as the descendant of jews bansished from the iberian penninsular i say welcome home to all those seeking to reunify with the jewish people. there are millions of people around the world who have jewish heritage but were deprived of it because of the inquisiation and expulsion. we should bring these anusim closer to the jewish fold and embrace them with both hands in the hope of undoing what our oppressors did to them so many years ago today.

The Sharon/Peres/Weisglass inquisition.

This article is very moving for me as I am also a descendant of cripto Jews. I underwent conversion to confirm my jewishness many years ago. When I did this I experienced an unbelievable inner peace. I knew that my neshama had returned to its roots.

I echo Ash's sentiments. A belated "Welcome home" and "mazel tov" to any no-longer-crypto Jews reading ynet. I am NOT a descendant of crypto-Jews, but the return of long-lost brothers and sisters brings joy to all of us.

Many years ago in Tx. a friend of mine had a friend-and her friend had a framed picture that her mother and father had in their home. She couldn't read the printed word it was in another language. My friend brought the picture to me ( it was in Hebrew), my Hebrew was not so good then, so I took it to our Rabbi. It was the prayer for lighting Shabbat Lights for Shabbat. I taught parsha of the week in my home with some of my friends each week,and the lady asked me if she could attend..I said.of course -she could not speak English.The following week the lady came and brought 70 people from her family(their children spoke English) and they interpreted for them. This was one of the greatest moments of my life to see such beautiful sincere Jews that Found their Back Home to Judaism. One of the Ladies went back to Mexico with loads of Seforim to teach in Mexico to her relatives and friends.Yes,even the Prairie was Home for Jews. Without spaeking one word of Spanish,and most of the Jews from Mexico could speak no English..But we got on Real Well,with the children as out interpreter.Where there is a will,there are Children to make the way Easy and Good !

Why is it so important to "return to one's roots"? Should I become a heathen because some of my ancestors were undoubtedly Vikings? Or a druid because others were Celts? How far back do we take this? But I'm not becaue I see truth in my current religion and I don't see it in those religions. No, I think many of these people were just Catholic because their parents were Catholic and now they practice Judaism simply because their parents' parents' parents may have been Jewish. Furthermore, calling them "anousim" is insincere because they, themselves, were forced into nothing. I'm sorry if this offends anyone. And I'm sorry I can't partake in the joy of these people's "return to their roots" any more than I would find joy in Jew returning to Christianity simply because he discovered his grandmother was a Christian. We are free precisely because G_d gave us minds with which to reason the truth and noboy can tell us what to believe unless we believe it. And if we enjoin that which we have not reasoned to be true simply to "feel" some sense of community then we are not using the mind G_d gave us.

Dear Ed, It seems the point is lost on you. These are people whose ancestors on pain of eradication or expulsion converted forcibly under the bloody compulsion of the inquisition - a terrible blow to Iberian Jewry. That their ancestors until this very day held on to their roots under consistent pressure and scrutiny is not just about Judaism, but the strength of humanity. For Jews it is a touching and deeply felt bond to people who have survived such adversity and a reaffirmation of a faith still much reviled around the world. That these people have voluntarily returned to a faith denied them is (and yes, they were denied and forced into hding their faith) a beautiful thing. I am a Dutch Jew whose family was murdered by 'civilised' people, with 'choice' and a have the right to find kinship in my brothers as a spark amongst humanity.

A Jewish soul is eternal. Time and space does not matter because .......that Jewish soul had to return to its true essence in this physical world to attain peace. B'Shalom to all!

I had no idea that this article had been published here, on this page. Until tonite when awakend to pray, I decided to look at the crypto web-page and came across this article. For all those who have wished us a welcome back, Toda Raba, for those who don't understand the plight of our return. I hope you never have to live the same type of circumstances. It is a miracle that we have enough of a jewish soul left after all these years to be able to be so drawn back, however it is the time for our return to take place and fulfill the prophets and the will of Ha Shem. May the light of the Torah be a lamp unto our feet in these difficult days. Shalom to all

Ash, Thank you for your kind words. I had no idea that this article had been posted here, until tonite. I was going to the crypto studies site and came across this. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and defens of our return. May Ha Shem bless you with his shalom during these days.

