Q. Shalom Rabbi Bartfeld. As per our phone discussion, I am sending you this email to ask for some guidance on how to find solid evidence that my wife and I have Sephardic Bnei Anusim ancestry. Since we want to convert in an Orthodox manner, we are searching our family history before approaching the Beit Din. Meanwhile, I have been studying with a Rabbi and going to shul on Shabbas.
My wife and I were born in Brazil and migrated to Canada in 2019. We believe in having Jewish ancestry (Both our families have Sephardic Bnei Anusim surnames such as Cardoso, Barboza, Cabral and Carvalho). After we married, my wife's grandmother told us that my wife's great-great-grandmother (Sarah Ferreira) was Jewish. My wife has a straight maternal lineage from her. My case is not clear yet.
Searching for official documents or public databases has been hopeless. So, we need help.
Professionally, I am a cancer biologist working in a Research Associate capacity at the University of Toronto, where my wife is also a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
With blessings.
A. Although, the details given do not provide solid evidence that you or your wife are Jewish in Halacha and most likely a proper Orthodox Beis Din will require a conversion.
However, you should indeed keep track of your ancestry and investigate it further. I have seen from experience when I was the Chief Rabbi of Mexico, how important that can be.
The history of the Jewish immigration from Spain and other countries as well as their persecution by the inquisition of the Crypto Jews is vast. Yet some almost miraculous return of individuals and families to Judaism have happened and their keeping of their history and memories was essential. It also provides an invaluable source of identity to the children.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised By Horav Dovid Pam Shlit’a, Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
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