secret jews (anusim) studies

THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR
SECRET JEWS (ANUSIM) STUDIES
Netanya Academic College
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Secret Jews – Restoring a Stolen Legacy
The International Institute for Secret Jews
(Anusim) Studies
Netanya Academic College
Introduction
Astonishingly, millions of people in the world
retain remnants of Jewish traditions, yet they
remain completely unaware of their Jewish
roots. These people are secret or crypto-Jews
and are the descendents of the Secret Jews
(Anusim in Hebrew), Jews who were forced to
convert to Christianity during the Inquisition
in Spain. Many fled Spain for Portugal, North
and South America, and many other countries
to escape the depredations and brutality of
the Inquisition. The International Institute for
Secret Jews Studies investigates this unique
phenomenon, and where possible, tries to
rescue these descendents and help reunite
them with their stolen Jewish legacy.
The International Institute
The college intends to establish an
International Institute of Secret Jews Studies,
based on the existing Casa Shalom founded
by Gloria Mound in Israel. This will be
headed by key public figures and relevant
academics. The advisory board will include
well known individuals from around the world in the field of Jewish history
who will jointly head the Institute and lead its theoretical and practical studies.
Academics Gloria Mound (Hon. Research Fellow of the University of Glasgow,
Department of Hispanics, since 1988), Professor Joseph Faur and Professor
Michael Corinaldi are already committed to this project. Pertinently, Prof.
Corinaldi recently received the President’s Award for his research on remote
Jewish communities.
A public Governing Council to be established will be headed by the fifth
President of Israel, Yitzhak Navon, Former Supreme Court Justice Meir
Shamgar has also been invited as a council member.
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Vision
The International Institute for Secret Jews Studies will work to identify the
vast Secret Jews community throughout the world in order to bring awareness
to them of their Jewish roots and to help them, if they so wish, to return to
their religion and homeland. At the present time it is estimated that there
are millions of former Secret Jews in places as far apart as Spain, Portugal,
Brazil, Venezuela, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Romania, Hungary, Iran and
various African countries.
Most importantly, the Institute will raise consciousness in Diaspora Jewish
communities and Israeli society of the significant Secret Jews issue in order
to realise this objective.
The Institute will work in conjunction with the Jewish Heritage Centre and
the Strategic Dialogue Centre at the Netanya Academic College. The Jewish
Agency has also expressed an interest in working with the Institute.
Strategy
• Establish a Governing Council of respected public figures and intellectuals
with an affinity to the subject.
• Conduct academic research on the Secret Jewish community.
• Add further publications to build on the achievements of the existing
Casa Shalom Journal.
• Produce a documentary film about the Secret Jewish community and its
culture.
• Offer assistance and support to Secret Jews.
• Build a dedicated library wing at the college, using the existing collection
as its foundation, and in the meanwhile continue adding acquisitions to
and caring for the current collection.
• Organize conferences and conventions to study and explore the subject.
• Improve communications/PR, including broadcasting a college radio
programme and designing further modern media outlets.
THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SECRET JEWS (ANUSIM) STUDIES
The Casa Shalom Institute
Elie Schalit and a select group of
people whose personal history ties
them to this great legacy, together
with first-class researchers such as
Gloria Mound, have already begun
collecting the diverse pieces of a
vast historical puzzle in order to
separate the myth from the reality
and build a body of knowledge. As
early as 1978 Mound’s research
revealed that Jews had survived
on the Balearic Islands since
1492. She expanded her research
to the larger islands of Majorca
and Minorca, where she found
more hidden Jewish communities.
These revelations have prompted
huge interest all over the academic
world.
As a result of this work, Schalit
initially formed the Casa Shalom
Institute which not only carries
out research but also offers
practical assistance to people
who want to return to Judaism
but lack a guiding hand. The
institution is able to help them
obtain information about their
Jewish roots, family histories,
Jewish heritage and conversion
guidance. Casa Shalom has
already developed contacts with international academic institutions and farflung Secret Jews communities. It has a membership thirsty for knowledge
and inclusion.
The Institute also has a unique collection of several thousand books, manuscripts
and documents, including many rare photographs and even musical scores,
which will be kept in the new centre with the ultimate aim of digitizing the entire
collection so that scholars, academics and members of Jewish communities
around the world can easily access it.
Today, with the vision and support of Mr. Neil Davis, Netanya Academic
College is ready to take this dream to the next level. The College views the
preserving of the Secret Jews as a national, academic and historical challenge,
and regards their redemption, in effect, as righting a haunting historic injustice.
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Historical Background
One of the most significant events in our life as a nation occurred over 500
years ago on the Iberian Peninsula. The Jews, who had been exiled from their
own land and dispersed across the world, enjoyed a Golden Age in Spain
and Portugal, where they established important centres and developed their
culture, heritage and scientific abilities for the benefit of mankind. At the same
time they established themselves as a prosperous, prestigious and honourable
community – until the tables were abruptly turned. In 1492 Spain’s Catholic
monarchs issued the Edict of Expulsion, which the Inquisition ruthlessly
policed.
