Launch event of the book “Donna Gracia: The First Jewish Banker” held in “Saraya,” in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Tel Aviv and Steimatzky
Saraya is theTurkish Embassy Cultural Center inTel Aviv-Jaffa
Hosting the event ; Ambassador of Türkiye to Israel , H.E. Şakir Özkan Torunlar; Eyal Grinberg CEO Steimatzky ; Mr. Aaron Nomaz - the Author
Special cultural event dedicated to commemorating the life and accomplishement of Donna Gracia, a remarkable woman who left an indeleble mark on the history of the Ottoman Empire.
Guests enjoyed Turkish and Ladino music performed by Renin Meseri and Jako Hazan
Donna Gracia is a book based on real historical events, in the center of which is a woman, a daughter of a family of Anosim from Portugal. The plot story takes place against the background of the reign of Charles V, King of Spain and Emperor of Germany, Elizabeth I, Queen of England, and Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
After the deportation of the Jews of Spain and Portugal, she became a model figure - Donna Garcia - who, with the help of her extreme wealth, resourcefulness and courage, set up measures to save masses of martyrs from the clutches of the Inquisition, and towards the end of her days she extracted from the hands of the Sultan a promise to establish a national home for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel. Throughout the story, a drama unfolds in the heroine's soul: the tension between the great identity and the hidden one, a tension that she and her family members will not be able to resolve, despite their tireless
commitment to the Zionist cause.
Donna Garcia was a great leader who dedicated her life to saving her people. Inscribed in the collective memory as someone who, despite her arduous work for her people, actually received a cold shoulder and alienation from them. This did not prevent her from continuing her life's work, being the greatest banker of her time, a sharp-witted politician, a regular guest in the Ottoman palace and the closest friend of Horam Sultan, the wife of Suleiman the Magnificent. She deserves to be counted among the heroes and heroines of Zionism for her work to renew Jewish political life in the Land of Israel, and to win the title of "the first Zionist".
'Donna Garcia' of Aaron Nomaz's first book, published in Israel.
An industrialist who graduated from "Berkeley" and a diplomat living in Turkey, who marveled at weaving a vivid and lively plot based on real events, describing in a painfully tangible way the events of one woman who dedicated her life to saving her people who were persecuted for their religion and faith, and deserves to be counted among the heroes and heroines of Zionism for her work to renew Jewish political life in the Land of Israel.
An industrialist who graduated from "Berkeley" and a diplomat living in Turkey, who marveled at weaving a vivid and lively plot based on real events, describing in a painfully tangible way the events of one woman who dedicated her life to saving her people who were persecuted for their religion and faith, and deserves to be counted among the heroes and heroines of Zionism for her work to renew Jewish political life in the Land of Israel.
Hebrew translation - Moshe Kimchi, born in Istanbul and retired ambassador;
Introduction to the book - Historian Dr. Tzvika Sahaik - curator and founder of the Dona Garcia Museum in Tiberias
Published by Steimatzky, price: NIS 116, available in the Steimatzky network and bookstores
Aharon Nomaz, an industrialist graduated from "Berkeley" and a diplomat living in Turkey. His other books: Yosef Nashi, the Sultan's Jewish spy; Yosef Nashi, following big dreams; Stroma - the stories of the disaster that calls for the exploration of conscience, are bestsellers in Turkey.
Donna Garcia was translated into English, and is now published in Hebrew by Steimatzky.
Photos by Silvia Graciela Golan
More Pics at Facebook Diplomacy Israel / Israel Diplo / Silvia G. Golan
