Sephardim (Spanish Jews). Anyone have info on them? (Long)

[theguitardood]

Shalom, chaverim!

In the past year, my heart became filled with a sudden love for Israel and the Jewish people. It's something I really can't explain, but I've been learning Hebrew, studying the truth of the New Testament as foreshadowed by the Old Testament (some call it Hebrew Roots, I think) and the MJ forum is just about the only forum I read here. As I wondered to myself occasionally where this interest in things Jewish came from, I stumbled onto a piece of information that has led me down an interesting path in regards to my heritage.

Reading the news stories on Israeli websites, I often see references to Ashkenazim and Sephardim. I had no idea what these were at first. Thought it was political parties or different rabbinical sects, until I saw a word in a Hebrew lesson (Rosetta Stone) for Spain. Sepharad. This was a few months ago. The other week, it dawned on me that I am half Spanish (Something I often overlook since I was raised by my white mom and redneck stepdad:sorry: and have always associated myself with your every day normal white American, except that I'm brown. lol). So I started doing some research on Sephardic Jews, not really expecting to find anything of any significance, but I was curious. The first website I found was Sephardim.com (I think that's right. Might have to double check) and they have a list of known Sephardic Jews who became Conversados (Sephardim who chose to convert to Catholicism and take a new Surname given by the Spanish government so they would not be expelled from Spain). Skimming through the list, I saw what led me to post this thread. My family name, Lopez. Not just a few Lopezes, but many, many Lopez (and Lopes, for Sephardim in Portugal). I couldn't believe it. The thought of being even a little Jewish thrilled me, and would probably explain my recent exploration of all things Hebrew.

Apparently, Lopez was the name given to those who associated with the Tribe of Benjamin because they were represented by the Wolf (Lopez being a Spanish form of the Latin Lupus, Wolf). I scanned through the Bible to find a reference, but came up empty handed, so I'm not sure if there's any truth in that. A news story about Sephardim said that 1 in 10 Hispanics are descendants of Sephardic Jews, especially those with known Sephardic names, but that may be a bit off, too.

So, anyways, that's my recent revelation. Now I'm REALLY curious, and I'm in the process of trying to track down info on my great grandparents, and great-great grandparents (Who were from Mexico, and previously Spain), but that may prove hard since my grandparents were immigrants to Texas, and my Grandmother is very old and may not remember or have any documents.

If any of you have any reliable info on Sephardim (Books, websites, etc.) please let me know. I would really appreciate it.

Shalom b'Yeshua. :wave:

[stone]

I've heard of this. I never spent any time researching it, but i can probably get a name in a few days. It's the last two letters of the name that identifies those that are jews from Israel. ez is one of the last two letters that indicate a possibility of jewish ancestry. There are other last two letters as well.

Sorry i can't be much more help than this, but i'll ask about the name of the person with this information. Maybe someone will be on later in the morning with some information.

:thumbsup:

[mpossoff]

My Rabbi told me a story similar to this about Mexican immigrants in the USA.

He said there was a Jewish salesman that was selling I believe in New Mexico. He went to many towns and noticed that many families were lighting candles every Friday night. The salesman asked these families about it and they didn't know as it was a tradition for generations.

With some digging it was discovered that these families 'heritage' were Jewish. In Mexico these Jewsih families were forced to 'convert' to Catholic many centuries ago but still kept the Jewish traditions.

These families last names were Perez for the most part.

I also am friends with a 'Messianic' from another state. He is married to a Spanish woman. When they married she was Catholic. With some digging they discovered the same thing. Her family in Mexico was forced to convert.

Interesting.

Marc

[visionary]

I wonder if this has anything to do with the fourth generation... and the sinful tentricals on the children's children is lossened after a season... they shall be set free.

[HadassahSukkot]

Shalom Guitardood,

I'm searching myself as well. I recently found out we have sephardic roots, as my family came through what was Franco-Germany to the UK on my dad's father's side, and then married into the cherokee tribe (I think both my great-grands on dad's side were half cherokee), and his mom came from Franco-Germany more on the German side... same with my mom's mother's people - and I think from what I understand they had a good mixture of Sephardi & Ashkenazi history going on there as they come (we think) from the Rhein river area... and the only thing I know atm about my mom's dad's folks is that they were Welsh and have a last name indicitive of their herding abilities ;)

Sounds like you're on the right path, and you're finding about the same information I am. I'd suggest studying the inquisition as well as Jewish History, though I am a little at a loss still as to where to find more information on the Sephardi side.


