FAQ: Are You Sephardic?

A Marranito is a Mexican gingerbread-like pastry shaped like a pig.

Shortly after we embraced the Torah in 2000, after Shabbat Service one Saturday afternoon, a woman came up to my wife and I and told us that we were "Marranos." At first I was taken aback by her comment; I couldn't believe what I had just heard. Keep in mind, I'm not the most fluent, Spanish-speaking Texican but I know what a Marrano is--it's a pig! But the expression on her face was so happy and excited-like; I could tell that she wasn't trying to insult us but actually compliment us. I thought that maybe she had no idea what she was saying so I quickly repeated the word in my head, maybe I could tell if she was trying to say something else in Spanish. Nope, "Mar-ahhh-nose" sounds like "Mar-ahhh-nose." I had heard correctly, she was calling us pigs. Before I could wipe the confused look on my face she began to explain what she meant.

During the Spanish Inquisition (1478-1834) the Jews who lived in Spain, the Sephardic Jews, were either expelled, tortured, killed or forced to convert to Catholicism. Some believe that in order to prove that they had truly converted to Catholicism, they were forced to eat a piece of pork in public--hence the name 'Marrano.' This name has since been used to describe the 'Secret Jews' or 'Crypto Jews' who were forced to convert to Catholicism but kept their Jewish identity in secret. In Hebrew they are called Anusim which means 'Coerced Ones.'

Many of these Sephardic Anusim fled to Arabic counties in the Middle East, to North Africa, and to the Americas. Some historians believe that many of the people who came across the Atlantic with Christopher Columbus in 1492, were actually Sephardic Jews fleeing from Spanish-Catholic persecution. Eventually, the Catholic Church would follow them to the New World.

During the Mexican Inquisition (1571-1820) the Jewish people were also tortured, killed or forced to convert to Catholicism. The 'Marranos' would continue to practice Judaism in secret and as generations passed, their secret Jewish traditions where handed down without an explanation. These traditions became unusual but unquestioned practices. For instance, women would light two candles on Friday evenings but they wouldn't know why; it was just something that their mothers had taught them.

Within the past few decades, more and more Sephardic Anusim have surfaced in the Southwestern United States; namely New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Arizona and California. Their eyes have been opened and their hearts are turning back to the culture of their forefathers. Their secret traditions are being traced back to Judaism and their true heritage as part of the Chosen People of Adonai has been revealed. Many believe that the Latinos who are now embracing the Torah and Hebraic traditions are actually long-lost Anusim, 'Marranos' being called back home.

When this woman called us 'Marranos' after Shabbat Service that afternoon, this is what she meant. She assumed that we were answering the call of our hearts to return to Judaism. It sounded convincing or at least I was convinced. But before we could say, "Yes we are Marranos" we first had to ask ourselves, do we have any of these tell-tale traditions or practices in our families? Or do we have any actual Sephardic Jewish ancestors in our family trees? After reflecting on our childhood and the religious practices of our grandparents and after thoroughly interrogating our parents, we could not identify the traditions nor could we find any Jewish ancestors. So no, I am not Sephardic, but I am a fellow heir (Ephesians 3:6).


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