The “old Jews” of Mexico come out after 500 years
31 July 2010 — I am not sure why someone linked this post to an anti-Semitic (and anti-Mexican) screed on “craigs list”, nor can I do anything about it.
I changed the comments settings to require approval from any new commentators and to flag some “key” words that might be used in normal discussions. Apologies in advance for any minor inconveniences. However, if you’re looking for confirmation of some moronic racist ideology, go elsewhere.
While I hope those that read through these posts learn something about Mexican history and culture, and normally welcome comments (even misguided ones), it’s my website, and I’m free to censure, censor and/or ridicule as I see fit.
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When I started studying Mexican history, I was surprised at how many of the early colonial leaders were “conversos”… Spanish Jews (or their children) who had to convert or leave Spain after Isabel’s conquest of Granada in January 1492. A good chunk of northern Mexico, including what’s now Texas and New Mexico were settled by Tlaxcalan and Converso pioneers (the New Mexico “Spanish” are nearly all of Jewish ancestry, according to recent DNA studies).
Shep Lenchek’s invaluable three-part series for Mexico Connect, “Jews in Mexico: A Struggle for Survival” notes that while most Mexican Jews are descended from immigrants who arrived between 1888 and 1939, there have always been “Crypto-Jews”:
The “Conversos” were under increasing pressure from the Inquisition. Looking for a place in which they could retain their Spanish identity, they focused on Mexico. In 1531 large numbers of them left Spain and Portugal for the New World.
The inquisition had not yet come to Nueva Espagna and the new arrivals soon married into prominent Mexican families, became priests and bishops and enjoyed a 40 year period during which time, many began to practice Judaism openly. Doctors, lawyers. notaries-public, tailors, teachers and silversmiths, they brought much needed skills to the new colony and were well received. They settled in Vera Cruz, Campeche, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, Morelia and Mexico City.
Conversos were not overtly persecuted, but were eventually assimilated into the general population.
The Inquisition was never as virulent in Mexico as it was in Spain, where more than 4,000 people were burned at the stake. Many more were imprisoned for the “Jewish Heresy.” Massacres were instigated that took thousands of lives. By contrast, between 1571 when the Inquisition was established in Mexico and 1821 when it ended, only about 110 people were actually burned at the stake. Perhaps the same number died under torture or in prison, either awaiting trial or after sentencing. There were no popular outcries against Jews. The Inquisition was imposed from Spain. It cannot be blamed on Mexicans.
It’s to the honor of Mexico to report that Lenchek notes:
The only recorded incidents of official anti-Semitism came in the 1930′s. Suffering from a depression, Mexican labor unions pressured the government to enact restrictions on “Chinese and Jewish” immigration. Later in the same decade, neo-Nazi right wingers, financed from Berlin, staged anti-Jewish demonstrations in Mexico City. But not a single act of violence against Jews or Jewish property can be documented.
Which isn’t to say that the “crypo-Jews” weren’t at a disadvantage when it came to remaining Jewish. But 500 years after the Conquest, some are rediscovering their roots… as Roberto Loiederman wrote for the Jewish Journal (posted on New American Media, 16-March-2007) :
… he told me he was going to visit a group of Mexicans practicing Judaism on their own — no rabbi, no shul — it sounded fascinating; I asked if I could come along.I wondered what had led these people — born into Catholic families — to follow Judaism. More than that, I wanted to see Judaism through their eyes. What do they feel when they say the prayers? What is the source of their faith?This was not the first time I’d asked these questions. During the High Holidays, I had attended services at Beth Shalom, where a vibrant group of Latino converts has revitalized that shul.
…Dr. Mario Espinoza, a Mexicali obstetrician-gynecologist, spoke about his certainty that he’s descended from Jews forcibly converted to Christianity centuries ago. He used the Hebrew word anousim (constrained people or forceably converted) rather than Marranos, which means “swine.”
