Crypto-Judaism Hispanos of New Mexico

according kupersmit research, in 2015 there 24,000 jews in new mexico, 1,700 of born in state. researchers , historians believe number rise considerably if anusim (or crypto-jews) included in estimates.

in old town albuquerque, san felipe de neri church, built in 1793, contains star of david on left , right sides of altar. observers believe evidence of influence of crypto-jews in new mexico, others think there not enough support interpretation. people interpret symbols on cemetery headstones in northern new mexico jewish, alongside catholic crosses, scholars argue there not enough evidence this. since maternal lines not jewish , have not maintained jewish practices, not meet requirements of orthodox judaism s halakha.

genetic studies have been conducted on spanish new mexicans. michael hammer, research professor @ university of arizona , expert on jewish genetics, said fewer 1% of non-semites, more 4 times entire jewish population of world, possessed male-specific cohanim marker (this not carried jews, prevalent among jews claiming descent hereditary priests). 30 of 78 hispanos tested in new mexico (38.5%) found carry cohanim marker.

other y-dna testing of hispanic populations revealed between 10% , 15% of men living in new mexico, south texas , northern mexico have y chromosome can traced middle east.