Reverse Marranos (RMs) are Haredim who appear to live a Haredi lifestyle but do not believe in the core beliefs associated with that lifestyle. The term highlights the opposite nature of their secrecy as compared to Spanish Jewish

marranos Marranos were Spanish and Portuguese Jews living in the Iberian Peninsula who converted or were forced to convert to Christianity during the Middle Ages, but continued to practice Judaism in secrecy. The term specifically refers to the cha ...

in the Middle Ages, who were forced to publicly abandon their Judaism while secretly maintaining their Jewish customs. Since the advent of the

Internet The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a '' network of networks'' that consists of private, pub ...

, RMs tend to converse and support each other online within social media groups and on web-based forums. Because of the secrecy inherent in maintaining an RM lifestyle, the number of RMs individuals is difficult to gauge, and estimates range from several hundred to several thousand worldwide. Many young Jewish teens are RMs as they keep their disbelief to themselves, and stay in their parents care. Often in such cases, if they "come out" as less religious or atheist, they would be kicked out of home and all ties with the teen will be cut off by the former family and rabbis.

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{{External links, date=December 2015
Footsteps
an organization helping people going "Off The Derech" (OTD) to settle in the secular world
"Off The Derech" Resources
Disengagement from religion Heresy in Judaism Jewish society Orthodox Judaism