Bnei Anousim

In recent years, hundreds of Spanish Catholics have discovered that family customs have roots in hidden Jewish traditions from Inquisition days; many of these new-found 'bnei anousim' are taking part in efforts to improve Israel's image in Europe BARCELONA - It's been more than 500 years since the Spanish Inquisition, but it's still not the easiest thing being a Jew in Spain these days, and it's even harder being a Catholic and discovering one day that you have deep, Jewish roots. But this is what is happening to a number of Catholics in the Mediterranean country.  Many descendants of 15th century 'Anousim' or 'Marranos' – Jews who were forced to outwardly convert during the Inquisition and camouflage their religious practices – are now trying to return to their roots.
BARCELONA (JTA) -- On the top floor of this city's Jewish community center, a group whose ancestors were cut off from the Jewish people more than 500 years ago are receiving tips and training to become pro-Israel advocates in the 21st century. “We can use cyberspace to circumvent the traditional media,” Raanan Gissin, a former Israeli government spokesman, tells them.
For first time since Inquisition, Portuguese cheese gets kosher seal For the first time since the Spanish Inquisition in Portugal, a dairy product has been given an official kosher certificate. The ground-breaking product is a hard, goat's milk cheese, manufactured by the descendant of Anusim (Jews who were forced to convert to Christianity).
Down a narrow, cobblestone lane in the heart of the northern Portuguese city of Porto stands a centuries-old monument to Jewish valor and ingenuity. Several years ago, workmen renovating a four-story medieval structure at 9 Sao Miguel street in the old Jewish quarter discovered a false wall on the ground floor. Upon removing it, they entered a large and dusty room containing an unusual recess carved into the facade.  
Shavei Israel releases special Jewish New Year machzor incorporating unique liturgy, customs of Sephardic Jews living in northern Amazon region.Sephardic Jews living in northern Brazil's Amazon region have reason to celebrate with the publication of the first Rosh Hashanah machzor (New Year prayer book) which incorporates their unique liturgy and customs.
Newscaster: A delegation of 16 בני אנוסים, commonly referred to as Marranos by historians, visited Israel this week. The participants came from 4 European states and have ancestors who were forced to convert to Catholicism during the Inquisition over 500 years ago. The visit was organized by "שבי ישראל", which works with בני אנוסים throughout the world. Michael Freund, the chair of שבי ישראל spoke with reporter Mark Weiss about the delegation''s visit.
Delegation of 16 Europeans, whose ancestors were forced to convert to Catholicism during inquisition over 500 years ago, seek to renew their ties with Jewish people, state A delegation of 16 Bnai Anousim from Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France arrived in Israel over the weekend. Bnai Anousim (referred to as "Marranos" by historians) is the name for Mediterranean European Jews who were forced to convert to Catholicism on pain of death during the Spanish Inquisition.   
(IsraelNN.com) For the second year in a row, a vivid exhibition tracing the history and experience of the Bnai Anousim (Jews who hid their identity for fear of persecution) is drawing large crowds across Brazil as it tours the vast South American country.www.shavei.org), a Jerusalem-based group that reaches out and assists "lost Jews" seeking to return to the Jewish people.
For years they lit candles in secret, carefully avoided attending church, and hid their Bibles. Now, they have decided to come out into the open. Thousands of descendants of Anousim (known as "Marranos") are seeking to return to Judaism. But along the way it has become clear that even after the Inquisition, they now face a new foe: some Jews are placing obstacles in their path.
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