While early modern Europe isn’t my area of expertise, the Spanish Inquisition — as it is for many people — is an event of especial morbid and humanitarian interest. As a scholar of decolonization and the related topic of race and racism, this period in Jewish and Iberian history intrigues me endlessly.

South of Sepharad delivers the history, as well as telling a profoundly moving story, one whose historical subjects are tangible and human and fully recognizable to contemporary readers. Readers who are unfamiliar with this history are likely to find the novel a fantastic introduction to the topic; instructors will find it is perfect for an undergraduate course as it palatably delivers the history and offers multiple points for discussion and debate in the classroom.

The novel revolves around a Jewish family, whose patriarch is one of Granada’s physicians. When the Moorish city falls to the Catholic Kings (though they are not yet called by title), Isabel, Queen of Castille and Ferdinand, King of Aragon, the Jewish community is forced to evacuate, having been given an ultimatum to convert to Christianity or forfeit their right to live within the kingdom. The ha-Rofeh family is torn between the two choices they face, and the novel focuses on the outcomes of their decisions. The family must also face the ways in which this decree destroys their community and their collective sense of Jewish identity. Theirs and their leaders’ ethics are tested, leading to a myriad of personal and collective grief.

Weintraub’s characters, while not as internally reflective as I usually like in my fiction, bring this history to life. Their motivations are much like our own; we can see ourselves reflected in their actions and words. Readers will find themselves understanding the texture of this history, as they experience the expulsion with the ha-Rofehs.

South of Sepharad, takes place in the 1400's in Spain. The Jews lived Peacefully with Christians until a new regime took over. It takes us through the lives of a Jewish family where one of their daughters converted to Christianity and married to a very wealthy family. Conversion was common during that time to save themselves from exile. Their daughter who converted constantly did things to agitate the ruler and consequently was imprisoned which led to her death. Meanwhile most of the Jewish families of that time were run out of the County. The story takes us through their journey to Fez! It was very interesting and I enjoyed the book. I received this book free for my honest review. I thank you for the opportunity.

This novel is a beautiful blend of love, faith and resilience against the backdrop of a pivotal moment in Jewish history The writing is atmospheric and I felt transported to Spain in the year 1492. The content was well researched and taught me much about this event. Overall, the novel transcends mere storytelling and is a testament to historical memory.
Many thanks to History Through Fiction and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

WOW!!! I wasn't sure how this would play out as a lot of historic Jewish representation is based solely on trauma or is blatant bigotry against us. While this did cover a dark time in our history, and from a fictional perspective, it was handled carefully and with respect.

This was a really heartbreaking read that shone a light on the 1492 expulsion of the Jews from Spain. As a UK reader, I’m only just starting to learn about this hugely significant and difficult period of Spanish history, and this book tackles it in an engaging, informative and readable way.

By focusing on the life of Vidal, a doctor, and how he has to make difficult decisions to save his family’s lives, whilst trying to stay true to his religion, Weintraub creates an incredibly emotive story. Then there is also the story of Catelina, who stays behind. Her story shows how deep the trauma and violence of the Spanish Inquisition reached and how terrible it was for those who thought they were safe.

The story is beautifully crafted, and shows humanity at its best and worst. The level of historical detail and research is also evident, plunging modern readers into a believable historical setting and culture. The description of 15th century Spain is authentic and enlightening, and is really brought to life.

This was a read that left a mark on me; for the way in which it tells a compelling story of humanity, fatherhood and determination, and for the way it shines a light on a historical event that is still very relevant and deeply unsettling.

I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

I took a vacation to Spain last November and during a couple of walking tours, the history of how Jews were treated in Spain was touched upon. I don’t know much about Jewish history beyond the Holocaust, so hearing about the violence and oppression that dated back to the Middle Ages was eye opening. When I saw this book, I was immediately interested.

This is a straightforward story. There are no larger than life characters, no complicated plot, no magical realism or grand metaphors but it becomes quite gripping. The author conducted a lot of research to write this book, and what it results in is a simple and graceful story about a Jewish man, Vidal ha-Rofeh, who has lived his entire life in Granada, Spain. When the story begins in 1492, he is a middle aged doctor who treats Jews, Catholics, and Moors throughout the city. He provides a good life for his family: his wife, and two sons and a daughter who remain at home. When the Alhambra Decree is handed down by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella he is in shock and disbelief that he, as a Jew, is being ordered from the only place he has known as home. He has barely been outside the walls of the city. Traveling through the countryside to the coast, boarding a ship for an unknown land is a frightening and unbelievable prospect for him and his family. But it is that or death or becoming “converso”, as his oldest daughter did when she fell in love with a Catholic man.