There have been a few others on here that may be able to level more assistance though.

[christianmomof3]

hmm, that is interesting. My family all goes back to the Russian countries so I guess we are ashkenazi. I wish you well in your quest.
The only thing that I can think of is to look into the medical side of things.
When I was pregnant with my 3rd child I was older and refused to have an amnio done so I had to see a genetic counselor who asked about if I was Jewish and if I was sephardic or ashkenazi because apparantly there are genetically different things that they look for.
I wish you well in your search.
Shalom!

[Wags]

christianmomof3 - ashkenazi are genetically at risk for Tay-sachs disease.

Guitardood - you might find the book "Mezzuzah in the Madonna's foot" an interesting read.

[theguitardood]

Wow! Didn't expect so many responses this soon. Toda Raba for the quick replies and info.

HadassahSukkot,
It's nice to see I'm not the only possible Sephardi here. I think we should keep in touch and share information.
Also, I am curious about your reference to the Cherokee tribe. I have Cherokee blood, too (From my mom's side), and I've heard theories that they were descendants of Hebrews, but I think most of that comes from Mormon beliefs, so I don't really put any stock in it.

Shalom

[MyZz]

Hi Guitardood,
your story is really familiar.Where I come from southern spain area there are many people in your situation and sadly many arent even aware of their past and that they are descendants of conversos, also known as anusim or marranos at one time.
Manytimes all we can go on is by family clues andwhere possible going as far back in your family tree as you can and then find documentation on the name changes.One of my distant cousins tried to do that for my paternal family tree and he run into a lot of beaurocracy and hassles with authorities in Spain so he gave up.Its old records we are dealing with and small towns may not necessarily have them.In many cases yoiu would have to contact the catholic churches since they were responsible for keeping such records.
There are many surnames that may have been converso or just merely the name of the sponsor ,that gave the converso the name so one cnnot really go by name alone.However theres a high likehood of it being in your case since many of those escaping the inquisition did flee to places like america and we therefore see the same smattering of converso names there that are usually also found in southern spain and parts of spain where theere were high jewish populations.
One book that very good is "sangre judia" by pierre bonin.It lists lots of names and details but its very hard to obtain and out of print,if u can find it or know someone who has it it could be very useful.I don't have it but have a friend thats trying to find it in spain.
There are manyw ebsites and lots of info out there on the net..its all a matter of reading it all.
If you are friendly with a local rabbi..or brave try asking at your nearest synagogue.I know here at the synagogue they have info on these matters that could be very useful.But I dont know how knowledgeable they will be there about it,here I guess they are cos we were right on the doorstep of where it was all happening.

Anyway,
glad you found out and best of luck with your search:wave:

[stone]

My name falls into this category as well.

[jgonz]

DH also falls into this category (last name Gonzalez). His parents are both from Mexico, and there is a strong possibility that there is Jewish blood in his family line on his mother's side. DH's thinking of doing the DNA test. Here's one site that has more info on that: http://dnatribes.com/

I loved reading The Last Exodus by Del Sanchez. Lots of history, and his websites I think are very interesting...
http://www.sephardimhope.org/default.asp
http://www.4sephardim.com/sephardimhome.html

Here's a geneology website: http://www.orthohelp.com/geneal/sefardim.htm

[Bon]

My parents are Spanish and there is Jewish ancestory mainly in my father's side although mum has some Jewish and Moorish mix.

I too am of a Sephardic background.

My surname is Rubi and my Father's mother's maiden name was Moreno and his grand mother on his father's side was Perez.
All Jewish names.

