Israeli Yeshiva Pilot Program

What’s happening with the Crypto-Jewish Return Movement? 2: 46

Jerusalem - the current status of the Crypto-Jews (or secret Jews) hasn't changed in 200 years, since the last Auto de Fe (burnt alive at the stake) in 1830 Mexico City. These Jews are the descendants of the Sephardi Jews who were forced to convert in Spain & Portugal & who went into hiding during the time of the Inquisitions, which raged for over 300 years.

Since the 1970's, perhaps influenced by the TV Movie "Roots", little by little these Crypto-Jews have been trying to make it back to be accept within the open publicly Jewish world. They've tried to do this not only with very little help or support - but also with political barriers and obstacles that were erected to prevent their come back.

Here’s what you need to know!

What has happened over time?

Individuals and families were helped over the years (mainly by Rabbis in USA) to either convert, or "return", so they could join regular Jewish communities as halakhic Jews, worldwide. But in Latin American countries, they not allowed to become members of recognized Jewish communities since 1927. So these converts had to create their own communities and did that over time. The Israeli government calls them "emerging communities" to distinguish them from the "recognized communities".

The second barrier developed in 2016 by the Israeli Ministry of Interior was to redefine who can "qualify" as a convert for the "right of return" (to make Aliyah). They changed it to mean that only those who had converted with a recognized Jewish community could qualify! Because of the decree against converts to join as members Jewish communities since 1927, all the converts in Latin American countries are not able to meet that Israeli Ministry requirement. They're therefore banned from making Aliyah to Israel - but they are halakhically Jewish by conversion (as members in those "emerging communities").

What are we doing for them today?
We have Batei Dinim in Israel who are willing to "rescue" these Jews who already converted, or "returned". They can redo their conversion, or return process, by these Rabbis in Israel. So long as at the same time they're a member of a recognized Jewish community in Israel. And on that "second certificate" (of conversion or "return") these Sephardi Jews (Spanish and Portuguese) can make aliyah!

We have a pilot program with a Yeshiva in Israel who has accepted three young men (18-21) who will come to Israel as students, study for a period of time, be a member of the local community, and get a second conversion (or return) certificate. And then they will make Aliyah from here in Israel. They can join the IDF part-time as an option. After Aliyah we'll help them to either join the IDF full-time, or find some other kind of gainful employment. The cost for this program is $10k per student - so $30k. After this pilot, the program will be opened up to accept young women, older men and women singles, and eventually accept families to come here and get their Jewish identity confirmed by the Rabbis.

Why has this project gained such priority NOW?
1. The Sephardi Jews (of the forced converts) have suffered these injustices (1st to their Jewish ancestors, and 2nd to themselves for the past 30-50 years) in not being accepted while following all of the Halakha (Jewish Law) explained to them. Many of their ancestors who know the customs and traditions of their family are passing away, and no longer available to help their descendants to provide knowledge.

2.) The double injustice of not being accepted by any of the recognized Jewish communities in Latin America, plus the newly redefined criteria for being accepted as a convert for Aliyah to Israel, has made them into "captives" in Latin American countries. And the injustice of being "captives" who cannot come to the homeland (like all other converts) is a enormous travesty of Justice.

3. Some believe these injustices against Sephardi secret Jews is one cause of the recent huge increases in antisemitism and the wars with Hamas, Hezballah and the Houthis (all the proxies of Iran). According to the Torah, we are obligated to help our fellow Jews, especially to help them recover what was lost (see Dvarim 22:1). The fact that a majority of the Jewish people are not helping the secret Jews, and most aren't even aware of this travesty, is an enormous chillul HaShem. The entire Jewish peoplehood are suffering from this situation.

We have three non-profits dedicated to helping these people! One in the USA (with this GIVEBUTTER account) called Friends of Bnei Anousim. And we have 2 in Israel: (a) Ezra L'Anousim, and b) Amishav (created by HaRav Eliyahu Avichail in Israel). These 3 non-profits can accept wire transfers of donations with a letter "targeting" the funds to a specific project (which by law has to be honored by the non-profits).

What can you do to help reverse this injustice?1.

You can donate to the USA non-profit GIVEBUTTER account
ALL the donations will be used for this Yeshiva Pilot Program.

2. You can wire transfer a donation for this cause (targeting the donation to these projects) either to the USA non-profit or the Israel non-profit.

yaffbatya @ yahoo.com

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for your help and support