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Gracia Mendes Nasi |
Aharon's Jewish Books and Judaica
600 South Holly Street Suite 103
Denver, Colorado 80246
303-322-7345 / 800-830-8660 |
|
 Gracia
Mendes Nasi — Portuguese Marranos philanthropist
(1991)
As a 'Maranna', Dona Gracia (Nasi) was married
to Francisco Mendes of the House of Nasi. Her
husband ran a large trading enterprise. He died
in 1535, leaving her a widow at twenty-five. The
Inquisition, an increasingly mortal threat,
forced her to leave her homeland and flee with
her children to Antwerp. Later, from 1549 to
1553, she lived in Ferrara where the tolerant
Duke Ercole d'Este allowed her to practice her
true religion. Nevertheless, she was still
persecuted in Italy because of her Jewish faith.
It was only in Constantinople that she found the
personal freedom she had sought throughout her
life. In the tradition of her religion she
devoted herself to good works. She built houses
of prayer and teaching and supported needy
fellow Jews. She died in 1568, the 'heart of her
people'. |
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