Conversos and Spanish Citizenship - My Journey To The Orthodox Community with featured Speaker Dr. Joseph R. Maldonado, Jr.

Join this distinguished graduate of the Albert Einstein School of Medicine as we explore his spiritual journey, including the Jewish customs and foods among the B’nai Anusim of the Spanish Caribbean. 

Dr. Joseph R. Maldonado, Jr., is a graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and the University of Oxford.  He is a member of Congregation Zvi Jacob (Orthodox) in Utica, NY where he is an active member and maintains a Shabbos guest house.  He was born in NYC to Protestant Puerto Rican born parents.  Although he had done extensive genealogical investigations for decades and had suspicions of Jewish ancestry, it was not until this past decade that this was confirmed via genealogical and genetic research as well as family oral history.  Joe has presented his evidence-based research findings and personal journey at national and international conferences.  His journey has been featured by the Institute for Sephardi and Anousim Studies in Netanya, Israel as well as at the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies in the U.S. where he is a Past President. 

 

Joe formally returned to Judaism (deemed bnei anusim by the Skverer Rebbe in Monsey, NY) via an Agudath Israel beit din in Queens, NY 5 years ago.  Part of his journey is featured in Rabbi Peysach Krohn's book "Illuminations of the Maggid" (2016) as well as in Jack Cohen's book, "The Reawakening" (2017).  He continues to lecture on the subject of the anusim in Puerto Rico and is presently writing a book chronicling his journey and discoveries.  He has also started a Torah learning forum online for Puerto Rican Jews as well as Puerto Rican exploring possible converso roots and a return to Judaism. Also, he is applying for Spanish and Portuguese citizenships on the basis of Sephardic Ancestry.