For Mexicans who trace their lineage to anousim, the Inquisition is not ancient history. It continued in Latin America, including Mexico, from the 1500s until the 1800s. During that period, those whose ancestors had been forced to convert from Judaism to Christianity were harassed, tortured and sometimes killed if they were discovered to have continued Jewish practices, which is why those practices continued in secret, if at all.
… Lucia Espinoza mentioned a grandmother who lit candles on Friday night. Lupe Medrano said that when she looked through her late grandfather’s effects, she found a tallit hidden in a box. …
The group that has coalesced around the Medrano home is not the only one like it in Mexico. Far from it. The Web site of Beth Hatefutsoth, the Israel Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv, lists a number of communities of “native Mexican Jews” — located in various parts of Mexico — who trace their origins to anousim.
How many descendants of anousim are there?
“It’s hard to figure out exactly,” said Rabbi Stephen Leon of Congregation B’nai Zion in El Paso, just across the border from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. “I’d only be guessing, but I’d say the number is very large. I have personally ministered to 40 such families. In the 20 years I’ve been here, not a week goes by that I don’t meet someone who tells me about childhood memories of crypto-Jewish practices.”
The Diaspora Museum Web site points out that even after converting to Judaism, “native Mexican Jews” have not been accepted by “traditional Mexican Jews,” nearly all of whom are Orthodox and descended from those who immigrated to Mexico from Europe and the Middle East in the early 1900s.
I lived and worked in the El Paso-Juarez area for four years during the seventies. After returning to San Francisco, I frequently visited friends and family in Juarez, but it just never crossed my mind to seek out or visit local Temples until recently. (I have been in Juarez for three months since May, staying with family.) I was surprised to find that in a city of three million people, no Temple or reference to anything Jewish could be found in the directory. I have not encountered anything remotely like antisemitism, but mention of a Temple or Synagogue or anything Jewish brings blank stares or puzzled looks, as though I were inquiring about UFOs or extraterrestrials.
The all too typical problems of being Jewish in Mexico’s past do not really explain – to me – the complete absence of Judaism in Juarez today. It would seem that Judaism in Juarez has been canceled due to lack of interest. What’s going on?
Ted Davis
tdavis37@aol.com
Well, actually Juarez only has about 1.4 million people. If to that you add the 700-800 thousand in El Paso, then you have a population a little over two million in what’s called “la mancha urbana”, and if you put the two cities together then you would have to consider the Synagogue (s) in El Paso and the Holocaust museum and the small but growing Lubavitch community. I know that jewish famlies from Juarez used to come to El Paso to visit the Temple, so maybe they never saw the need to erect one over there, afterall we’re just one city divided by a river…
I am now 41 years old and since I was a young boy, a little over 8, I was told we were Jews but not to say a word to the world. I will always considered myself a Jew and my wife celebrates the High Holy Days with me. My daughter’s name is Mariana Shavit(almost 2) and my son’s name is Moshe( 5 months). The Mo’el was Dr. Land, a Reformed Jew, and a dear friend of our family. I have a lot to share with you but what my ancestors did, I am alive. May Hashem smile upon you.
Todah Rabah,
Manuel
You are correct about the Jewish blood lines of families from northeast Mexico and southwest Texas. I discovered that I was one of the descendants. I also have Tlaxcala ancestry. My mother’s ancestors included Tomas Sanchez, founder of Laredo, Texas and Joaquin Galan, whose 300,000 acres of land was stolen by Americans starting in 1850. Recent research by several authors have shown that Tomas Sanchez was also descended from numerous royal lines from many European countries like Spain, France, England, Germany, Poland, Hungary, etc. making us truly a cosmic race.
whats your mothers last name
Hello Joel Jacquez,
You have confirmed my suspicions of what had taken place in the family. My last name is Laredo, ancestry stems back to the region of Santander. Descendants also are found in the Philippines. The Philippines was a penal colony for Jews running away from the inquisition. It was a the last place of hiding from the competing Dominicans, Franciscan, and Augustinians.
