B'nei Anusim
Encyclopedia
B'nei Anusim is a term, in the plural
form, which refers to the children and all later descendents of anusim
— "anusim" in turn being a category of Jews
in Jewish religious law
(Halakha
) who were forced or coerced to abandon Judaism
against their will, typically whilst force converted
to another religion. The term "anusim" itself is most properly translated as the "coerced [ones]" or the "forced [ones]".
Those referred to as B'nei Anusim are all the subsequent generations descended from anusim, born in the condition of inherited alienation from Judaism, whether they are or are no longer halakhically Jewish
, or whether they are aware or not of their Jewish origin.
within the general Jewish community is determined by just one particular line of descent. All B'nei Anusim who are of an unbroken maternal line, are full-fledged Jews. Jewish law explains that the child of an Israelite
woman is still an Israelite, no matter what religious belief system or lack thereof the child or descendant may hold.
Consistent with halakha
requiring Jews in general to be considered Jews (by birth) only if there is an unbroken maternal Jewish line (where one's mother, or mother's mother, or mother's maternal grandmother, etc. was a Jew, irrespective of all other lines of descent), so too are B'nei Anusim of an unbroken maternal line of anusim (where one's mother, or mother's mother, or mother's maternal grandmother, etc. was the anusáh) also considered full-fledged Jews. This too is irrespective of whether all, most, some, or none of all the other lines of descent of a ben/bat anusim do or do not trace to other anusim ancestors.
All B'nei Anusim without an unbroken maternal anusim line of descent, while nonetheless considered B'nei Anusim, are not halakhically Jewish. These B'nei Anusim must first "revert" back to Judaism to be considered Jews. Some communities, however, do not require these B'nei Anusim to "revert" back to Judaism to be considered Jews in the counting of a quorum for a minyan
or to make aliyah
(ascending to make a Torah
reading) in synagogue services. "Reversion" to Judaism, is, however, required in the event of marriage to a Jew.
Often, "reverting" for B'nei Anusim is, for all intents and purposes, a nominal or symbolic conversion, an affirmation of faith and commitment to the Jewish people, immersion in a mikveh (body or collection of water fit for the purpose of ritual immersion), and for males a brit milah
(circumcision
) or hatafat dam brit (if already circumcised).
) stated in the Mishneh Torah
Sefer Shofetím, Hilekhót Mumarím 3:3
Plural
In linguistics, plurality or [a] plural is a concept of quantity representing a value of more-than-one. Typically applied to nouns, a plural word or marker is used to distinguish a value other than the default quantity of a noun, which is typically one...
form, which refers to the children and all later descendents of anusim
Anusim
Anusim is a legal category of Jews in halakha who were forced or coerced to abandon Judaism against their will, typically while forcibly converted to another religion...
— "anusim" in turn being a category of Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
in Jewish religious law
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
(Halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
) who were forced or coerced to abandon Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
against their will, typically whilst force converted
Forced conversion
A forced conversion is the religious conversion or acceptance of a philosophy against the will of the subject, often with the threatened consequence of earthly penalties or harm. These consequences range from job loss and social isolation to incarceration, torture or death...
to another religion. The term "anusim" itself is most properly translated as the "coerced [ones]" or the "forced [ones]".
Those referred to as B'nei Anusim are all the subsequent generations descended from anusim, born in the condition of inherited alienation from Judaism, whether they are or are no longer halakhically Jewish
Who is a Jew?
"Who is a Jew?" is a basic question about Jewish identity and considerations of Jewish self-identification. The question is based in ideas about Jewish personhood which themselves have cultural, religious, genealogical, and personal dimensions...
, or whether they are aware or not of their Jewish origin.
Jewish status
The status of B'nei Anusim as JewsJews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
within the general Jewish community is determined by just one particular line of descent. All B'nei Anusim who are of an unbroken maternal line, are full-fledged Jews. Jewish law explains that the child of an Israelite
Israelite
According to the Bible the Israelites were a Hebrew-speaking people of the Ancient Near East who inhabited the Land of Canaan during the monarchic period .The word "Israelite" derives from the Biblical Hebrew ישראל...
woman is still an Israelite, no matter what religious belief system or lack thereof the child or descendant may hold.
Consistent with halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
requiring Jews in general to be considered Jews (by birth) only if there is an unbroken maternal Jewish line (where one's mother, or mother's mother, or mother's maternal grandmother, etc. was a Jew, irrespective of all other lines of descent), so too are B'nei Anusim of an unbroken maternal line of anusim (where one's mother, or mother's mother, or mother's maternal grandmother, etc. was the anusáh) also considered full-fledged Jews. This too is irrespective of whether all, most, some, or none of all the other lines of descent of a ben/bat anusim do or do not trace to other anusim ancestors.
All B'nei Anusim without an unbroken maternal anusim line of descent, while nonetheless considered B'nei Anusim, are not halakhically Jewish. These B'nei Anusim must first "revert" back to Judaism to be considered Jews. Some communities, however, do not require these B'nei Anusim to "revert" back to Judaism to be considered Jews in the counting of a quorum for a minyan
Minyan
A minyan in Judaism refers to the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations. According to many non-Orthodox streams of Judaism adult females count in the minyan....
or to make aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
(ascending to make a Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
reading) in synagogue services. "Reversion" to Judaism, is, however, required in the event of marriage to a Jew.
Often, "reverting" for B'nei Anusim is, for all intents and purposes, a nominal or symbolic conversion, an affirmation of faith and commitment to the Jewish people, immersion in a mikveh (body or collection of water fit for the purpose of ritual immersion), and for males a brit milah
Brit milah
The brit milah is a Jewish religious circumcision ceremony performed on 8-day old male infants by a mohel. The brit milah is followed by a celebratory meal .-Biblical references:...
(circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
) or hatafat dam brit (if already circumcised).
Religious legal opinions
In regards to B'nei Anusim, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (MaimonidesMaimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
) stated in the Mishneh Torah
Mishneh Torah
The Mishneh Torah subtitled Sefer Yad ha-Hazaka is a code of Jewish religious law authored by Maimonides , one of history's foremost rabbis...
Sefer Shofetím, Hilekhót Mumarím 3:3
- But their children and grandchildren [of Jewish rebels], who, misguided by their parents . . . and trained in their views, are like children taken captive by the gentiles and raised in their laws and customs (weghidelúhu haGoyím `al dathám), whose status is that of an ’anús [one who abjures Jewish law under duress], who, although he later learns that he is a Jew, meets Jews, observes them practice their laws, is nevertheless to be regarded as an ’anús, since he was reared in the erroneous ways of his parents . . . Therefore efforts should be made to bring them back in repentance (LeFikakh rawí leHah zirán biTeshubáh), to draw them near by friendly relations, so that they may return to the strength-giving source, i.e., the Toráh
See also
- Who is a Jew
- Conversion to JudaismConversion to JudaismConversion to Judaism is a formal act undertaken by a non-Jewish person who wishes to be recognised as a full member of the Jewish community. A Jewish conversion is both a religious act and an expression of association with the Jewish people...
- Crypto-JudaismCrypto-JudaismCrypto-Judaism is the secret adherence to Judaism while publicly professing to be of another faith; practitioners are referred to as "crypto-Jews"...
- Conversos
- Spanish InquisitionSpanish InquisitionThe Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
- Alhambra DecreeAlhambra decreeThe Alhambra Decree was an edict issued on 31 March 1492 by the joint Catholic Monarchs of Spain ordering the expulsion of Jews from the Kingdom of Spain and its territories and possessions by 31 July of that year.The edict was formally revoked on 16 December 1968, following the Second...