Across So Many Seas
Meet talented Benvenida who lives in Spain, fun-loving Reina from Turkey, brave Alegra forced to flee Cuba and musical Paloma, growing up in Miami. Their lives span several centuries, but they have more in common than you can possibly imagine.
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What the Book is About
Jewish Content and Values
Content Advisory
What the Book is About
Across So Many Seas follows four generations of a family, from the 1492 expulsion of the Jews of Spain through Miami in 2003. In 1492, 12-year-old Benvenida is one of the few girls who can read and write. She lives in Toledo, Spain. When the Jews are expelled from the country, Benvenida’s parents decide to flee with the family. Eventually they travel to Constantinople (now Istanbul), where they settle for generations.
In 1923, 12-year-old Reina lives with her parents and sisters. On the night of Turkish independence, she and her best friend, a Muslim boy named Sadik, sneak out to attend the celebrations. Reina is the only girl there. Her father disowns her when he finds out and sends her to Cuba for an arranged marriage to a much older distant cousin.
In 1961, Reina's daughter Alegra is 12. The Cuban Revolution is underway, and Castro is closing synagogues and religious schools. Alegra volunteers for the government's new literacy campaign. She and her best friend, Teresita (an Afro-Cuban girl), are sent to a training camp. Alegra's older siblings flee to Israel with their families and Alegra goes back to live with her parents, who send her to Miami.
In 2003, Alegra's daughter, Paloma, lives in Miami with her mother and father, an Afro-Cuban man who converted to Judaism. Her grandmother, Reina, lives nearby. The family travels to Spain to see where Reina's ancestors were from. Their tour guide at the Sinagoga del Transito in Toledo turns out to be the daughter-in-law of Sadik, Reina's best friend back in Turkey. Unfortunately, he had died the previous year. The book ends with Alegra's family celebrating Shabbat with Mari Luz's family.
In 1923, 12-year-old Reina lives with her parents and sisters. On the night of Turkish independence, she and her best friend, a Muslim boy named Sadik, sneak out to attend the celebrations. Reina is the only girl there. Her father disowns her when he finds out and sends her to Cuba for an arranged marriage to a much older distant cousin.
In 1961, Reina's daughter Alegra is 12. The Cuban Revolution is underway, and Castro is closing synagogues and religious schools. Alegra volunteers for the government's new literacy campaign. She and her best friend, Teresita (an Afro-Cuban girl), are sent to a training camp. Alegra's older siblings flee to Israel with their families and Alegra goes back to live with her parents, who send her to Miami.
In 2003, Alegra's daughter, Paloma, lives in Miami with her mother and father, an Afro-Cuban man who converted to Judaism. Her grandmother, Reina, lives nearby. The family travels to Spain to see where Reina's ancestors were from. Their tour guide at the Sinagoga del Transito in Toledo turns out to be the daughter-in-law of Sadik, Reina's best friend back in Turkey. Unfortunately, he had died the previous year. The book ends with Alegra's family celebrating Shabbat with Mari Luz's family.
Jewish Content and Values
- The protagonist of each section is Jewish. In the first story, Benvenida’s father is a chazzan (cantor) and refuses to convert to Christianity. He carries the Torah on the long, arduous walk across Spain.
- Alegra goes to a Jewish school. Her mother, Reina, gives her a Star of David necklace. Her father, Moshico, goes to synagogue, where he wears a kippah and tallit. Her siblings and their families make aliyah.
- Paloma’s family travels to Spain to visit the local Jewish community. Paloma wears the Star of David necklace from her mother, Alegra, and they celebrate Shabbat. They visit the synagogue and Sephardic Museum in Toledo, sing songs in Ladino, and stay in a hotel in the Juderia, the old Jewish quarter. They light candles in memory of the Jews who once lived there.
Content Advisory
Benvenida’s father dies on the journey to Turkey and his body is thrown overboard. 12-year-old Raina is forced to get engaged to a much older man; the marriage will take place when she turns 15. Jews die in a fire trying to escape the Inquisition. Someone is hanged. A man near the port offers to share his bed with a 12-year-old girl.