Ben-Avraham, Toda Raba, for your kind words and encouragement in our return. How long ago did you return? My hope is to some day return to Erez Israel, I am still in the process of my converstion. You are welcome to keep in touch. I will be happy to share with you all the work we are doing with the anousim here in the South West. L'shana Tova

Howard, Toda Raba for your encouragement in our return. It has been a long difficult journey, however the miracle is that we still have enough of a jewish soul to be so drawn many with out knowing. My father finally told me a 1 1/2 years ago that he had known since he was 6 that he was jewish. After my many year quest in trying to find out the truth. So much has come together for me after 27 years of searching. There is alot of cruelty out there in the world it's comforting to know that with ourt me even knowing this article was published here, I had people like you to defend me, with out you knowing me. Thank you May Ha Shem bless you abundantly.

NM, NY, Thank you for sharing this story with us. I had no idea that this article had been published here until tonite. It been a difficult journey back, it's nice to have a welcome home instead of a slap in the face. I have had both. L'Shana Tova

Meir, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I had no idea that this article was published here, yet I have those who don't know me and are willing to defend my return back to those who also don't know me and make such harsh judgments aginst me. The journey has been difficult, we not only have to jump thru the hoops of return thru a conversion we have un-supporters with in the jewish community and even our own families. After my quest in searching for the truth, for 27 years my father finally told me he had known since he was 6 that he was jewish. Not even my mother knew all these years that's how much of a inpact the inquistion has had on our ancestors. May Ha Shem bless you for your kindness towards us and for seeing the bigger picture in our return.

Avrahom, Toda Raba for your kind words of encouragement and being in defense of my return. And the return of the other anousim. I had no idea that this article was published until tonite when I was looking for Ha Lapid with crypto jews and came across this. I am very thankful that more see the bigger picture than those that don't. I thank you for your kind and true words. It's been a difficult journey in finding the truth and returning to it. Not only do we have many who don't want us back we have our families to contend with so for many of us we don't have much support. May Ha Shem bless you and from the bottom of my heart Toda Raba

I think one of the things that bother me most is the co-opting of the name Bat Zion. I know who the Bat Zion of the 21st century are. They are the daughters of everyday American Jews, and Jewry everywhere that serve in the IDF. If you really have a Jewish heart you must watch this video through then return to this simple man’s words. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxb1ftK5ye8 Some time ago, I saw Ms. Loya with a table set up next to the event’s sponsor, God’s Learning Channel, a Christian TV station out of Odessa, at a Messianic/Christian event in Roswell, NM. I find it strange that if any one in the legitimate Jewish community questions or challenges Sonya’s wild claims, she begins a rather anti-Semitic process of accusations, lies, and slanders against our brothers and sisters, many of whom are our clergy. But the folks at GLC have good things to say about their fellow soldier. http://www.godslearningchannel.com/bookstore.htm Notice all of the Hebraic items in their “Store;” when you call their “Store” and they are out of items, they refer you to the Bat Zion Hebrew Learning Center in Ruidoso, NM.

I support your return to our community! Welcome back! May you and the others have many wonderful simchas!

I wish you all the best. I know some of you, and I know how you feel. Those who said that you might be turned away in Israel spoke the truth, but slowly, the barriers will be overcome. No one from the outside can fully comprehend that inner calling, but He who kept you alive, and your spirit alive does. When you need me, I am here.

It saddens me to read articles like these. When people discover Jewish roots that they wish to reconnect with, they need to be encouraged to seek halachic conversions so that they will be recognized by the Israeli rabbinate. These conservative conversions will cause nothing but heartache and confusion down the road when these people (and their children) are eventually told by someone that they're not Jewish because their conversions aren't worth the paper they printed them on.