Gracia Mendes Nasi “the heart within the body of our Portuguese nation” -Samuel Esque, author of Consolation for the Tribulations of Israel Gina Arakanchi Jewish History 9HH Mrs. Braun 24 May 2018 Gracia Mendes Nasi was one of the most influential women of Europe during her time. She lived during the time of the Portuguese Inquisition and was determined to help her Jewish neighbors. Gracia created a secret network with her brother-in-law, Diego, that provided help to the escaping Jews from anti semitic places. During her time in Ferrara, she became known as La Senora or Ha-Geveret because she was viewed as a friend and savior by many Jews. From the years 1510 to 1590, Gracia Mendes Nasi was an amazing Jewish woman in the Sephardic communities …show more content…
If the Jews didn't convert, they were persecuted for not following the Portuguese government’s instructions (Katacharin). Jews that lived in Spain and Portugal were affected by the Inquisition (“Nasi, Gracia”). Gracia Mendes Nasi was born on June 20, 1510 in Portugal. Gracia’s family had to hide their Jewish identity and were forced to convert to Christianity (Bodian). Since her family was forced to give Gracia a baptism, her Christian name became Beatrice de Luna (Roth). Beatrice de Luna married a wealthy merchant, Francisco Mendes Benveniste in 1528 (Bodian). Francisco and Beatrice had a big, public Christian wedding but in private, they had a small Jewish wedding with family (Katacharin). Sadly Francisco died in 1537 and he left Gracia in charge of half his business (Roth). This is interesting because Gracia was given power which was uncommon for women during those times …show more content…
The private organization helped Jews that were escaping from Portugal and Spain (Roth). First, the Jews travelled on her spice ships until they reached Gracia in Antarp (“Nasi, Gracia”). Once they arrived, the Jews were sheltered in Gracia’s house where they received money and instructions on how to get to Venice through the Alps. Gracia had people stationed in Venice to direct the incoming Jews to Turkey and the Ottoman Empire, where they were welcomed. In his will, Diego stated that he wanted to leave the full business to Gracia when he died (Katacharin). Gracia was granted even more power and it caused a rift between her and Diego’s wife, which was her sister (Roth). Gracia was able to convince kings to finance her and she gave huge amounts of money to the Pope to prevent him from hurting Jews. After moving many places due to fleeing from death and from court by her sister, she moved to Istanbul, Turkey (Katacharin). Gracia finally revealed her Jewish identity because she was allowed to live freely as a Jew. Once it was safe for Gracia, she began to build synagogues and yeshivot in Constantinople and Salonika (Roth). Her most popular synagogue became known as the Synagogue of the Señora, and her most popular yeshiva became known as the Academy of the Geveret. Gracia also received permission from the government to build a town outside of Tiberius for the
Guillermo González Camarena was a Mexican electrical engineer who was the inventor of a color-wheel type of color television, and who also introduced color television to Mexico,
From a proud Conquistador, to a castaway, a slave and trader, and then medicine man, Cabeza de Vaca was the first European to explore much of the southern coast of Texas. Cabeza was a 37 year old military veteran in 1527 when he left on the Narvaez Expedition to find gold and colonize the Gulf Coast. He was the expedition’s treasurer. Cabeza de Vaca was enslaved by Indians in 1528 when one of the rafts the crew made crashed on present day Galveston island, he then escaped in 1530 and joined/was enslaved by another tribe called the Charrucos until his escape with 3 other survivors in 1534. He then walked to Mexico City. Cabeza survived this ordeal because of the incredible patience he had, his skills of diplomacy and goodwill, and his amazing wilderness survival skills.
Arduous in the brilliant and fluid-like movements of their fingers that seemed to dance across the body and neck of their guitars throughout their fiery duet, Rodrigo y Gabriela were the epitome of Latin-passion and grace in their explosive and sold-out performance Tuesday night at The Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.
Finally, when it came down to the types of ceremonies and views both civilizations had, they were on two different pages. The Natives believed happiness was the key to good fortune. So, in order to get that fortune, they’d do sacrifices, and rituals to please the “mighty ones”. Then, as stated in the book “A History of Latin America”, it says, “Jews publicly converted to Christianity to avoid the torture…”, In which, this showed how religion and the spiritual views were forced upon people in the Spanish civilization.
Spain in the 1300s AD was a roiling mess of war. The Muslims of Spain were being driven further south and out of the peninsula in the name of the Reconquista. Inês de Castro was raised in Galicia, as far from the war front as one could be in Spain, as a witch in a family steeped in magical tradition. She had two brothers, both very accomplished wizards and a great support to her during her youth and young adulthood. Her grandmother Violante Sánchez de Castile wrote in a letter that “the three [were] inseparable”. So when Inês was sent to Portugal as a maid to Constance of Castile, it is unsurprising that her brothers followed.
The person I decided to choose is a very important family member to me who I care a lot about and is part of my mother’s side family. The person I chose is Silvana Giono, or also known as “Nonna,” meaning grandma in Italian. She is a very brave woman whom I look up to everyday of my life. Silvana grew up in Turin, Italy during the worst circumstances and has many stories yet to be told to me.