What the Book is About
What the Book is About
Across So Many Seas follows four generations of a family, from the 1492 expulsion of the Jews of Spain through Miami in 2003. In 1492, 12-year-old Benvenida is one of the few girls who can read and write. She lives in Toledo, Spain. When the Jews are expelled from the country, Benvenida’s parents decide to flee with the family. Eventually they travel to Constantinople (now Istanbul), where they settle for generations.
In 1923, 12-year-old Reina lives with her parents and sisters. On the night of Turkish independence, she and her best friend, a Muslim boy named Sadik, sneak out to attend the celebrations. Reina is the only girl there. Her father disowns her when he finds out and sends her to Cuba for an arranged marriage to a much older distant cousin.
In 1961, Reina's daughter Alegra is 12. The Cuban Revolution is underway, and Castro is closing synagogues and religious schools. Alegra volunteers for the government's new literacy campaign. She and her best friend, Teresita (an Afro-Cuban girl), are sent to a training camp. Alegra's older siblings flee to Israel with their families and Alegra goes back to live with her parents, who send her to Miami.
In 2003, Alegra's daughter, Paloma, lives in Miami with her mother and father, an Afro-Cuban man who converted to Judaism. Her grandmother, Reina, lives nearby. The family travels to Spain to see where Reina's ancestors were from. Their tour guide at the Sinagoga del Transito in Toledo turns out to be the daughter-in-law of Sadik, Reina's best friend back in Turkey. Unfortunately, he had died the previous year. The book ends with Alegra's family celebrating Shabbat with Mari Luz's family.
In 1923, 12-year-old Reina lives with her parents and sisters. On the night of Turkish independence, she and her best friend, a Muslim boy named Sadik, sneak out to attend the celebrations. Reina is the only girl there. Her father disowns her when he finds out and sends her to Cuba for an arranged marriage to a much older distant cousin.
In 1961, Reina's daughter Alegra is 12. The Cuban Revolution is underway, and Castro is closing synagogues and religious schools. Alegra volunteers for the government's new literacy campaign. She and her best friend, Teresita (an Afro-Cuban girl), are sent to a training camp. Alegra's older siblings flee to Israel with their families and Alegra goes back to live with her parents, who send her to Miami.
In 2003, Alegra's daughter, Paloma, lives in Miami with her mother and father, an Afro-Cuban man who converted to Judaism. Her grandmother, Reina, lives nearby. The family travels to Spain to see where Reina's ancestors were from. Their tour guide at the Sinagoga del Transito in Toledo turns out to be the daughter-in-law of Sadik, Reina's best friend back in Turkey. Unfortunately, he had died the previous year. The book ends with Alegra's family celebrating Shabbat with Mari Luz's family.
Jewish Content and Values
Jewish Content and Values
- The protagonist of each section is Jewish. In the first story, Benvenida’s father is a chazzan (cantor) and refuses to convert to Christianity. He carries the Torah on the long, arduous walk across Spain.
- Alegra goes to a Jewish school. Her mother, Reina, gives her a Star of David necklace. Her father, Moshico, goes to synagogue, where he wears a kippah and tallit. Her siblings and their families make aliyah.
- Paloma’s family travels to Spain to visit the local Jewish community. Paloma wears the Star of David necklace from her mother, Alegra, and they celebrate Shabbat. They visit the synagogue and Sephardic Museum in Toledo, sing songs in Ladino, and stay in a hotel in the Juderia, the old Jewish quarter. They light candles in memory of the Jews who once lived there.
Content Advisory
Content Advisory
Benvenida’s father dies on the journey to Turkey and his body is thrown overboard. 12-year-old Raina is forced to get engaged to a much older man; the marriage will take place when she turns 15. Jews die in a fire trying to escape the Inquisition. Someone is hanged. A man near the port offers to share his bed with a 12-year-old girl.
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