The Jews of the Iberian Peninsula not only lost their livelihoods, property
and positions, but many people and at times even whole communities were
murdered because of their faith, and their children were sold into slavery.
Many fled abroad and countless others were viciously tortured in Inquisition
cellars.
Still more were lost to us when, against their will, they were forced to convert
to Christianity as an alternative to death. In fact, a significant majority of
the Jewish population lived on as Christians following the Inquisition’s
cataclysmic persecution which spread to France, Italy and the New World
as well. These conversions gave rise to the phenomenon of the Secret Jews
– forcibly converted Jews (also called conversos)
who faithfully continued to practice their Jewish
religion in secret, despite the dangers involved.
Today, over half a millennium later, it is becoming
clear that the Secret Jews who allegedly cut
themselves off from
Judaism, continued for
centuries to secretly
keep their religion.
And so, there are
indeed millions in the
world today, hidden
descendents of the Secret Jews, who cherish some remnants of Jewish
tradition without even being aware of their meaning or of knowing anything
about their Jewish ancestry.
In conclusion, the goals of the institute will be to gather information about
these Secret Jews, create a climate wherein they can reveal themselves and,
if they desire, help them to reintegrate with their original people.
THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SECRET JEWS (ANUSIM) STUDIES
Leaders of Netanya Academic College
Prof. Zvi Arad
President
Prof. Arad is a distinguished, world-renowned mathematician and a
leading authority in his field. He is a member of the Russian Academy of
Natural Sciences, has served on the editorial board of various international
publications, and participated in many academic projects.
Before founding The Netanya Academic College he held a variety of senior
academic posts, including that of the President and Rector of Bar-Ilan
University. He served as a member of the Council for Higher Education
of the State of Israel, and fulfilled a key role in the development of higher
education in Israel.
Prof. Sinai Deutch
Senior Vice President and Dean of the Law School
Prof. Deutsch is a prominent Israeli Jurist and an expert in Consumer
Protection Law. He is the author of eleven laws in the field of consumer
protection. His numerous public positions included, amongst others, serving
as Deputy Chairman of the Israel Standards Institute, and membership on
the Court for Business Restriction. He also served as Legal Advisor of the
Consumer’s Protection Authority. Before founding The Netanya Academic
College he was the Dean of Bar-Ilan University’s Faculty of Law.
Prof. Bernard Pinchuk
Rector and Vice President
Prof. Pinchuk is an internationally renowned scientist. He founded,
together with Professor Arad, the Gelbart Institute and the Emmy Noether
Research Center for Mathematical Sciences, and was the editor of the Israel
Mathematical Conference Proceedings. He served in the past as Dean of the
Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Bar-Ilan University, was
on the Faculty of the Mathematics Department at Princeton University, and
was a member of the Institute of Advanced Study there.
Dr. David Altman
Senior Vice President
David Altman serves as Senior Vice President of the College and Deputy
Chair of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Strategic Dialogue. In the past, Dr.
Altman served as the Director-General of Bar-Ilan University and as Director
of the Tel Aviv Foundation for Development. He was a senior board member
in several institutes for higher education, and served as a board member on
several committees dealing with aspects of arts and culture in Tel Aviv.
Mr. Yossi Zeira
Director-General
Yossi Zeira previously served as head of the tuition department and
administrative head of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at
Bar-Ilan University. In his public activities, he served, among other roles,
as a member on the national secretariat of the Union for Social Sciences
and Humanities and a board member of the Religious Zionist Education
Network, Dan region.
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Netanya Academic College
Netanya Academic College has brought the spirit of higher education to the
narrowest part of the State of Israel – only 8 miles from the border to sea.
Netanya Academic College has also brought higher education to the million
residents of the Sharon and periphery, which include hundreds of thousands
of new immigrants to Israel as well as native-born Israelies, who have settled
this area that protects the heart of the State of Israel.
Netanya Academic College boasts an attractive modern campus with
manicured lawns, environmental sculptures and secluded restful corners.
The interior design of the College was carefully planned with an eye to
detail and atmosphere, as reflected in the roomy corridors, spacious study
halls, radio and TV studios, large library, computer laboratories and a trading
room. The campus includes the Feldman Water Sports Center with its tennis,
basketball and volleyball courts, swimming pool, and more.
Netanya Academic College is accredited by the Council for Higher Education
to award Bachelor Degrees in a wide range of subjects, such as Law, Business
Administration, Computer Science and Mathematics, Behavioral Sciences,
Communications, Insurance, Banking & Finance.
THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SECRET JEWS (ANUSIM) STUDIES
The College also offers an MBA degree in Business
Administration (in marketing, finance, multipurpose administration and information systems
management), an LLM degree in Law, an MA
degree in Communication and an MA degree in Behavioral Science.
The degrees awarded by the Mike Feldman School of Banking & Finance and
the Ernst and Margot Hamburger School of Insurance are unique in this country.
