Who Are The Crypto-Jews? Understanding the Crypto-Judaic Experience offers a fascinating three-part series exploring remarkable stories of survival and hidden identity. When Jews were forcibly converted to Christianity and expelled from the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century, many fled to distant corners. Others remained, secretly maintaining Jewish practices under the facade of Catholicism. This compelling series, presented by experts from the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies, reveals how these “conversos” and their descendants preserved traditions across centuries, creating hidden Jewish communities from Spain and Portugal to Mexico, the American Southwest, and beyond.
- 1ST SESSION – November 19: Up-close and Personal; They Do Exist: Meet our presenters and discover who crypto-Jews are today through personal narrative and the trailer for “Children of the Inquisition.” Register for November 19
- 2ND SESSION – December 3: Hidden in History-Unveiled at Last: Explore the timeline from expulsion to 20th-century rediscovery, meet famous descendants who shaped history, and enjoy Ladino music. Register for December 3
- 3RD SESSION – December 10: Secrecy and Deceit-Survival at Any Cost: Examine preserved customs, foods, and practices, learn about Portugal’s Belmonte Jews, and view interviews with modern conversos. Register for December 10
Presented by Blanca Carrasco, President of the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies, alongside Corinne Joy Brown, award-winning author and editor of HaLapid journal, this immersive exploration of crypto-Judaic history and its modern revival promised to fascinate. Through personal narratives, historical timelines, examination of preserved customs, and clips from documentaries, participants will discover how secret Jewish communities survived and continue to emerge today. Each session stands alone while building toward a comprehensive understanding of this chapter in Jewish history.