Sephardic Farewell

SEPHARDIC FAREWELL/ANCESTORS A NOVEL BY JOSEPH HOBESH SYNOPSIS Late 15th century Spain, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand issue the Expulsion Edict; non-catholics have two choices: convert to Catholicism, or leave all the lands of Spain with nothing. The Monarchs provide Columbus with funds for his first exploratory sea voyage. Against the historic sweep of Columbus' voyage, the expulsion of the Jews, and the exploration of the new world; the novel recounts the lives of two families. One choosing to remain in Spain and live as Catholics, the other choosing to emigrate to Turkey and continue to practice the Jewish religion. For the Halavi's the uprooting brought about by Edict causes a breakup of the family. Joshua Ben Halavi leaves with Columbus. Benjamin and his father David settle in Constantinople, establishing deep Jewish roots. The San Miguels whose Jewish roots have been well hidden for many years choose to remain in Spain as Christians; their fate a mixture of  Inquisition horror and New World success. From the historic voyage of Columbus, and the colonization of the Americas, the story follows these two families, and portrays their lives through the sweeping historical events of the 15th and 16th centuries.