The College faculty consists of professors and scientists of renown who hold
Ph.D. degrees from leading universities worldwide.
The college is a fully-equipped university campus, and aims to become the
Sharon area university. Students will always be at the center of this institution,
and to that end we emphasize the importance of teaching and research, and
offer learning tracks that give our graduates the opportunity to reach the top
of Israeli business and economy.
From the very start, Netanya Academic College has cooperated with the IDF and
other Defense Ministry bodies. Ministry of Defense scholarships are awarded
every year to students who were or are combat soldiers, and hundreds of
discharged soldiers come to receive scholarships for higher education in Israel.
The Center for Strategic Dialogue was previously headed by Minister of Defense
and former Chief of Staff Ehud Barak; Major-General (Res.) Danny Yatom,
former head of the Mossad and former MP; former Minister of Intelligence,
Dan Meridor; and today is headed by Brigadier-General
(Res.) Dr. Ephraim Sneh, former Deputy-Minister of
Defense.
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Recipients of the
Honoris Causa Degree
Netanya Academic College
Mr. Ehud Barak
The tenth Prim Minister of Israel
M. K. Benjamin Netanyahu
The ninth Prime Minister of Israel
Head of Opposition and former
Minister of Finance
HE President Shimon Peres
President of Israel
Mr. Yitzhak Shamir
The seventh Minister of Israel
HE President Abdurrahman Wahid
Former President of Indonesia
HE President Mikhail Gorbachev
Former President of the USSR
HE Frederick W de Klerk
Former President of South Africa
Mr. Yitzhak Tshuva
The Delek Group
Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau
Tel-Aviv-Jaffa
Professor Ephraim Katzir
The fourth President of Israel
Mr. Yoel Elroy
Pastor Dr. John C. Hagee
Former Mayor of Netanya
Founder and Senior Pastor of
Cornerstone Church, San Antonio, TX
Prof. Menachem Magidor
President of the Hebrew
University, Jerusalem
Mr. Henry Faktor
Philanthropist
Mrs. Agnes Steinmetz
Philanthropist
Professor Asaa Kasher
Israel Prize Recipient
Mrs. Galia Maor
President of Bank Leumi of Israel
Mrs. Nurit Manor
Senior executive in the Israeli
Insurance Industry
Mr. Shmuel Atzmon-Wircer
Colonel (res) Shmuel (Sami) Rafael
Founder and Artistic Director of the Awarded Medal of Distinguished
“Yiddishpiel” theater
Service by IDF Chief of Staff
Mr. Larry King
CNN
Mr. Rudi Salle
Vice President of the Assemblee
Nationale (French Parliament)
Mrs. Simone Veil
Foemer Minister
Former Chairman of European
Parliament
Mr. Zvi Poleg
Former Mayor of Netanya
Professor Amnon Rubinstein
Lawyer
Former Minister of Education
Mr. Paul Ahlstrom
Honorary President of the Chair
for Dialogue Between the Mormon
and Jewish Religions
HE Jacques Huntzinger
Former French Ambassador to
Israel, Special Envoy for France
Mrs. Shulamit Shamir
Israeli pre-state underground
resistance group
Mr. Gideon Hamburger
President, Harel Insurance Co. Ltd
Mr. Yair Hamburger
Mr. Nochi Dankner
Chairman, Harel Insurance Co. Ltd Chairman, IDB Group
Mr. Bernard B. Rapoport
Philanthropist
Mr. Claude Goasguen
Mayor of Paris 16
Member of Assemblee Nationale
Mr. Gabriel Last
Chairman, Delek Group
Mrs. Miriam Fierberg-Ikar
Mayor of Netanya
Mrs. Diana Hagee
“Women of Valor”
Ambassador Dan Gilerman
Former Ambassador of Israel
to the UN
Rabbi Avraham Elimelech Firer
Founder and Chairman of
Ezrah Lemarpeh
Late Dr. Enrique Feldman, R.I.P.
Esteemed Philanthropist
Late Mrs. Aida Feldman, R.I.P.
Esteemed Philanthropist
Mr. Trevor Spiro
The Spiro Group, London
Mr. Enrico Macias
“Nayim Zmirot Israel”
Mr. Robert Karsenty
President, French Friends
Of Netanya Academic College
Mr. Yehuda Porat
Vice President of Motorola Israel
Dr. Eliyahu Winograd
Prof. Aaron Ciechanover
Former judge and former President Nobel Prize Recipient
of the Tel-Aviv District Court
Mr. Ami Sagi
Mastro Zubin Mehta
Music Director
Prof. Mordechai Omer
Director & Chief Curator
Tel-Aviv Museum of Art
Dr. Dan Almagor
Playwright, translator, lyrisists &
TV presenter
Mrs. Claude Grundman-Brightman
Chair of Francophone
Development
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For further information visit our website: www.netanya.ac.il
or contact us:
jhc@netanya.ac.il; tel. +972 9 8607785; fax +972 9 8607701