Full Breakdown
Nascent Sanhedrin Challenges 1927 Decree Blocking Latin American Bnei Anusim from Aliyah
7/19/2026, 8:42:05 PM
Historical Decree Blocking Bnei Anusim
In 1927 a takanah issued by the Syrian Jewish community in Buenos Aires barred any convert from joining the community. The decree was later adopted by the city’s Ashkenazi community and, over decades, by virtually every recognized Jewish community throughout Latin America. Its original purpose, according to Yaffah Batya daCosta, founder and CEO of Ezra L’Anousim, was “to prevent Jewish men from marrying non-Jewish women whose sincerity about being a Jew was in question.” Critics argue that the blanket ban has since prevented descendants of Spain- and Portugal-forced converts (Bnei Anusim) from gaining communal recognition and, consequently, from making aliyah under Israel’s Law of Return.
Nascent Sanhedrin Ruling (July 6)
The self-styled Nascent Sanhedrin—a contemporary body seeking to revive the historic 71-member high court but without legal authority in Israel—issued a ruling on July 6 calling on the Chief Rabbinate and the Interior Ministry to accept these Latin American converts as a group. The ruling states:
> “There are several communities of converts in South America who have undergone Orthodox conversion according to its rules and are fully observing the Torah and commandments. Jewish communities throughout the world, as well as the Chief Rabbinate and the Interior Ministry, must accept these communities, permit them to come in congregation, and immigrate to the Land.”
Potential Pathways and Numbers
DaCosta estimates that acceptance of the ruling could immediately qualify 10,000-15,000 Orthodox converts from across Latin America for aliyah, with “approximately 10 times that number of extended family members” potentially following later. Presently, only a limited number of Bnei Anusim reach Israel through nonprofit-sponsored programs that require an additional conversion under Israel’s Chief Rabbinate framework—a process DaCosta describes as “expensive and resource-intensive.”
Verbatim Quotes
> “The decree against converts joining an established Jewish community was allegedly created to prevent Jewish men from marrying non-Jewish women whose sincerity about being a Jew was in question, such as in cases where they were already in a relationship with a Jewish man.” — Yaffah Batya daCosta, Founder and CEO, Ezra L’Anousim
> “So in 1927, in my opinion, the rabbis decided not to put their own lives, and the lives of the Jews in their congregations, at risk by barring conversion altogether,” — Yaffah Batya daCosta
> “There are young men and women in Latin America who have undergone conversion, identify as religious Zionists, and dream of serving in the IDF or performing National Service,” — Yaffah Batya daCosta
> “There are several communities of converts in South America who have undergone Orthodox conversion according to its rules and are fully observing the Torah and commandments. Jewish communities throughout the world, as well as the Chief Rabbinate and the Interior Ministry, must accept these communities, permit them to come in congregation, and immigrate to the Land.” — Nascent Sanhedrin ruling (July 6)
The ruling carries no legal force under Israeli law, but DaCosta believes its moral weight could prompt Jewish communities and Israeli authorities to reassess policies that have long excluded thousands of Bnei Anusim from returning to Israel.
