The Institute for Sefardi and Anousim Studies
Mission Statement
Research:
To conduct historical research of Sefardi Jewry and its cultural legacy, with special emphasis on the history of Iberian Anousim, their Diaspora, and their modern descendants.
Education:
To increase awareness of the awakening of contemporary Jewish identity among the Anousim through conferences, lectures, and seminars, as well as offering Israeli youth Sefardi heritage exploration trips to Iberia.
Identity:
To help the descendants of the Anousim reconnect to the heritage of their ancestors through genealogical and historical research, and to advocate for them in the State of Israel and world Jewish communities.
Advisory Board
Prof. Zvi Arad, President, Netanya Academic College
Dr. David Altman, Senior Vice President, Netanya Academic College
Prof. Abraham Gross, Ben Gurion University
Mr. Samuel Pinto, Chairman, Keren Sabah (Sabah Foundation)
Mr. Shmuel Sabah, Chairman, Keren Netanya (Netanya Foundation)
Mr. Neil Davis
Mr. Jack Ben Ezra
Prof. Jack Cohen
Prof. Moshe Lapidot
Mr. Moshe Ortasse
Honorary Board
Past Honorary President:
Mr. Yitzhak Navon z”l, fifth President of the State of Israel
Members of the Honorary Board:
Mrs. Ana Schalit
Mr. Inácio Steinhardt
ISAS in the News
Here are links to recent articles about the Institute’s activities:
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- “Discovering their Jewish Souls” – article about Genie Milgrom and Hannah (Ana) Eyal, both of whom spoke at the Knesset conference 13/Oct/2015
- “Striking another historical blow” – article in the Jerusalem Post about the Knesset conference on Reconnection 13/Oct/2015
- JPost Opinion page: Ashley Perry and Robert Ilatov about the Knesset conference on reconnecting with the descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Jews
- Jack Cohen’s blog on the “Mapping Anousim Diaspora” conference, 25 March 2015
- Prof. Abraham Gross: “Half the population of Brazil has Jewish Roots” – interview on Arutz 20 (Hebrew)
- “No es un conversion, es un retorno al judaismo” – radiosefarad con Salomon Buzaglo
- “My Jewish Connection” – article about Doreen Carvajal in Yediot Aharonot
- “Los judeoconversos piden paso tras cinco siglos,” Sal Emergui, El Mundo
- “Epilogue” – Doreen Carvajal’s webpage
- “Mapping the Anousim Diaspora” article in Israeli Daily Israel Hayom (Hebrew)
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Collaborations
A collaboration agreement was signed between Sr. D. Fernando Suárez Bilbao, Rector of Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, Mr. Sadia Cohen, president and founder of Fundación Don Juan de Borbón ESPAÑA-Israel, and Pres. Zvi Arad of Netanya Academic College.
We welcome collaborations with other institutions.