In the Footsteps of Hispanic Crypto-Jews | Jewish Heritage Alliance

The Miami Israeli Parliament and Jewish Heritage Alliance presented a fascinating lecture led by Michael Steinberger Founder and CEO of Jewish Heritage Alliance. Guest speakers are Genie Milgrom, a noted Genealogist, researcher, and promoter of Sefarad and Ashley Perry (Perez), President of Reconectar, an organization dedicated to reconnecting descendants of Sepharad Jews with Israel. . The presentation is titled: In the footsteps of Hispanic Crypto-Jews (Bnei Anusim) from the pogroms, persecutions, and forced conversions to exile and redemption.

Michael Steinberger hails from the tourism industry where he enjoyed over four decades of experience. Born in Israel and living his adult life in the diaspora, helped in shaping Michael's commitment to Jewish heritage and this project. Michael's interest in Sefarad (Jews of the Iberian Peninsula) was motivated by the far-reaching events of Sefarad and the profound consequences the period produced. Michael's mission and vision are derived from the belief that the Sefarad narrative, both historical and the present-day consequences, are "missing in action" lacking the footprint or presence they deserve.

Ashley Perry (Perez) is President of Reconectar, an organization dedicated to reconnecting the over 200 million descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Jews with Israel and the Jewish world. He has served as adviser to Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, worked in the Prime Minister’s Office, and with Israel’s ministers of Defense, Tourism, National Infrastructure & Water, Agriculture, Internal Security, Immigrant Absorption, as well as with the Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Last year, Jewish News named him as one of the 50 olim (immigrants to Israel) from the U.K. who made the most significant contributions to Israel.

Genie Milgrom is a noted genealogist, researcher, and promoter of the Sefarad. She was the past President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Miami, as well as the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies. Born in Havana, Cuba into an upper-class Roman Catholic family of Spanish origin, Genie made her way back to her Jewish roots and traced her Crypto-Jewish heritage through 22 generations; dating all the way back to 1405, Pre-Inquisition Spain and Portugal. She has spoken at the Knesset in Israel, lectured around the world, and her work has been showcased in many publications, including the Jerusalem Post, The Miami Herald, and other publications, bringing awareness to the topic of the Jews returning from the Inquisition.