I was born in Cd. Juarez and lived between the two cities (El Paso) until the age the 10. This message is for Ramon Alvarado. Are you a native of El Paso? Are you related to Victor and Maria Alvarado?
i am descended on two sides from people who settled los adaes in today’s louisiana. when settled as part of nuevo espana, it was in the state of texas-coahuila. although brought up roman catholic, my rearing definitely points to jewdaism. other than my grandfather telling me that his grandfather came from pachuga, hidalgo they covered their trail well, (out of fear) and thus far i cannot connect the dots. HELP!!!!
Does anyone in Cotija de la Paz know anything of anyone named Valencia migrating to the Philippines in the 19th century? My greatgreatgrandmother was a Valencia and Hispanic but none of us trace ancestry to Spain. Valencia is supposed to be a Sephardic name.
Hola unica hija, I have no idea if people immigrated from Cotija de la paz but my husband’s family is directly related to Guizar y Valencia and also from that town, that family is 100 percent jewish, they converted to christianity only to avoid prosecution but either became priests or married within the family to retain the bloodline. email him at mexicankiwi@hotmail.com for more info.
Thanks, Jenne. will do.
I was just told by an elderly family member that our mexican ancestors were in fact Jews (I am a second generation american; our family name is Alvarado). They never mentioned this because they were forced out of the country due to harassment when Pancho Villa took control (?). She mentioned that they were ‘conversos’, and she was catholic, although I never once saw her attend mass or go to church. I am somewhat confused and wondering if there is a way to research this. Any help would be appreciated.
My Name is Jim Reforma, is it possible that my surname is also surname of the great greatgrandfather who’s surname is Reforma who lives in el paso?
We are like the sparks, embers and small flickers of flame that get blown away in the wind from a larger flame. Hashem is slowly gathering and bringing all of us together again. Our minds – our eyes are being opened. The generation of lost souls is being gathered again in this the New Generation.
I was brought up in a family that was different, from other families. My father and mother, never went to church, but she would make us go every Sunday. My grandfather and grandmother
were the same they never went. They my grandparent never celebrated christmas, to them
it was like any other day. They would tell us that pork was very bad for you, so don’t eat it. My grandmother would light candles in her room. They would never allow strangers in their home, it was always family. She would tell us about the
evil eye, el mal ojo. My surnames are Jimenez, Garcia, Granado.
During my genealogical research I have found that judaism runs in my family.My mother was from Durango Mex.She was Cardenas before her marriage. I have seen that name in the list of the inquisition.Her mother was an Ortiz, another jewish name, etc. On my father’s side, from Chihu. Mexico, I also find that there is a jewish connection with the name Hernandez.My mother used to make bunuelos when we were young, a sephardic food,along with capirotada, another sephardic food.She also cooked goat,which seems to have ties to judaism.However, her or my grandmother never spoke a word about judaism,maybe they were crypto jews.
thanks for these posting it shows me that i am not alone in this quest for trueth,I am well aware of the feelings and plight of my people ,” The children of the anousim”.here in texas and mexico.I know that there are millions with the same cultura sefardita.we know who we are we know our people came from the holyland eretz Israel .My mother passed in the year 2000.before she passed she explained to me that judeismo is a religion and a people.Not only are we that but we are a special chosen people to do a work in this world. Thank you for all your up lifting comentarios shalom a todos. manny ramirez.
I have not found my surnames, Ortiz,Cardenas,Hernandez,in ay of the lists, therefore I am assuming my jewish origin. I did find Ayon on the list and have also seen that name on the list of inquisition victims. Can anyone suggest anything?
Hi Robert,
I took the liberty of looking up all three of the surnames you are looking for at http://www.sephardim.com and I found all three listed there – Cardenas, Hernandez and Ortiz. You should view this website and you will find a lot of info that will help you in your search. When you go to the website click on the search names , from there it will take you to another page and you will be able to view the exhaustive list of hispanic surnames with sephardic roots. I wish you all the best as your search continues.
