ISO local New York PBS documentary on Latinos who converted to Judaism after they found out that they were descended from conversos.

August 31, 2009 1:16 PM

ISO local New York PBS documentary on Latinos who converted to Judaism after they found out that they were descended from conversos.

We have a diversity celebration in our office and it is time for the Jews!

I remember watching a documentary on PBS in the 90s. It was about Hispanics in New York who researched their roots, found out that they were descended from Marranos.

I distinctly remember this Puerto Rican guy from the Bronx (who looked and sounded like the "stereotypical Puerto Rican guy from the Bronx") who couldn't figure out why his mother lit a candle and put a towel over her head every Friday. He decided to researched his roots and found out that his parents on both sides were descended from Marranos who had emigrated to Ponce, PR. He converted - right down to beard, payot, and kippah.

I would love to show this during our corporate celebration.

I know it was 1 1/2 hours and I think it was a local WNET production.
Google brings up a documentary by WGBH in Boston about Jews in Latin America, which is interesting but not what I saw. Other than that, nothing.

Does this ring a bell with anyone?

posted by xetere to media & arts (2 comments total)

Not about the documentary, but an interesting article about the marranos/conversos-in-the-New-World thing was in the Atlantic back in 2000 that might point you in the right direction.

WNET's program archives contact info here.
posted by mdonley at 2:22 PM on August 31

Maybe try e-mailing someone at The Society For Crypto Judaic Studies?
posted by Asparagirl at 7:00 PM on August 31