Dad was born in Granada in Andalusia in the south of Spain, where there is a fairly extensive Jewish history.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Granada.html

A good resourse site:
http://www.orthohelp.com/geneal/sefardim.htm


Books:
http://www.amazon.com/Jews-Spain-History-Sephardic-Experience/dp/0029115744

http://www.amazon.com/Sephardim-Jews-Spain-Paloma-Diaz-Mas/dp/0226144836
Book Description:
Here, in a single volume, is the first comprehensive history in English of the Sephardim--descendants of the Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. Paloma Díaz-Mas recounts the journey and customs of this fascinating group as they moved across the globe. They settled initially in Mediterranean Europe, the Low Countries, North Africa, and the Turkish Empire, but in the nineteenth century, a second diaspora brought the Sephardim to the United States, South America, Israel, and Western Europe. She traces the origins and survival of their unique language and explores the literature they produced. Their relationship to Spain is also uncovered, as well as their everyday lives. Sephardim is an authoritative and completely accessible investigation of the history and legacy of this amazing people.

http://www.amyisrael.co.il/europe/spain/index.htm

Bon

[stone]

Dr. Dell Sanchez is a former social worker and educator and CEO of a broadcasting company who began research into the Sephardic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sephardi_Jews) roots of Northern Mexico (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico) and the Southwestern United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) and the history of Spanish Jews and crypto-Jews (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypto-Jews). He is also a programmer for God's Learning Channel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God%27s_Learning_Channel) and runs an organization called the Aliyah Sephardic Center which encourages people to research their Sephardic lineage.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_Sanchez

[stone]

I've also learned that we are the targets of jews doing anti-missionary work.

[ContraMundum]

I meant to respond to this ages ago but have been flat out modding lately, and kinda forgot about it.

There are many surnames that may have been converso or just merely the name of the sponsor ,that gave the converso the name so one cnnot really go by name alone.However theres a high likehood of it being in your case since many of those escaping the inquisition did flee to places like america and we therefore see the same smattering of converso names there that are usually also found in southern spain and parts of spain where theere were high jewish populations.

There are a number of good books on the Mexican Inquisition and the Crypto-Jews who lived there.

http://www.orthohelp.com/geneal/books.htm

One book that very good is "sangre judia" by pierre bonin.It lists lots of names and details but its very hard to obtain and out of print,if u can find it or know someone who has it it could be very useful.I don't have it but have a friend thats trying to find it in spain.
There are manyw ebsites and lots of info out there on the net..its all a matter of reading it all.

That book is an excellent resource, but the list of names on http://www.sephardim.com/ draws its list from that book among many others, so you can save time by referring to the names there.

But, as has been mentioned, the name is only a starter and is not enough.

guitardood: If you care to PM me I may be able to help you.

[Sephania]

I've also learned that we are the targets of jews doing anti-missionary work.What has that to do with Sephardi Jews?

[stone]

What has that to do with Sephardi Jews?

This is a Christian group that targets both Jews and non-Jews to bring them to Christianity under a Judaic-looking frame. It is ran by Pastor Dell Sanchez who is a founding member of The Cyrus Foundation a Christian organization. He says that names from Mexico that end in Z are Sephardic and uses this as a way to make contact with Catholics in Mexico and the USA in his effort to get them to Israel, to fulfill the Christian ideal that all Jews (even hidden Jews) must be returned to Zion to fulfill the standard Christian dogma and bring a return of Jesus. He is associated with The Life Chapel in San Antonio, Texas and lectures at messianic houses of worship.

http://www.sephardiccouncil.org/sca/alert3.html


***

[jgonz]

This is a Christian group that targets both Jews and non-Jews to bring them to Christianity under a Judaic-looking frame. It is ran by Pastor Dell Sanchez who is a founding member of The Cyrus Foundation a Christian organization. He says that names from Mexico that end in Z are Sephardic and uses this as a way to make contact with Catholics in Mexico and the USA in his effort to get them to Israel, to fulfill the Christian ideal that all Jews (even hidden Jews) must be returned to Zion to fulfill the standard Christian dogma and bring a return of Jesus. He is associated with The Life Chapel in San Antonio, Texas and lectures at messianic houses of worship.

Geesh, you make him sound like some horrid person! I've MET Del Sanchez, and he's one of the most mellow and nice people around. He's Jewish on his father's side of the family, but didn't know it until his father was dying. That sent him on a quest to find out his Own heritage... and he found out a lot of info in the process.

I can tell you that he does NOT actively evangelize ANYone. He has meetings set up (like other Messianics... or Christians for that matter) and teaches & shares what he's learned. It's very interesting (although listening to the Spanish Inquisition stuff is rough).