I am currently researching my ancestral roots and I continue to see things come to light – bits and pieces here and there. When I read that buneulos and capirotada were sephardic foods my heart rejoiced – these are foods I grew up eating in my childhood. My maternal grandmother and great grandparents were all from the Tlaxcalilla, Mexico region and their surnames are all Sepahrdic. I am awaiting my DNA results to reveal definitively what I truly believe is my Jewish heritage. Ironically enough, I always felt a pull towards Jewish things all my life. My husband is Jewish and we are observant, keep kosher etc… I feel like we as Hispanics are coming into the knowledge of who we really are.
Regarding capirotada,I find that that is very common with a;; kinds people.Can anyone trace the origin of that recipe?
I found my mother’s maiden name. (Lazaro). On this website: http://www.sephardim.com/search.shtml (the one post a few comments above me). Iv’e always known of the Jewish presence in Mexico, which although not as significant, or at least widely known, has deep roots since the very beginnings of colonial times. I am not the typical person, who is ignorant about Mexico’s history, or origins.
My question is, what does this mean? One possibility I believe is, me most likely being a Mestizo, has an Native male ancestor on my mother’s side, who was given this name by the Spanish. Or, it could have been that the name got carried on by a Spanish male ancestor of mine, of possibly Jewish heritage or origin?
I deeply appreciate this post, as Iv’e witnessed that the Native American heritage of Many Mexicans, is always being “over mentioned”, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it makes us forget or ignore our other “sides”, if any (Mexico being racially diverse, and just as diverse it’s history!) I just wish all Mexicans would open their eyes, and become more interested, our aware of all our different origins.
Christian in regard to your latest post and your request for further info on the surname Lazaro here is what I found: I went to http://www.sephardim.com again and I went to section VI – Family Heraldry & Origins. According to that info the last name Lazaro was supposed to be preceded by “de”, for example it would have been Franco de Lazaro. It is a patriarchal surname and one meant to show that patriarchal lineage. The last name was very popular in Spain and if you check out the website you will see the different family crests that were associated with the last name.
What I find most interesting is that in Judaism a son is always referred to in the following way : Yakov ben David – Jacob son of David. The same concept is carried out – patriarchal homage. I would encourage you to do dna to really zero in on your Jewish heritage – I did mine and I thought for sure it would show all my
Sephardic roots, boy was I surprised when it showed up Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewry). There are currently many Hispanic Jews that are in the process of trying to figure out exactly how they ended up with Sephardic last names yet their dna shows up Ashkenazi. If you have further questions post them and I’ll help you if I can. Best wishes on your search. Shalom
Names. As far as name goes,especially surnames, I just wonder if most of us from Latin America and also Mexico. I wonder if the majority of us received our names from the spaniards. Thus we must ask ourselves, are we really of jewish descent or was that the name of the spaniards who gave us these names. Does anybody really know?
Hi I have recently discoverd my Jewishness. I wanted to know if there was anyone from Southern New Mexico, El Paso, CD Juarez area with the surnames Avina or Avenia, Bustos, or De Castro, these are the surnames of my Great Great Grandfather who dissapread from Jalisco around 1900 – 1910
my father, ramon hernandez, was from santa rosalia de las cuevas, chihuahua mexico.Again, there has never been a trace of judaism in him.but it’s true the name is on the inquisition victims.does anyone know how to do research on these victims. usually i use family search.org,but with my grandfather pascual cardenas and felipe ortiz,both from cosala sinaloa and nothing.could that be because of the inquisition?people in that era did not admit ties of judaism.
