Melungeon Jews

Melungeon Jews (Hebrew: יהודי מלנג'ון) are a small group of American descendants of historically tri-racial isolate groups who have converted to Judaism.

Descendants believe that some of their ancestors were Sephardi crypto-Jews who remained isolated in the Southern United States, primarily Appalachia. Current historical and genetic research does not support the claim of recent Sephardi descent or Crypto-Judaism among any Melungeon families.

Research has shown Melungeon descendants to be overwhelmingly of European descent, with direct paternal and maternal lines being predominately of African, European, or more rarely, Native American origin. Some families also have descent from early East Indian indentured servants.

Rabbi Arnold Belzer of Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah, Georgia, a historic colonial-era Reform synagogue founded by Western Sephardim, endorsed the view that Melungeons should return to Judaism and did not require conversion.