As he and his family grapple with impossible choices, we see the routines of his life–his practice, his religious traditions, his family, his neighborhood–as he takes notice of all that he has taken for granted. The book is highly readable because of the believable tensions among the family members and because of the unknown outcomes as the family embarks on their journey by wagon caravan.

In the middle of the book we also spend some time with his eldest, married daughter while she navigates the city as all traces of Jewish life are erased and the Inquisition becomes an unavoidable presence.

The author succeeded with his goals in writing this book.

1492, Granada, Spain. Granada has been conquered by the Spanish Emperor after a long siege. The Emir of Granada has surrendered presuming that his Moorish and Jewish population will continue to have a peaceful existence under new regime. The Jews have lived in Granada for 1500 years since they fled Jerusalem. The Spanish though have other plans. They have decided to make Granada into a Christian Kingdom, They proclaim a decree stating that the Jews need to leave Granada immediately or they will be executed. Caught in this catastrophic whirlwind is the Jewish family of Dr. Vidal Ha-Rofeh, a physician, his wife, two sons and two daughters. They have the option to either convert or flee. They opt for the latter, not at all an easy task. A long and tenuous journey to Fez, Morocco, across the Mediterranean Sea. Will they make it safe and sound and whole? Read this heart-wrenching novel to find out.

This is a fully pertinent novel for the current times. The author has done a great deal of research into the Spanish Conquest of Granada and the exodus of the Jewish Population from Europe that followed. In the 15th century, when most people had not even seen the world outside their own village or city walls, the Jewish population was forced to travel thousands of miles to seek resettlement in distant lands. They had to leave behind their homes and precious belongings, rather entire lives. Those who chose to convert to Christianity were still suspected of heresy and persecuted. They were interrogated by the Spanish Inquisition, tortured and executed. Those who managed to make it to other lands were still viewed as outsiders. The author has done a fabulous job of bringing to life this important piece of history in a very lucid, matter of fact manner. This is important historical fiction and a must-read for everybody who has an interest in the history of racial/religious discrimination, antisemitism and persecution, irrespective of your own race or nationality or religion. It is unfortunate how we as human beings often tend to ignore history and end up repeating the errors of the past over and over again.

Thank you Eric Z Weintraub for writing this book. Thank you Netgalley and History Through Fiction for the ARC.

South of Sepharad is a historical fiction novel depicting the Spanish Inquisition. In 1492, Granada, Spain, we meet a family forced with a decision to make. What will they value most? Their Jewish faith or keeping their family together. As Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand seize Granda, all Jews living in the city are required to convert to Catholicism or flee to live somewhere else. Vidal is tasked with deciding what is best for his family and his faith.

I was really intrigued by the description of this book and learning about a topic that was new to me. I was hooked in by the author’s beginning notes describing his curiosity to learn about the Spanish Inquisition himself and to create a narrative story that shared this piece of history with others. I really enjoyed the first third of the book as the setting was being set and the characters were introduced. It was fast paced and very engaging!

The last 2/3rds of the book read pretty different to me and I found myself disengaging from the story. It felt much slower and some brutal things happened that were tough to read.

Overall, I’m glad I read it and it was cool to learn about a new topic this way!

A Moving Tapestry of Resilience

Eric Weintraub’s “South of Sepharad” is a captivating historical fiction novel that transports readers to Granada, Spain, during the tumultuous period of the 1492 Jewish Expulsion. With vivid prose and deeply realized characters, Weintraub paints a powerful and poignant portrait of a family grappling with loss, displacement, and the struggle to preserve their identity in the face of unimaginable hardship.

The novel offers a captivating window into a pivotal moment in Spanish and Jewish history, providing a profound understanding of the political and religious tensions that led to the Expulsion, and the devastating impact it had on individuals and communities.

The Vidal family at the heart of the story is beautifully drawn. Each member grapples with the Expulsion in their own way, navigating internal conflicts and difficult choices with honesty and depth. Their struggles and triumphs resonate deeply with the reader, creating a powerful emotional connection.