FYI – if you find your surnames in the list provided at the website I aforementioned then you need to start working your way backwards – start with the side which you believe carries the Jewish heritage, whether it be matriarchal or patriarchal. Obtain as much info as you can from your oldest relatives – they will be the key since they can privide you with info that may seem insignificant, however you will discover that they offer a plethora of info which is often just a small tidbit that can start your search off in the right direction. Go to websites that offer you info for specific states, countries etc… once you do this then you need to zero in on that particular place and 9 out of 10 times you will find the surnames you are looking for. From that point on it will be the domino effect. One piece will unfold after another – all you have to do is follow the surnames on the birth, baptism, marriage and death certificates. One thing which you must keep in mind – during the Spanish Inquisition Spanish Jews were either killed, converted or expelled from Spain. For those who faced expulsion they spread all over Europe and eventually came to the new world. I cannot stress enough the importance of reading the history of the Inquisition so that one can grasp a better understanding of how we arrived to be who we are presently. Most people are not aware of the fact that when Columbus came to the new world that his “sailors” were all Jews who were forced by the Inquisition to be the crew – that was their punishment. These men knew that they would never once again see their families. As you study the Inquisition you will see that the Jews suffered enormously and frankly many decided to hide their Jewishness or simply converted. You will need to prepare yourselves because many of us Hispanics grew up Catholic and once you start reading what the Catholic church did to our ancestors you will find yourselves at a fork in the road – which will you choose? Will it be to embrace the Jewish heritage that our ancestors were forced to give up or simply adhere to that which you have always followed? Will you forgive those who did heinous things in the name of G-d against our Jewish ancestors? As someone who just observed Yom HaShoah (Day of Remembrance) for the Holocaust I can tell you firsthand that there is greater power in forgiveness than there is in hatred. Many of the things that were committed against Jews in the Holocaust were a repeat of what had taken place 500 years before by the Inquisition – the Inquisition rounded up Jews to live in “quarters”, Nazi Germany rounded up Jews to live in the ghettos, Inquisition forced Jews to wear the yellow Sanbenito or dunce hats, Nazi Germany forced Jews to wear the yellow Star of David badge and yellow arm band. I could go on and on…As one who has discovered her Jewish ancestry I know that with me and my family lineage we have come full circle – restoration of that which was stolen from us for generations – our TRUE identity and faith.
After running one’s DNA, where would be a good place to send the results to be analyzed? Sylvia, I noticed you had your DNA run, any suggestions?
Thank you,
Gil
Gil there are many places that offer dna testing, however the best place to go to is http://www.familytreedna.org. They offer different levels of testing, depends on how extensive you want it to be that will determine the price you pay. They will send you the kit and you mail it back to them for analysis. It takes about 5-7 weeks for your results. In order to get your mother’s side dna you will need to either have her tested or your sister, which ever applies because your dna test will not reveal that maternal dna info since males do not carry that genetic info. Your dna test will reveal info from your father’s side – males and females carry different genetic info. Even if you come across different web sites that offer dna testing for a lesser price do not do it – they are not as comprehensive as the website that I suggested. Hope this info steers you in the right direction. Once you get your dna results post a comment on this site. You will be surprised beyond measure with the results…I certainly was.
Achei os nomes da família de meus avós maternos, de Oliveira na lista do site, http://www.sepharadim.com/seach.shtml e descobri o porque de meu avô guardar o sábado e não comer carne de porco.
Hello to all,
I just found my mother’s maiden name, Padron on sephardim.com as well as my grandmoter’s maiden name, Zapata…I don’t have the slightest clue on where to start a search to see whether I actually have Jewish ancestors or not…This is something I’m very interested in finding out…Do any of you know anything about these surnames?
Thank you very much for your help.
