The Secret History of Crypto-Jews with Mexican-American Jew Blanca Carrasco

Watch Being Jewish on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcast Subscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter: bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletter For Sponsorships, please email: Jonah@JonahPlatt.com To contact us & all things BJJP: www.BeingJewishPodcast.com Follow Jonah on: Instagram - @JonahPlatt X - @JonahPlatt Follow Being Jewish on: Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcast TikTok - @BeingJewish What happens when you grow up Catholic in Mexico — and discover you’re secretly Jewish? In this riveting episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches , Jonah sits down with Blanca Carrasco, a descendant of Crypto-Jews who only discovered her family’s secret heritage at age 50. Now the president of the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies, Blanca unpacks the unknown history of Crypto-Jews — descendants of Jews who secretly maintained their faith after being forced to convert during the Spanish Inquisition. Blanca shares her extraordinary journey to discover who her true family is. She’s a leader in the global movement helping descendants of forcibly converted Jews reclaim their heritage. Blanca opens up about: 🕯️ How the Spanish Inquisition forced her ancestors to flee Spain and hide their Judaism for generations ✝️ Being raised devoutly Catholic — and the moment she began questioning what she was taught 🔯 Her path from Messianic Judaism to a full Jewish conversion 📜 The Facebook post that led to the discovery of her secret family tree 🎓 Her work with the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies, and why their academic research has personal meaning for thousands of “Anusim” around the world 🎬 A sneak peek into the Society's upcoming Los Angeles conference, including an opera, film screenings, and a genealogy workshop with Jeannie Milgrom From Monterrey to El Paso, from the Church to the shul, Blanca’s story is a global tale of discovery, identity, and reconnection. Her life proves that history isn’t just in books — it’s in your blood. Hit play to discover how centuries of hidden history came full circle, and what Blanca’s story means for all of us. Host & Production Team Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew "MoJo" Jones; Story Producer: Sasha Nelson; Content Director: Alexandra Fugère; Associate Producer: Sean Leviashvili); Editor: Post Relativity & Mike O’ Brien; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Graphic Designer: Noah Bell MENTIONED IN EPISODE Who Were the Crypto Jews? The Converso History The Alhambra Decree Ottoman Lands provided Safe Haven for Sephardic Jews Expelled from Spain “Anuism” Meaning Captain Marcos Alonso de la Garza del Arcón (1551-1634) Inquisition on the Canary Islands Messianic Jew Jonathan Settel Who are Messianic Jews? Rabbi Stephen Leon Anusim Center of El Paso Common Converso Names Jewish Mourning Traditions (like Covering Mirrors) What is Ladino? Somos Primos Facebook Group Ashkenazi vs Sephardic Jews Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies HaLapid Magazine Crypto-Jews of Brazil The Dönmes: Crypto-Jews under Turkish Rule Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies Annual Conference in Los Angeles, August 10-12, 2025 Cuban-Jewish Author/Geneologist Genie Milgrom What is a Mikvah? A Long Journey: The Hidden Jews of the Southwest Dona Gracia Mendes-Nasi “La Señora” opera about Dona Gracia by Dr. Michelle Green Willner