In 16th-century Portugal, to be Jewish was to live in secret. Doña Gracia used her wealth and power to escape, helping many other Jews to do the same. She built synagogues, hospitals, and schools to help her people.
In 16th-century Portugal, even Doña Gracia's Jewish name was a secret. But she and her merchant husband helped other secret Jews, by persuading the king to protect them during the Inquisition. When her husband died, many said no woman would be able to run their international business, but Doña Gracia did. Escaping Portugal, she helped other Jews do the same, smuggling them out of the country on her spice ships in the night. Only in Turkey was she finally able to live freely as a Jew, and to use her resources to build synagogues, hospitals, and schools. Doña Gracia saved worlds.
Hardcover: 978-1-7284-6699-6
eBooks/audio eBooks available for Amazon Kindle as well as most other e-readers.
View the Educator eSource Guide for this title.