As far as the "z" on the end of names, he didn't make that up~ it's well known that that's a "clue" to someone's heritage within Hispanic cultures. He never says that Everyone with a "z" on the end of their name has Jewish background.

He USED to be the pastor of a church in San Antonio, but after he found out his heritage and started writing about it, he brought it out in his church... and it promptly split. So to stop further damage, he resigned and now meets occasionally with other Messianics in the area in home meetings.

The Sephardic Council alert page link you put up Stone is Jewish, so OF COURSE they're not going to like anything Messianic. :doh: I'm not sure why you posted that?

[stone]

I'm only answering Keli's question.

Everything on that site is anti-christian. It would be an abomination to me to support their views.

Don't you understand that they view us as a threat to judaism? This is why they try so hard to harm our forum.

[rahma]

I bet I'm the first muslim poster in the MJ forum. And despite the temptation to run amok and wreak havoc, as I am apparently suppose to do, I do think I'll dispell some myths and instead be helpful and recommend some excellent books. These were on the reading list for the "Jews in Medieval Spain" course I took in college. These are all heavy, academic books, not light fluff reading, but are well worth the time and effort if you're interested in the subject.

Medieval Iberia: Readings from Christian, Muslim and Jewish Sources (http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Iberia-Readings-Christian-Sources/dp/0812215699/ref=sr_1_1/102-3380083-5771351?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184158845&sr=8-1)

Jews of Moslem Spain vol 1 (http://www.amazon.com/Jews-Moslem-Spain-Eliyahu-Ashtor/dp/0827604270/ref=pd_sim_b_1/102-3380083-5771351?ie=UTF8&qid=1184158921&sr=8-2) and 2/3 (http://www.amazon.com/Jews-Moslem-Spain-Volumes-Vols/dp/0827604289/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b/102-3380083-5771351?ie=UTF8&qid=1184158921&sr=8-2)

A History of the Jews in Christian Spain: From the Age of Reconquest to the Fourteenth Century (http://www.amazon.com/History-Jews-Christian-Spain-Reconquest/dp/0827604254/ref=sr_1_2/102-3380083-5771351?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184158921&sr=8-2)

A History of the Jews in Christian Spain: From the Fourteenth Century to the Expulsion (http://www.amazon.com/History-Jews-Christian-Spain-Fourteenth/dp/0827604262/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b/102-3380083-5771351?ie=UTF8&qid=1184158921&sr=8-2)


Unfotunately, the course syllabus (http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/hebrew/473syF2003.html) is fuzzily formated, but it may contain more sources that would be of interest.

[Ivy]

Glad to meet you, brown person :) (I'm light peach myself :D ) Hope you find all the info you need, sounds exciting.

[ContentInHim]

Wow! Didn't expect so many responses this soon. Toda Raba for the quick replies and info.

HadassahSukkot,
It's nice to see I'm not the only possible Sephardi here. I think we should keep in touch and share information.
Also, I am curious about your reference to the Cherokee tribe. I have Cherokee blood, too (From my mom's side), and I've heard theories that they were descendants of Hebrews, but I think most of that comes from Mormon beliefs, so I don't really put any stock in it.

Shalom
It's not just Mormons who believe this. The Cherokee apparently were the only indigenous American peoples which had a written language and it looks suspiciously ( :D ) like paleo Hebrew! I'd love to study up on this! :thumbsup:

[jgonz]

http://www.nmstatelands.org/GetPage.aspx?sectionID=39&PagID=186
http://econ.ohio-state.edu/jhm/arch/loslunas.html
http://www.webcom.com/mhc/archaeology/decalogue-introduction.html
These links are about the New Mexico Decalogue Stone, which some believe is ancient Hebrew and a copy of the 10 Commandments. It certainly is interesting!

[philmwri]

That needs loking into,that script looks rather hebraic to be written by native americans.

[ContentInHim]

That needs loking into,that script looks rather hebraic to be written by native americans.
That's actually the point. Native Americans, with the possible exception of the Cherokee, did NOT have written language.

[philmwri]

I wonder what made the cherokee develop a written language.

[ContentInHim]

I wonder what made the cherokee develop a written language.
I don't know enough about them to know, but a friend of mine says that King Solomon had ships over here and essentially left Israelite settlers here - what would that be? Around 1000BC? That they became the Cherokee nation here in America. I don't believe there's any proof of this but it's certainly interesting to speculate.

