with the aim of strengthening
ties between the State of Israel and the Jewish people and descendants of
Jews around the world. The organization is currently active in nine
countries and provides assistance to a variety of different communities such
as the Bnei Menashe of India, the Bnei Anousim in Spain, Portugal and South
America, the Subbotnik Jews of Russia, the Jewish community of Kaifeng in
China, descendants of Jews living in Poland, and others.
Shavei Israel currently has emissaries working with Bnei Anousim in Palma de
Majorca, Spain; Porto, Portugal; and Recife, Brazil. In Jerusalem, Shavei
Israel operates the Spanish and Portuguese-language Machon Miriam Institute
for Return, where hundreds of Bnei Anousim have studied Judaism and prepared
for conversion or return by Israel's Chief Rabbinate.
For more information visit: www.shavei.org

For further details contact: Arik Puder - Spokesman at ArikPuder@gmail.com
or +972 52 5820820

Following is some historical background on the Bnai Anousim

Bnai Anousim in Spain

The Jewish community in Spain in the early Middle Ages was one of the oldest
and most successful Diaspora Jewish communities. Despite this, from 1391
onwards a series of terrible disturbances and great tribulations befell the
local Jewish community. One of the direct results was an unprecedented
wave of forced conversions. These events continued on through 1492, when
they reached their peak, and the remaining Jews were formally expelled from
Spain. Many of those who had been compelled to convert to Catholicism -
known by the Hebrew term Bnai Anousim - remained behind, where they
continued to preserve their Jewish identity and to practice Jewish tradition
covertly. As a result, this unique phenomenon is still evident even today,
even though the Inquisition invested enormous efforts over the centuries to
eradicate it.

Bnai Anousim in Portugal

In 1497, the Portuguese monarch forced the Jews of his kingdom to convert to
Catholicism. Despite this, these "New Christians" did their utmost to remain
loyal to their Jewish roots, secretly passing on their identities down
through the generations, despite the wrath of the Inquisition. Many of those
who were caught practicing Judaism in secret were made to pay a heavy price
by the Inquisition for their fidelity to the faith of their ancestors. One
of the most famous examples of Portuguese Bnai Anousim was the community of
Belmonte, in northern Portugal, which was discovered 80 years ago by a
visiting Jewish engineer. Two decades ago, the Bnai Anousim of Belmonte were
formally restored to the Jewish people by a rabbinical court sent from
Israel.

Bnai Anousim in Brazil

When the doors of the New World swung open in the 16th century, Brazil came
to play an important role for those with initiative, opening new
opportunities for a better life. In addition, because of its geographical
distance from Portugal, many Bnai Anousim saw Brazil as a possible place of
refuge that might put them beyond the reach of the Inquisition. Nonetheless,
the long arm of the Church reached across the Atlantic, and continued to
pursue the Bnai Anousim. But many remained undeterred, and continued to
preserve Jewish rituals and traditions in secret, passing down their covert
Jewish identity from generation to generation.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

[Radl]

In the late 1970’s I believe, in northern Portugal there were Crypto Jews who still practiced Judism behind closed doors at home while attending Mass on Sundays. I think they lived in Belmonte. Who knows, there might still be some today.
Portugal had a population of around one million back around the time of the Inquisition. A large number (anywhere between 100,000 to 700,000...nobody knows for sure) fled Spain into Portugal. Many eventually converted and blended in with society. It is a rare Portuguese who does not have Jewish blood in him or her.

[cake_crumb]

Wonderful news. Israel needs all the help she can get.

[dsc]

“whose ancestors were forced to convert to
Catholicism”

No one was forced.

Unless you consider, “America: Love it or Leave It” to be “forcing” people to become patriots.

[CaptainAmiigaf]

“Forced to convert to Catholicism” meant you had two choices. You converted or you died. Simple.
“America, Love it or leave it”. That is a statement of attitude only. There is absolutely NO force or compulsion behind it. Deep wish , maybe, that’s all. Just take note of the loud, angry cadre of “America Haters” making very lucrative livings from their “beliefs”
It is the “Haters” who would whine and wail the loudest if they WERE compelled to live in the countries they profess to admire so much.

[Varda]

It's too bad these people ancestors helped to conquer and subjugate the Spanish. Upon reconquista the Spanish offered an amnesty to their conquerors; convert and swear allegiance to the crown of Spain. Those that took the amnesty but never really converted were just trying to scam the system. I have no sympathy for liars.