Weintraub skillfully weaves in themes of faith, cultural identity, exile, and resilience. The novel prompts readers to contemplate the meaning of family, the cost of assimilation, and the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity.

“South of Sepharad” is a powerful and moving novel that is both historically insightful and emotionally resonant. It is a testament to the human capacity for resilience and the enduring power of family bonds.

A very fascinating read, about a topic that isn't really covered in recent works of historical fiction. Give me anything Spain+medieval!

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now that I’ve had a little time to sit with this book, I think I can give a full review. I don’t normally read historical fiction - it’s just not my jam - but when I saw a book about the Jewish experience during the Inquisition, I knew I needed to pick it up.

Vidal is a doctor in Granada; he also happens to be Jewish. This doesn’t matter much during the time of the emir, but as soon as the Catholic monarchs conquer Granada during their “reconquista” things begin to take a turn. South of Sepharad follows his family: his son Eliezer, his wife Bonadonna, younger children Asher and Iamila, and his daughter Goya (now called Catalina) who converted to Catholicism a few years before to marry the love of her life. Through this family we see the fates of Jewish adherents and conversos alike and how no one is safe under the Catholic crown.

When I tell you this book felt like a continual gut punch to this poor family, I mean it. I had to sit with it for a few days before I could really let myself handle the emotions, particularly the ending - a miraculous feeling of hope, and exactly what it means to be Jewish throughout history, because every day is a blessing and all life is precious.

Vidal ha-Rofeh is a Jewish doctor in 1492 Granada when the Spanish conquerors sign the Alhambra Decree, giving all Jews within the city three months to either convert to Catholicism or leave Spain. If they don't do one or the other by the time this "grace period" is over, the penalty is death. Vidal's oldest daughter has already converted (she married a Catholic man that Vidal healed) and Vidal's wife wants to convert to stay with her and the home that's been in their family for generations. But Vidal thinks leaving is safer, and his family soon joins a caravan of 200 Grenadian Jews traveling to Fez, Morocco to resettle. The book follows both Vidal as he tries to balance his family life and work as a physician, as well as his daughter Catalina, who comes under the scrutiny of Inquisitors in Grenada.

There hasn't been a ton of fiction written about the Jewish expulsion from Spain, and I commend Weintraub for choosing the topic for his debut novel. It's interesting, and inspires me to learn more about this chapter of history. The characters are a bit two-dimensional, and the plot isn't quite believable at times, but I generally liked it.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is a very powerful work of historical fiction. The reader is brought to Spain in 1492 when Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand decreed that all Jews must leave Spain or convert to Catholicism.

This was not an easy decision for anyone. Jews had lived in Granada for generations and had homes, jobs, and extended families. They wanted to remain, but they also needed to freely observe their religious beliefs and practices. The coming of the Inquisition, with its spies and tortures, endangered the lives of those who chose to convert, as well.

The strength of this novel is not only in its graphic description of a shameful historical period, but also its reflection of current events.

So far, I’m really enjoying this book! There’s not a lot of books about this particular point in Jewish history, but I think this book does a good job of showing what the time may have been like. It’s a really cool book because not only is it entertaining, but it also teaches us about history and the time period that this takes place in.

Also, the characters are likable, they feel authentic, and they’re really interesting. The whole time I’m rooting for them to make the right choices because the author has done a fantastic job of putting them in a dilemma related to an event that was occurring at the time and making the characters respond accordingly to it.

Overall, so far, I’m impressed and I’m really enjoying this read. I’ll have to give another update when I’m fully through it, but this may end up being my first five star read of 2024.

Weintraub’s novel, subtitled The 1492 Jewish Expulsion from Spain, is a tragic story spotlighting an atrocity committed in historical times, and echoing through the ages. Whilst concentrating his narrative on Dr Vidal ha-Rofeh, his wife Bonadonna and their children, and their impossible choice to renounce a deeply held faith, and leave a country their family have lived in for generations, Weintraub allows us the wider experience of a city in turmoil, as thousands are forced from their homeland. Even Vidal’s daughter, Catalina, who converted to Catholicism five years before, in order to marry, is unable to escape the vindictive eye of the Inquisition. Other than a tendency to use over-exaggerated metaphor, this is a compelling account of an event which does not get much air-time in historical novels. The events are dark and harrowing, with little relief, but Weintraub engenders a hopeful end to his story. This novel will appeal to readers interested the Alhambra Decree, and the wider history of Spain before and after this watershed moment.