Shalom
Carlos when I read your surname on your post I knew immediately that you are definitely of Jewish ancestry. Your last name “Eli’el” translates into this in Hebrew – Eli means “My G-d (in Hebrew one does not spell out the name, instead where the “o” would go one hyphenates like I did) and el means – G-d. So your surname literally means – My G-d, G-d. Indeed a very sephardic last name. I went to sephardim.com and took the liberty of plugging in the surnames you listed. When you look up the surnames you will see numbers or perhaps an asterisk * beside the name, scroll up to the the top to see what the numbers or asterisk mean. I looked up Zapata and saw that your surname is found in two books: “Sangre Judia” (Jewish Blood) by Pere Bonnin and in “Secrecy & Deceit: The Religion of Crypto-Jews” by David Gitlitz. I also saw that the Zapata surname had several family crests attached to it. When you go to the homepage for Sephardim.com you will see roman numerals besides different search engines – go to the section titled : Section VI – Family Heraldry & Origins – hit the icon for the letter “Z” and scroll down to see all of the crests asscociated with the surname Zapata – it will be very interesting to see what part of Spain your family came from. Do the same for surname Padron. I live in the East Coast and it would bring me great joy to assist you in your search. If I can be of further help please let me know. I am curious, what prompted you to start looking into your Jewish ancestry? Were there family customs that have been passed down and now they are coming to light? You are embarking on a very exciting journey – Mazel Tov!
I am desperate to find my family. I was adopted and I want to find my eight brothers and sisters. Their names are Humberto, Octavio, Maria, Manuel and Ruben. I don’t remember the rest of my siblings names, b/c I was only 4 or 5 when I was given away. I was born in Rio de Golondrinas, high in the Sierra Madre in the state of Chihuahua. I was taken to Cd Juarez across the border from El Paso, Texas. My biological mother’s name was Ana Maria Madrid and my father’s name was Isaac Villalobors Acosta. If you are out there, please contact me. It is very important!
My father is from Puebla and Ive always been told that we have Jewish roots from Spain going back 4 centuries. I checked a name list and most of my father’s family surnames are on the list . Some of our family traditions and first names difinately fit the mold. Carolina
My grandfather was named Isaac Perez and he married Maria de los Angeles Garcia. My father, Jose Perez Garcia, somehow lost his father’s name when he cam to the states in the 1940s. I am wondering if Isaac Perez and his family were known in the durango mexico area?
I had a paternal Y test done through Family Tree DNA. My Hernandez results came back indicating a Mediterranean/Semitic Y origin. My closest genetic marker matches are Askenazi and Sephardic Jews, born in Turkey, Russia, Hungary, Syria, Sicily, Lebanon, Iraq etc. Both my Mom and Dad were born in the state of Coahuila. So the geneticists have told me I have a Jewish heritage, although I am not a practicing Jew by faith. To the contrary I come from a very super zealous Catholic upbringing. It was not unusual that me and siblings went to Catholic services more than once a week.
Glad most have you have found Family Tree DNA which is by far and away the largest Sephardic Jewish database of all DNA Services. Ones name does not make one Jewish although both surnames and origins do make for interesting research. For those who desire to make this more than ancentral study and seek to regress/return to their Jewish ancestry there are resources available through all currents within the Jewish world. For those who see this as nothing more than table talk or interesting history, I wish them the best. However for those who desire transparent recognized options in seeking a return to their roots feel free to contact me and I will help you with options in your search for your proper truth. After all that is what Jews do.
Ron Cohen
External Relations
Centro Cultural Hebreo de Mexicali
aka Mexicali Jewish Community
i have my father and grandmother surname
my grand mother is from the harlingen,tx,
matamoros, mx area, any info on that last name?
i forgot to say my grand mother first name is:
alejandra , my father first name is santiago ,,
thanks much.
hello evryone.i recently was made aware of the large jewish presence in spain before the inquisition and am absolutely fascinated it.both rodriguez and my grandmothers name pereda are listed on sephardic surname lists.problem is tracing fathers family as know very little about them except they were from xalapa mexico.my fathers fathers 1st name was manuel and apparently the family at 1 time were very wealthy in xalapa.if any1 has any info about my family feel free to contact me at patrick_manuel62@yahoo.com.thank you
hello again.my father had 2 brothers and 2 sisters, ricardo, humberto, pilar, and azucena.thank you