Hello again Elaine: I'm not sure that I understand the whole question, but I do want to say something. I, too, have heard it said on talk radio (Coast to Coast Up All Night) that Chrstopher Columbo was definitely Jewish. For that reason, among others, he was unable to get the financial backing that he needed from the merchants of Genoa. Hence, he took his proposal to the throne of Spain where some interesting things occured.
This expulsion of the Jews from Spain is interesting. God's chosen people have been discriminated against, ostracized, persecuted, and hated from time immemorial (at least as far back as Pharoah's Egypt). This question of the Spanish Inquisition, however, is unique. It's not just based on religious hatred and antisemitism. Apparently, there were other important factors in play. They weren't just economic factors (aren't they always the convenient excuse?). If my powers of recall were as great as they once were, I would be able to tell you definitely. I believe that this reknowned scholar said that it was a loyalty issue. Apparently, the Jews of Spain were doing too much business and were too "tight" with the Moors. Their loyalty was perceived to be with the Moors and not with the European Spaniards or the throne of Spain. As a result, unlike all the other countries, every last man, woman, and child of the Jewish Faith was expelled from Spain. Certainly not good, but interesting. There were more than a few things said about old Chris and the Queen, but I'm sure that you don't want to hear about that one.
GBY and Shalom,
MW
