SCJS 25th Crypto-Jewish Conference

Slated for Miami, Florida July19-21, 2015

Registration is open for the 25th Anniversary Conference of the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies, an international academic and cultural secular association devoted to the history of the descendants of Iberian Jews persecuted in Spain and Portugal in the Middle Ages through the 18th century.  Many of these were converts to Christianity and fled to the New World, settling in Mexico, the Southwest and various parts of North and South America, hiding their Jewish past. Scholars around the world continue to unearth fascinating documentation on the dispersion of these peoples who, over centuries, assimilated into Catholic communities until their 20th century emergence and growing awareness of Sephardic Jewish ancestry

The 2015 conference begins Sunday, July 19 through Tuesday, July 21, at the Double Tree By Hilton Hotel Miami in Miami, Florida at a special conference rate of $109.00 Attendees will enjoy two full days of presentations by scholars and members of the regional crypto-Jewish community drawing from Florida, Central and South America, and many other areas.

Keynote speaker is the celebrated Ainsley Cohen Henriques, Director/Chairman of the Heritage Center Committee of Kingston, Jamaica. Ruth Behar, professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, born in Havana, Cuba, will speak about the convergence of cultures. Dr. David A. Wacks from the University of Oregon explores 16th century crypto-Judaism.

A genealogy workshop is offered on Sunday from 12:00 until 4:00 pm and features Genie Milgrom, Schelly Talalay Dardashti and Bennet Greenspan. An arts panel and various arts presentations, a Monday noon concert with Neil Manel Frau-Cortes, and a Monday evening musical presentation by Sephardic musician Susana Behar promises extra value.

 Full registration only $195.00 for all panels and meals; Kosher meals $270.00. For more information and online registration go to cryptojews.com.

Note: The Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies (SCJS) was founded in 1991 and fosters the research of the historical and contemporary development of crypto-Jews of Iberian origin. It provides a venue for the descendants of crypto-Jews, scholars, and other interested parties to network and discuss pertinent issues.