Neofiti
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Total population |
|---|
| unknown |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Southern Italy |
| Languages |
|
Unknown, probably Sicilian, other Italian dialects, and/or Italkian |
| Religion |
|
Catholicism and Crypto-Judaism until the 16th century |
| Related ethnic groups |
The neofiti (English: Neophytes) were a group of Italian anusim, also known as crypto-Jews, living in Southern Italy.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Jewish ancestors of the neofiti were forced to convert to Roman Catholicism in 1493. They continued to secretly practice certain elements of Judaism, however, as did many of their descendants. The Spanish Inquisition ruthlessly hunted the neofiti and many were executed and tortured, especially in Sicily.[1] Today, some neofiti descendants in Calabria and Apulia have converted back to Judaism and revived their former Jewish congregations.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia, 1992, Encyclopedia Publishing, articles "Neofiti", "Crypto-Judaism"
- terminiimerese.wordpress.com
- escholarship.org