[philmwri]

Well i think it's weid that out of all the tribes in the americas they had a writing system.

[Aviva]

Well i think it's weid that out of all the tribes in the americas they had a writing system.

I wonder when it developed? If later in their existence I
wonder if it was in response to the decimation of their
culture and they turneed to it to keep their hisotry
alive. Who speaks Egyptian today? But we can go
and decifer their heiroglyphics.

[ContraMundum]

Some pretty nutty theories kicking around, eh?

[Torah613]

Personally I am appalled. What started out as a thread by a gentleman seeking his possible B'nai Anusim roots has turned into a highly polemical thread where we Jews have been turned into boogeymen. Then there's the scifi stuff.

There is an outside chance that the Cherokee could have been Jews (at least apostate jews considering their belief in different deities). There is plenty of good evidence to back up a certain tribe in India being the lost tribe of Manassah. And there is plenty of ancient evidence of Jews in China. Theres also considerable evidence that the Chineese originally "discovered" (how one discovers someone else's home is beyond me) the Americas. In fact busts of chinese looking individuals as well as fragments of silk have been found in olmec tombs. so its not that huge of a leap to postulate that Jews came over from china or the bearing straight. But it is pure speculation and requires relying upon minimal evidence to say the least.

Regarding the B'nai Anusim (it should be noted that not all Sephardic Jews are B'nai Anusim--in fact only a small portion are*), it is wondrous to note how much of their heritage they have kept. Their are certain families that maintained a tradition of only intermarrying amongst themselves in order to keep the bloodline pure. Unfortunately this is a very few and even these have little to no actual knowledge of why they have peculiar family customs. On the other hand, many are rediscovering their heritage and it is a beutiful thing to see. HaSheem is truly wonderous in His protection of Klal Yisrail.

As an interesting sidenote, I recently discovered a possible B'nai Anusim link on my dad's side. Not that it matters much, as even if my dad had been the child of Ben Gurion, and my mother had been a goy--I would be a goy. But it is interesting to note that I have Hebraic heritage on both sides of the family.

Yochanan

*Sephardic Jews include everthing from Morocan and Berber Jews, to the Jews who did not abandon the faith, to various other middle eastern and north african Jewish communities, as well as those Jews who did convert under fear of death. The spanish term "Marrano" which means swine is the standard for reffering to these people and their descendents. I as well as many other contemporary Jewish individuals prefer the term
"B'nai Anusim" which means children of the denied ones. May I live to see the restoration of Klal Yisrail and the arrival of a true Kenihilioth Shalom.

[HadassahSukkot]

It's not just Mormons who believe this. The Cherokee apparently were the only indigenous American peoples which had a written language and it looks suspiciously ( :D ) like paleo Hebrew! I'd love to study up on this! :thumbsup:

I wonder what made the cherokee develop a written language.

Well i think it's weid that out of all the tribes in the americas they had a writing system.

I wonder when it developed? If later in their existence I
wonder if it was in response to the decimation of their
culture and they turneed to it to keep their hisotry
alive. Who speaks Egyptian today? But we can go
and decifer their heiroglyphics.

I remembered this much from my History classes and what I learned on my own after beginning to homeschool, that around 1809, Sequoyah began work to create a system of writing for the Cherokee language. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah)

As far as these other theories, I do not know of many of them, but some of them are curious... some very strange. I had hoped however to stay more on topic.

[Talmidah]

This is why they try so hard to harm our forum.Who?

[Spiritofprophecy]

Shalom, chaverim!

In the past year, my heart became filled with a sudden love for Israel and the Jewish people. It's something I really can't explain, but I've been learning Hebrew, studying the truth of the New Testament as foreshadowed by the Old Testament (some call it Hebrew Roots, I think) and the MJ forum is just about the only forum I read here. As I wondered to myself occasionally where this interest in things Jewish came from, I stumbled onto a piece of information that has led me down an interesting path in regards to my heritage.

