CALLING ALL SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE DESCENDANTS OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND SOUTH AMERICA TO TAKE A FREE DNA TEST TO DETERMINE JEWISH ANCESTRY
With the rise of consumer genetic testing, individuals and academic researchers have been able to explore their recent and ancient roots at unprecedented depth and scale. In Jewish genealogy, DNA testing has broken through centuries-old silences, helping families rediscover lost connections and enabling scholars to reconstruct lineages erased by exile and persecution.
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CALLING ALL SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE DESCENDANTS TO TAKE A FREE DNA TEST
Discover your Jewish ancestry through cutting-edge genetic testing
Welcome to Crypto-Jews.org
Rediscover Your Jewish Roots—For Free
Do you have Spanish or Portuguese ancestry? Has your family passed down strange or unexplained customs—like lighting candles on Friday nights, avoiding pork, or honoring a mysterious figure named "Santa Esterica"?
You may be a descendant of Crypto-Jews —Jews who were forced to convert to Christianity during the Inquisition but who continued to preserve Jewish practices in private.
Our organization is offering a completely free DNA test to help people of Central and South American descent explore and confirm their possible Jewish heritage.
Who Were the Crypto–Jews?
Crypto-Jews (קריפטו-יהודים, "Kripto-Yehudim") were Jews living in Spain and Portugal who outwardly converted to Christianity—often under threat of death—but continued to practice Judaism privately. Some were also called Conversos (משומדים, Meshumadim), referring to those who accepted baptism (voluntarily or otherwise), while others were known in halakhic literature as Anusim (אנוסים, Anusim) — “the forced ones.”
These individuals maintained sacred rituals in secret: lighting Sabbath candles behind closed doors, observing dietary laws covertly, or preserving holiday customs under Catholic disguises. Their descendants settled across the Americas, carrying hidden fragments of Jewish identity across generations.
Historians estimate that as many as 1 in 5 Latin Americans may have Jewish DNA, much of it originating from the Iberian Peninsula's Jewish communities before the Inquisition.
Researcher Michael Waas explains that Sephardic Jewish ancestry may be revealed through:
Autosomal DNA (inherited from both parents) that overlaps with known Jewish reference populations
Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups (e.g., K1a1b1a) for maternal lineage
Y-chromosome DNA haplogroups (e.g., J-M267, E-M35) for paternal lineage
Genetic links to Jewish communities from Spain, Portugal, North Africa, and the Ottoman Empire
DNA testing does not define identity—but it opens the door to historical awareness and personal rediscovery.
The Inquisitions of Spain (1478) and Portugal (1536) were tools of religious repression that targeted Jews, forcing conversions and instilling fear. Those who fled often carried trauma—and those who stayed hid their heritage in silence.
Today, advances in science, language, and education allow descendants to reclaim what was stolen or suppressed —with dignity, not shame.
Historical Context and Migration to the Americas
The Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions, established to enforce Catholic orthodoxy, targeted Conversos suspected of secretly practicing Judaism. Despite the risks, many Crypto-Jews maintained their faith through discreet rituals, such as lighting candles on Friday nights, avoiding pork, or celebrating a disguised version of Purim as the “Festival of Santa Esterica.”
As a result, Crypto-Jewish communities emerged across Central and South America.
🇲🇽 Mexico
Crypto-Jews settled in Mexico City during colonial times, where secret synagogues were sometimes discovered by the Inquisition.
🇬🇹 Guatemala
Descendants of Conversos lived discreetly, blending Jewish traditions with local customs amidst Spanish colonial rule.
🇭🇳 Honduras
Crypto-Jewish families in Honduras preserved hidden Jewish rituals despite limited documentation of their presence.
🇲🇽 Mexico
Crypto-Jews settled in Mexico City during colonial times, where secret synagogues were sometimes discovered by the Inquisition.
🇬🇹 Guatemala
Descendants of Conversos lived discreetly, blending Jewish traditions with local customs amidst Spanish colonial rule.
🇭🇳 Honduras
Crypto-Jewish families in Honduras preserved hidden Jewish rituals despite limited documentation of their presence.
🇸🇻 El Salvador
Crypto-Jewish heritage survives in small communities through clandestine practices and oral traditions.
🇳🇮 Nicaragua
Jewish ancestry is less documented, but some families maintain traditions linked to Sephardic roots.
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Crypto-Jews arrived via trade routes and preserved customs despite pressures to assimilate.
🇵🇦 Panama
Served as a transit point for Converso migrants, with some establishing secret Jewish communities.