Thanks to NetGalley and History Through Fiction for providing me with a free ARC in return for my honest review.

1492 a year that many of us know a lot about. For instance that's the year that Lorenzo de Medici died in Florence. It's also the year that Columbus sailed the ocean blue to quote discover and quote America. It was the year that Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella consolidated their conquest of Spain by overrunning Granada which led to the expulsion of the Moors. But few of us know that it was also in 1492 that those same rulers, Ferdinand and Isabella, expelled the Jews from Spain, a location where they had lived for over 1500 years. It's that expulsion, as well as the ensuing difficulties, that first time author eric Weintraub features in historical fiction novel, South of Sepharad. Weintraub captures the shock, horror and dismay of the Jewish community as seen through the eyes of physician Vidal ha-Rofeh, and his family. It is through their eyes that we see the results of the expulsion, as the Jewish population was given three months a free passage to leave the country, and that failure to leave or convert to Catholicism would result in death. Vidal realizes that his future is tied to that of his faith and refuses to convert to Catholicism, even though his oldest daughter has already converted to Catholicism years previously when she married a Catholic gentleman. The family is split, should they stay in Granada or should they leave with the rabbi who is taking them to the coast of Spain to eventually make their way to fez which is in Morocco. Vidal will beg his daughter, Catalina, to come with them but she refuses and stays with her husband especially since she is now pregnant with their child. This is a journey that the members of the Jewish community must take from Granada to Malaga Spain where they will hopefully find transport to North Africa. Eventually a caravan of about 200 people set out across the dry and parched area and the caravan is beset by all sorts of mishaps the least of which is they've run out of water. Forced to sell all their possessions while in Granada, for pennies on the dollar, the caravan struggles to make it to the coast and when it does the struggles continue. Meanwhile Catalina gives birth to a baby boy but also has the legitimacy of her conversion questioned by the priests in the inquisition. It was a bad time for anyone who used to be a Jew living in Spain and we get to see all the difficulties that Vidal and his family suffered through as they attempt to make it to the sea and hopefully define freedom to live, work and worship in fez. This is a very fine first time novel which has well drafted characters, a plot that comes directly from history and expands our knowledge as to the horrors that anyone who was not a Catholic would face if they lived in Spain once Ferdinand and Isabella consolidated their power. This book is not so much about religion as it is about suffering and attempting to overcome adversity. I highly recommend this book to fans of fiction, historical fiction, and history and makes me eagerly await the next novel from this gifted writer.

This was a really enjoyable historical novel, it had everything that I was hoping for from the description. I enjoyed the use of the time-period and how well everything was written. The characters had a great overall feel to it and I enjoy getting to go through this with them.

Being an avid history reader, of course I already knew of the expulsion of the Jews from Spain shortly after King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella finally conquered Grenada. However, admittedly this knowledge was always a general understanding, at best. Through "South of Sepharad," I feel like I was able to not only learn a bit more, but experience it on a vicarious level through the experiences and tribulations of the family around who the book revolves. Overall, a solid (and also an unintentionally timely) read!

I enjoyed this book. The storytelling is very good as is character development. The story is well-paced and never bogs down. Although I already knew the overall story of the expulsion, the book gave me an appreciation for what individuals went through. Overall this is a great read. Thank you to Netgalley and History Through Fiction for the advance reader copy.

In his novel, "South of Sepharad: The 1492 Jewish Expulsion from Spain," Eric Z. Weintraub masterfully unfolds the intricate narrative of that pivotal year, employing the nuanced touch of well-researched historical fiction. Weintraub goes beyond mere recounting, infusing history with a personal touch that breathes life into Renaissance geo-politics, revealing the human side of an era defined by shifting identities. Amidst the tumultuous backdrop of Isabella and Ferdinand's Reconquista, a Jewish family grapples with the challenge of preserving not only themselves but also their identity, now in conflict with the only home they've ever known.

As contemporary headlines inundate us with accounts of successive refugee crises, delving into this chapter of Spanish and Jewish history offers invaluable insights and comprehension. Weintraub emerges as a skillful guide, navigating readers through the complexities of the time. "South of Sepharad" stands as a poignant work of historical fiction, arriving precisely when the need for such narratives is most acute.