Reading the news stories on Israeli websites, I often see references to Ashkenazim and Sephardim. I had no idea what these were at first. Thought it was political parties or different rabbinical sects, until I saw a word in a Hebrew lesson (Rosetta Stone) for Spain. Sepharad. This was a few months ago. The other week, it dawned on me that I am half Spanish (Something I often overlook since I was raised by my white mom and redneck stepdad:sorry: and have always associated myself with your every day normal white American, except that I'm brown. lol). So I started doing some research on Sephardic Jews, not really expecting to find anything of any significance, but I was curious. The first website I found was Sephardim.com (I think that's right. Might have to double check) and they have a list of known Sephardic Jews who became Conversados (Sephardim who chose to convert to Catholicism and take a new Surname given by the Spanish government so they would not be expelled from Spain). Skimming through the list, I saw what led me to post this thread. My family name, Lopez. Not just a few Lopezes, but many, many Lopez (and Lopes, for Sephardim in Portugal). I couldn't believe it. The thought of being even a little Jewish thrilled me, and would probably explain my recent exploration of all things Hebrew.

Apparently, Lopez was the name given to those who associated with the Tribe of Benjamin because they were represented by the Wolf (Lopez being a Spanish form of the Latin Lupus, Wolf). I scanned through the Bible to find a reference, but came up empty handed, so I'm not sure if there's any truth in that. A news story about Sephardim said that 1 in 10 Hispanics are descendants of Sephardic Jews, especially those with known Sephardic names, but that may be a bit off, too.

So, anyways, that's my recent revelation. Now I'm REALLY curious, and I'm in the process of trying to track down info on my great grandparents, and great-great grandparents (Who were from Mexico, and previously Spain), but that may prove hard since my grandparents were immigrants to Texas, and my Grandmother is very old and may not remember or have any documents.

If any of you have any reliable info on Sephardim (Books, websites, etc.) please let me know. I would really appreciate it.

Shalom b'Yeshua. :wave:
Greetings in the name of Jesus:

When I lived in Israel: they divided the people into two groups ; Saphardic or Saphardiem. and Ashkanazie, spelling accuracy of question.

Now to Jews of saphardiem. they claim Spanish heritage to name: but title In Israel of Saphardic Jew, is given unto all non european jews. Except for Sabra jews. which Sabra is cactus plant, named also for Jews who are Born in and heritage is Israel. Ashkanazie Jew is European. and Saphardic Jew is African and asian. Which Saphardic claim is Spanish origin. But the mass majority of Saphadics are African and asian. Many of Yemen.

I pray no one takes offense at my words.
may God bless C.F. and all who use it.

[rdclmn7]

A friend of mine traced back his roots to Nuevo Leon, Mexico where many keep the old ways. You have to remember that the spanish inquisition was active even in the new world.

He told me that a messianic remnant left palestine due to either a dream or vision and reached their destination in the Iberian penninsula. This why to this day many Sephardi from spain speak ladino, an archaic form of spanish.

The jews from yemen and southern africa are one and the same. They came from a post-exile settlement mentioned in the bible as senna. A large settlement directly related to those jews that traveled south has been excavated.

Those jews that made it to africa kept the tradition of only allowing the marraige of their men to african women.

These same jews have maintained their oral history intact which through the use of kohanim genetic markers has confirmed them as jews.

If you are to identify more hebrews in the near east, statistical sampling of neighboring populations can potentially identify a common marker to both kohanim and israelites in general.

I'm gonna look up the sights mentioned as my paternal last name is either mozarabe or hebrew.

[visionary]

http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0361-0160(200122)32%3A2%3C465%3AFITDSI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-G

[rdclmn7]

Thanx

[Torah613]

It should also be noted that there is an ancient morroccan Jewish community made up of converts (the berbers).

Also in the Basque region there was at one time a Jewish principality which was the center of Torah study for the whole western world.

Ancient Jewish communities also lived in China and Mongolia, however these are almost completely gone. There is a significant community in India that is starting to regain their roots through the help of a Chasidic rabbi (Lubavitcher IIRC).

We are a vast and varied people, and we are all family. Perhaps this diversity enjoyed by our community today, a diversity wholly unknown in our grandparents time, will point the way to the future of all mankind thus fullfilling the prophecy that the "Jews will be a light unto the Gentiles" showing people how to live in peace despite racial differences.

May I yet live to see the complete reintegrating of Klal Yisrail. Praised be HaSheem.

Yochanan