I’ve become aware of large movements of evangelical Latinos adopting Jewish rituals and inculturating themselves into Judaism. It was found that 30% of Latinos have Sephardic Jewish DNA. There is something metaphysical going on where the potency of Israelite sparks are seeking expression. As a Hebrew Catholic I enthusiastically support the incorporation of Israelite sacramentals and devotions—within the Catholic Church alongside our obligations.
Latinos who became Protestant after generationally being Catholic were generationally separated from the Blessed Sacrament and manifest a deeper thirst for God they believe they are finding in Jewish tradition. No doubt it is extremely potent and meaningful as it is connecting many to their Crypto-Jewish ancestry. Culture by itself in our day has the appearance of offering more meaning than Religion. Culture and identity feel tangible. The Sacraments are also tangible. Perhaps this is why I assume we don’t see a Hebrew roots movement among devout Latino Catholics. The spiritual need, becoming close and one with the Messiah, is met in the Mass for the faithful.
I have noticed a handful of Jewish, mostly Israeli, groups that seek to recover the converted Spanish Jews among other groups like Polish Jews. It appears they respect that many of the Conversos still wish to remain Christian and they simply offer education. I support the educational endeavors if they are not proselytizing. It is a grave matter if some Catholic Crypto Jews decide to apostatize from Christianity. Sadly, I have known and heard of some who do in favor of Judaism.
This is a New Evangelization opportunity for Hebrew Catholics. The idea would be to create a Hebrew Catholic educational group similar to the Israeli groups mentioned where we bring sacramentals in the Light of Christ to people identified as Emergent Jews or Crypto Jews as well as other Christians of Jewish descent. It would be a program specifically for those who are looking to connect with their ancestry.
It should be noted that there are other emerging Jewish communities in places like Africa and India who may not be historically Catholic. It might be appropriate to refer those places to traditional Catholic Missionaries. In those situations it will be interesting to watch how the Israeli groups recover potential lost Jews.