[Hawthorn]

>> “Forced to convert to Catholicism” meant you had two choices. You converted or you died. <<

But there was a third choice, namely, exile. That’s why there came to be a number of Spanish-speaking Jewish communities in places like Salonika.

Moreover, believe it or not, Franco’s government saved a few thousand of these Sephardic Jews from the Nazis during WW II when they were given retroactive Spanish citizenship.

(Granted that Franco could and should have saved many more Jews. But I’d opine that a few is better than none.)

[Natural Law]

"whose ancestors were forced to convert to Catholicism”

The intent of the Inquisition was to purge the Iberian peninsula of the effects of 400 years of Islamic rule and Sharia law. Many of the so-called Jews were actually Muslims whose ancestors were Jews.

[Jewbacca]

You are an idiot.

[dervish]

unbelievable responses on this thread.

Makes one understand leftist Jews alliance with anyone but Christians.

[Jewbacca]

I suspect this is largely of the Roman Catholic teaching that preaches that the RCC was completely innocent in the inquisition -— you know, because the RCC only persecuted Roman Catholics (well, and any non-Roman Catholic Christian).

Ignore the step of “convert or die” or “convert or be expelled -— to nowhere, because there is almost nowhere to go.”

You know, because the “covert or die” were “political” not religious.

It’s disingenous and ignores the (then) status of the RCC as a polictical power.

[SJackson]

unbelievable responses on this thread. Makes one understand leftist Jews alliance with anyone but Christians.

Can't argue with you there, but should point out it's a conservative thing, "true conservatives", not the GOP. Unfortunately that message doesn't come out.

[Varda]

As a conservative I see nothing wrong with a nation taking it's country back.
The losers weren't "forced" to become Spanish, they could take the amnesty or leave.

"According to surviving records, Jews helped the Arabs in many places. From Syria to Spain, they opened city gates to the besieging armies; and in Spain, they often garrisoned the captured cities to enable the Muslims to sweep on to further conquests. " The Jews of Arabia

"Jews on occasion helped Muslim troops against Christians (as in the initial Arab conquest of Spain) and some Jews held prominent positions in Muslim governments at war with the Christians. Even when they did not actually take part in the fighting, "Jews usually rejoiced when Christian territory fell into Islamic hands." The Jew As Ally of the Muslim: Medieval Roots of Anti-Semitism

[Jewbacca]

Some Jews did, yes. As did some Roman Catholic Spanards.

Truth of the matter is the most of the Jews were loyal Spanards, immigrated long ago, made themselves rich and successful by hard work, but were considered “outsiders.”

A greedy totalitarian government, coupled with a corrupt church (at the time), with the help of kapos, decided to take their wealth by forcing them to “covert” (or effectively die), then proceeded to prosecute the forced converts (converts called “marranos” -— “pigs”) and take their money and land anyway.

Basic racism, 101.

I don’t hold this against the RCC or Spain; things happen.

I do hold it against bigots so blinded by their loyalty to their church to believe they did no wrong (an especially ironic move since the current pope was instrumental in exposing the evil that was the Inquisition and was on the team that set out to get an official apology issued and a retraction of certain decress).

[SJackson]

As a conservative I see nothing wrong with a nation taking it's country back. The losers weren't "forced" to become Spanish, they could take the amnesty or leave.

Exactly, convert or get the h*ll out. Conservative though perhaps, but un-American through and through. If that's conservatism, it's a clearly bigoted ideology which has no place in the United States.

Really burns you deep down that Israel is doing this, doesn't it.

[SJackson]

Largely irrelevant whether it was the Church or religiously motivated monarchs. To the victims, who apparently deserved what they got.

[Varda]

The 15th century Spanish evaluated events according to their own culture. It was that group that won the war in their own country. As winners they determined the terms of surrender. It’s obvious they considered other religious/cultural beliefs as harmful to a new nation. It doesn’t look like racism to me for a country to be willing to call individuals identified as former subjugators, fellow countrymen. This is the opposite of racism.

[Varda]

“un-American through and through”

Exactly, we aren’t talking about the USA. Other countries and other times have/had other cultures.

[rmlew]

It’s true and completely out of context. The Vandal states, Arian and Catholic, gave Jews (who lived their for centuries before the Vandals invaded) the choice of conversion or death.
Like dissident Christians (Catholics in Arian states and Arianists in Catholic states), Jews saw the Moors as liberators and did not resist. Not that the later Moors were tolerant. The Almoyed dynasty were brital to Christians, Jews, and dissident Muslims.
But Catholic Spaniards invented a myth to help their reconquista. OF course, today we have nominal Catholic Spaniards inviting in Muslims.