New York, NY, March 1, 2017 (Newswire.com) - Paulo Carneiro, a remote descendant from Portuguese Jews, with African, indigenous and Dutch influence, has completed his most recent book “Dutch Connection: The Jewish Saga from Spain to America”: a spellbinding tale of persecution and the search for freedom as one group of people cross oceans to find a place they can call home.
Paulo hopes that his book does justice to a story that is near and dear to his heart. He says, “In Dutch Connection, I aim to rescue a lost episode in history.”
Published by Fulton Books, Paulo Carneiro’s book chronicles the history of the Sephardim expelled from Spain in 1492, their stay in Portugal, where they were subjected to forced conversion, as well as their role in the expansion of the Portuguese empire. Divided into short sections, the narrative continues with the development of the Amsterdam Community, the inclusion of Jews in economic, and cultural life of the country, as well as their shipment to Brazil in 1630 when the Batavians invaded the country in the “Sugar War.” On this occasion, Jews were their allies not only for speaking Portuguese but also for understanding the sugar trade. In Recife, Brazil, they founded the first Synagogue in the Americas, Kahal Zur Israel, the first cemetery and also the first literary Hebrew text in the New World. Moreover, under the rule of Dutch Count, Maurice von Nassau, the community became rich and powerful. According to the American historian, Robert Chester Smith, Recife was the only city of Portuguese America worthy to be called a city at that time.
After twenty-four years of occupation, in 1654, the Dutch were expelled, and so their Jewish allies. Despite the threat of the Inquisition, many remained in the country, mixed the population. Most returned to Europe or went to Dutch colonies in the Antilles. However, a group of twenty-three Jews landed in the colony of New Amsterdam—now New York—and are recognized today as pioneers in the founding of first US Community. Along the way, they suffered an attack by Spanish pirates, shipwreck, and Inquisition threats in Jamaica before being rescued by a French frigate. On September 12, 1654, they celebrated the first Rosh Hashanah of US history. In May 2012, President Barack Obama said that the Brazilian refugees found not only a safe haven to land, but also a tradition of freedom that unite forever their history to the history of America.
Readers who wish to experience this mesmerizing work can purchase “Dutch Connection: The Jewish Saga from Spain to America” at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play or Barnes and Noble.
Please direct all media inquiries to Gregory Reeves via email at gregory@fultonbooks.com or via telephone at 877-210-0816.
Source: Fulton Books
Share: