DNA Clears the Fog Over Latino Links to Judaism in New Mexico

[richlevy]

According to this story, DNA Clears the Fog Over Latino Links to Judaism (use www.bugmenot.com), a significant number of Latinos in parts of New Mexico and Texas may be descended from 'secret Jews' forced to hide their religion or covert by the Inquisition.

ALBUQUERQUE — As a boy, Father William Sanchez sensed he was different. His Catholic family spun tops on Christmas, shunned pork and whispered of a past in medieval Spain. If anyone knew the secret, they weren't telling, and Sanchez stopped asking.

Then three years ago, after watching a program on genealogy, Sanchez sent for a DNA kit that could help track a person's background through genetic footprinting. He soon got a call from Bennett Greenspan, owner of the Houston-based testing company.
"He said, 'Did you know you were Jewish?' "

I heard a similar story about a cab driver in Spain who became a cab driver in Israel after he found out.

In 1492, Jews in Spain where given the choice of conversion to Catholicism or expulsion. Many fled, but others faked conversions while practicing their faith in secret. These crypto-Jews were hounded throughout the Spanish Inquisition.

"In the 1530s and 1540s, you began to see converted Jews coming to Mexico City, where some converted back to Judaism," said Moshe Lazar, a professor of comparative literature at USC and an expert on Sephardic Jews, or those from Spain and Portugal. "The women preserved their tradition. They taught their daughters the religion. People began rediscovering their Jewishness, but remained Catholics."

But in 1571, the Inquisition came to Mexico. Authorities were given lists to help identify crypto-Jews, Lazar said. People who didn't eat pork, knelt imperfectly in church, rubbed water quickly off newly baptized babies or didn't work on Saturday were suspect. If arrested, they were sometimes burned at the stake.

Many fled to what is now northern New Mexico, and remained secretive even after the U.S. gained control of the area in 1848.

I am always amazed at the entire concept of forced conversion. IMO, a person can't have much real faith in their religion if they believe that the only way to get some people to accept it is by torture and intimidation.

Since discovering his past, Father Sanchez — who wears a Star of David around his neck — has traveled throughout the state giving talks on the history and genealogy of New Mexico. He also runs the Nuevo Mexico DNA Project and website that tells how people can take part.

Sanchez describes his Jewish history as "a beautiful thing" complementing, not conflicting with, his priestly life.

"I have always known I was Jewish; I can't explain it, but it was woven into who I was," he said.

After Mass one recent morning, a group of parishioners filed out of St. Edwin's. None had a problem with their priest's dueling religious traditions.

"He has taken us back to our roots," Robert Montoya said.

And Theresa Villagas smiled. "We are all children of God," she said. "I think this just adds richness to our lives."

It sounds like he has developed a really healthy attitude about it. Of course, it will be interesting to see what the Vatican thinks of his accomodation with his heritage when they read the article.