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life STORIES
 

 For five hundred years families
have kept customs whose significance and meaning was forgotten. 
These are stories of people who asked what they meant
and eventually leaving their forced belief and returning to Judaism .

After 500 years of secrecy,
the enthusiasm of people who now want to convert back to Judaism is infectious. 
You will feel it if you go to Porto or Belmonte in Portugal.

Captain Barros Basto (the 'apostle' of the Marrano (1920- 30's)

Dona Gracia Mendes ( - 1569)

Juan Mejia (Yochanan ben Avraham Avinu Mimishpachat Mechia) (2007)

How I Discovered my Jewish Background by Horacio Calles (2007)
Professor depto. de Antropología, Fac. de Ciencias Sociales,
Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C. Colombia

Anthony I, King of Portugal (Portugese António), the Maranno King of Portugal (1531 -1595)

Uriel da Costa (16th-17th century)

Baruck Spinoza (1632-1677)

Rodrigo Lopez, physician to Queen Elizabeth (1525 - 1594)
possibly used by Shakespeare as model for Shylock

Dr Eliahu da Luna Montalto (16-17th century)

Michel de Montaigne (16th century)

Tomas de Torquemada (1420 - 1498)

The Life Story of the Marrano Alonso Nunez de Herrera (17th century)

 The Return of Zeev ben Amaral to Judaism in 2007

Antonio Jose da Silva (1705 - 1739)