Bnei Anousim: pictures

The Bnei Sefarad community in Cuba is an emerging Jewish community that consists of descendants of Sephardic and Portuguese 'Anousim' (those who were forcibly converted in the time of the Inquisition) and have gone through a deep process of reconnecting with the Jewish roots of...

The Beith Hillel community located in Bogota, Colombia had a very nice surprise last month and their happiness was doubled when Rabbi Shimon Yechua, emissary of Shavei Israel in Colombia, brought a new Torah scroll from the United States to the synagogue, a donation from...

Shavei Israel, together with the Beit Midrash Sephardi, have appointed Rabbi Eliyahu Franco as a new emissary to El Salvador, where he has taken up his position to work to strengthen Jewish life in the country. More than 500 years after their Iberian Jewish ancestors were...

Converts: The Journey of Becoming Jewish, a Holyland Productions film, follows several non-Jews from around the world as they go through the conversion process.  The film takes us behind the scenes on their journey of self-discovery as they negotiate relationships with family, friends and significant others....

Recently was the long-awaited inauguration of the Jewish community center of the Sha'ar Shamaim community in Guatemala. As part of the celebrations they were visited by two special guests, friends of Shavei Israel, Rachael Spero and Ariella Lipetz from New York. Rachael writes about her...

As part of our  Maani Center programming, with the help and advice of Shaar Binyamin and our dear friend Federico Pipman, representative of Mama Mía 360, this week there was a special personal stories panel called "Tales of Bnei Anousim." We had, as special guests,...

Wherever our communities may be found, from Chile to China, Ecuador to India, Israel is in their hearts and souls. And so, each year on Yom Ha'Atzmaut, celebrations, songs, parties and other special programs and events are held to celebrate Israel's independence. And so, it...

While most newly married couples are likely to take off for a honeymoon immediately after their wedding, in Jewish tradition a bride and groom continues to celebrate with the community for a week following the wedding. Each day, the bride and groom are treated to...

Everyone at Shavei Israel rejoiced as longtime Shavei employee, Chaya, married our most recent addition, Eliav, earlier this week. But the celebration was more than just that of a wedding, and more than just that of the joy shared by coworkers. This love story has been...