(Jewish Group) Descendants of forcefully converted Jews open mikvah in northern Brazil

[Behind the Aegis]

Descendants of Jews who were forced to convert to Christianity inaugurated in Brazil what they say is the first ritual bath built for and by people with their family history.

Members of the Sinagoga sem Fronteiras Jewish group built the mikvah last month in the coastal city of Tibau, situated more than 1,000 miles north of Rio de Janeiro. It was built according to the strictest Jewish Orthodox rules for ritual baths, the group’s rabbi, Gilberto Ventura, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Ventura, who lives in Sao Paulo with his wife, Jacqueline, said the project was led by Antônio Fabiano Cavalcante, a local descendant of Jews who were forced to accept the Christian faith, or bnei anusim. Cavalcante is also responsible for running the local synagogue, which was constructed a few years ago for other bnei anusim who have returned to Judaism.

Since 2015, at least 400 people with Sephardic ancestry have undergone Orthodox conversions to Judaism in northern Brazil.

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[JudyM]

1. Interesting!

Thanks for posting it.

[EllieBC]

2. Mazel tov!

Getting a mikveh built is an expensive and difficult undertaking. May their community grow!

[MosheFeingold]

3. I think we will see lots of Beni anusim return

There are a number who attend my Chabad shul.

Primarily Sephardic (although they are learning Askenazi, because that’s who we are), but one doctor who “looks” Jewish and, after a 23AndMe test finally got the truth out of his Lutheran parents.

It’s a good thing. From all nations shall we return.