🇧🇿 Belize
Though small in number, descendants of Crypto-Jews maintain certain cultural markers of Jewish identity.
🇨🇴 Colombia
The Antioquia region, especially around Bello, holds a notable Crypto-Jewish legacy with customs linked to Jewish law.
🇻🇪 Venezuela
Some families in Venezuela trace back to Converso ancestors who hid their Jewish faith during colonial times.
🇪🇨 Ecuador
Crypto-Jewish traditions survived through oral history and family customs in isolated areas.
🇵🇪 Peru
Conversos settled in the Andes and jungle regions, preserving Jewish rites despite Inquisition scrutiny.
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Santa Cruz de la Sierra became a refuge for Sephardic Conversos who passed down Jewish customs.
🇨🇱 Chile
Crypto-Jewish descendants in Chile often maintain subtle practices linked to their Sephardic ancestry.
🇦🇷 Argentina
Waves of Sephardic migration brought Crypto-Jewish heritage that many are now reclaiming.
🇺🇾 Uruguay
Small communities retain fragments of Jewish customs blended with local culture.
🇧🇷 Brazil
Portuguese New Christians, especially in Pernambuco, secretly maintained Jewish traditions for centuries.
You or your family might be descended from:
Anusim (אנוסים) or (יהודים קריפטו) Yehudim-Kripto
You or your family might be descended from Anusim
Candles are lit Friday nights—without explanation
Pork or shellfish has always been avoided
Your family has unusual springtime rituals tied to "Santa Esterica"
There are long-standing customs around death, modesty, or ritual cleanliness
You bear surnames such as Pereira, Espinoza, Torres, Medina, Nunez, Fonseca, or Lopez
Your ancestors came from Iberia or Canary Islands and migrated to Latin America
You feel a strong connection to Israel, Hebrew, or Jewish values
Candles are lit Friday nights—without explanation
Pork or shellfish has always been avoided
Unusual springtime rituals tied to "Santa Esterica"
Long-standing customs around death, modesty, or ritual cleanliness
We offer a free, no-strings-attached DNA test to qualifying individuals of Spanish and Portuguese descent in Central and South America.
A buccal swab sample shipped to your door
Secure and private handling of all genetic information
Receive relevant Sephardic, Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, or other Jewish ancestral insights
You're Not Alone -
You're Part of a Living
Legacy
Across Central and South America, thousands are waking up to their Jewish lineage—lost, buried, or obscured by colonial trauma. From Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Mexico City, from Bogotá to Buenos Aires, descendants of Crypto-Jews (דיםִ וּהְו־יֹפטּריִ קְ) are reclaiming identity.
This isn't about converting religions. It's about reconnecting with your ancestral truth—on your own terms.
Let your roots be known.
Let your story live.
Let your name return to its Light 🕯️🕯️
We honor the legacy of Rabbi Shaul Seton and Rabbi Aharon Halevi Goldman, two revered rabbis who, in 1927, enacted a significant ban on conversions to Judaism in Argentina. Guided by their deep commitment to preserving the integrity of Jewish tradition and community, they sought to protect the sanctity of the faith amidst challenges of assimilation and intermarriage. Their bold decision, rooted in halachic wisdom and concern for both Jewish and non-Jewish souls, reflects a profound dedication to the spiritual welfare of their people. Though their edict stirred debate, their intent was to safeguard the covenantal bond of the Jewish nation. We remember them with respect for their leadership and the enduring impact of their thoughtful stewardship, may their memories be a blessing.
Across Central and South America, thousands are waking up to their Jewish lineage—lost, buried, or obscured by colonial trauma.
This isn't about converting religions. It's about reconnecting with your ancestral truth—on your own terms.
Let your roots be known.
Let your story live.
Let your name return to its Light 🕯️🕯️
Reach out to us @cryptojewsorg@gmail.com
This website is for general information only. We share stories and resources to help people learn about possible Jewish roots. We do not confirm Jewish identity or give legal or religious advice. DNA tests and other tools are optional and handled by third parties.We respect your privacy and do not collect personal data without your permission.
© 2025 crypto-jews.com. Act responsibly.
Design & Developed By
This website is for general information only. We share stories and resources to help people learn about possible Jewish roots. We do not confirm Jewish identity or give legal or religious advice. DNA tests and other tools are optional and handled by third parties.We respect your privacy and do not collect personal data without your permission.
© 2025 Crypto-Jews.com. All rights reserved.
Design & Developed By
