El Neguev Synagogue
The El Neguev Synagogue, also known as the Jewish Community of Venta Prieta or the El Neguev Mexican Israelite Community of Venta Prieta, is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Venta Prieta, in the city of Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, Mexico.
The congregation comprises people who are descended from B'nei Anusim, also known as Conversos, Jews who were either forcibly converted to Christianity during the Spanish Inquisition and later returned to Judaism. The congregation was established in the latter part of the 19th century or the early 20th century, and the synagogue was completed in 1930.
History
It is a small congregation, of which many view themselves as either Sephardic Jews or as descendants of one of the lost tribes of Israel. The synagogue was founded in 1930 by the Téllez brothers and today run by the Téllez family. For many years, Rabbi Samuel S. Lerer was the educational and organizational leader of the community until his retirement in 1999.It is said that the community was founded between the end of the 19th century and 1920, by María Trinidad, a widow of one of the Téllez brothers. Maria viewed herself as a descendant of the Anusim, and arrived in Michoacán with her mother and twelve children escaping a religious revolt, that was occurring during that period. Maria reportedly kept the customs of her ancestors, including refraining from eating pork, ceasing work on Friday and praying only to HaShem.