Racism has resided within the Dominican Republic for centuries after the defeat of the Haitian Empire. Yet, the profuse racism came from the Presidency of Rafael Trujillo. Rafael Trujillo yearned to withhold the prevalence of white skin-tone in Dominican individuals. Trujillo initiated an anti-Haitian regime as he was determined to whiten his country. To present himself as a white Dominican, Trujillo wore makeup to lighten his appearance, to uphold his standards. Yet, the horrific, defining moment of his presidency was the Parsley Massacre. Trujillo started the massacre in 1937, as he sought to deceive his people by claiming the Haitians were practicing witchety, while claiming they kept a Dominican opponent in hiding. Dominican troops slaughtered
Teresa Sánchez Cepeda Davila y Ahumada lived in Avila, Spain where she was born in 1515 and lived during the Reformation until her death at age 67. She was canonized in 1622, forty years after her death. St. Teresa's grandmother was forced to be converted from a Jew into a Christian during the Inquisition. Without her grandmother’s conversion St. Teresa would never have become a Christian saint. Her parents were Godly people and showed tremendous integrity. They always said their prayers and made sure their twelve children did also. Sadly, at the age of twelve, St. Teresa's mother died giving birth which created a fear in St. Teresa of getting married. St. Teresa had a special relationship with one of her nine brothers named Rodrigo. St. Teresa once said, “When I read about certain women saints who endured martyrdom for the sake of God, I concluded that death was a small price to pay for the utter joy they were given in return when they were whisked away to heaven” (Starr, 2007, p.6). Rodrigo taught St. Teresa all about chivalry and they spent many hours reading about the lives of saints, never thinking St. Teresa would accomplish just that. As a girl, St. Teresa strived to be worthy of God, as did her siblings whom she loved. Instead of acting like she was a princess with the other girls, her and her brother Rodri...
This can be seen in the introduction to document 35 where it explains the start of the Spanish inquisition, “This court, which was under state control, was established in Castile in 1480, primarily in order to watch over these converts or Marranos, many of whom pretended to be Christians, but secretly practiced Jewish customs.” (The Spanish Inquisition at Work, Doc 35, p. 195) The problem that arose after the Jews would convert into becoming new Christians was that they would still secretly practice Judaism. This was considered as going against the religious zeal of the church, and harming the Christian society values. The church authorities feared that having these heretic Jews around would influence other Marranos to do the same as they did. This was enough for the King and church authorities to expel
What was the Spanish Inquisition? The Spanish Inquisition persecuted and discriminated against minorities in the Iberia Peninsula who opposed to the practice and ideologies of the Catholic Church. Between 1480 to 1834, the Spanish Inquisition was placed under the authority of the royal power in Spain; the Inquisition was created in order to resolve the particular problem presented by the presence of thousands of converted Jews in the Iberian Peninsula. At the same time, the inquisition extended its authority to other minorities and become implanted in other geographical regions. This “institution” operated and was expanded to other territories under the crown of Castile—the Canaries and the territories ruled by viceroys in New Spain and Peru (24, 25).
Recently, there has been a concerted effort from the Brazilian government to project their country as a “serious” power on the international stage. After many years of what could be deem as a failure of realized potential, Brazil is finally beginning to understand its worth as a major contributor to world affairs. Given its strategic location as the second most important country on in the Western hemisphere, and arguably the most important country on the Southern hemisphere, Brazil is poised to become an international powerhouse, the like of which South America has never seen. To fully utilize the opportunities being presented to Brazil in the coming years it is imperative that the Dilma regime bolster its reputation through increased efforts of international cooperation with emerging world markets.
In May 2009, I was ready to leave my home in Brazil to study in the United States. A few days after arriving in America I started to take "summer classes" at West Virginia State University. Since then a lot has changed in my life as a person and as a student. I have made new friends in West Virginia and done well at my studies. I have changed majors which added an extra year to my studies. My grandmother passed away in 2010 when I was taking my finals during my second semester at school. And, in the same year one of my two nieces, Juliana, was born. Life was happening, and changes were taking place. I was so busy with my studies and adapting into the new routine that I forgot to consider that my country, Brazil, was going through transformations as well.
Many countries have the pleasure of celebrating Independence Days. These historic holidays are filled with nationalistic celebrations and delicious traditional food. In Chile, the natives celebrate their break from Spain with Fiestas Patrias. In Mexico, the president begins the celebration by ringing a bell and reciting the “Grito de Dolores” and he ends his speech by saying “Viva Mexico” three times.
“But many of the Jewish children were forced to become Catholic to remain hidden from the Nazis. ”(Feldman 391) The Jews had many restrictions before they were taken away from their homes. Anne Frank wrote in her diary, “Jews were forced to wear yellow stars” (that said Jude on them), they were banned from trains and were forbidden to drive, mostly walking from place to place. They could only shop at Jewish shops, but only between the hours of three through five.
”8 He then calls upon a series of witnesses who confirm his explanations. Since a major emphasis was placed upon limpieza de sangre (purity of blood), de Villegas and his witnesses were smart to mention his Christian lineage and the fact that he frequently attended Mass. He also separated himself from Jews when he remarked “I never talk with Jews, nor was I raised to have such an inclination”9 María Gonzalez on the other hand, readily admitted that the customs she and her family partook in were “for the sake of the Jewish