The Iberian Inquisition was one of the darkest periods in Jewish history, marked by the systematic persecution of Jews and New Christians. This persecution, promoted by both the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions, was triggered largely by royal decrees that ordered the forced conversion or expulsion of Jews from the Iberian Peninsula. However, amidst this oppressive landscape, some families stood out for their ability to protect and save Jews, acting against the tide of intolerance and violence.

The Abravanel, Góis, and Benveniste Mendes families were key players in this resistance, using their political, economic, and social influence to organize escape routes, provide shelter, and offer financial support to Jews attempting to flee the clutches of the Inquisition. Throughout this article, we will explore the historical context of these families, their actions during the Inquisition, and the lasting legacy they left on Jewish and global history.

The Alhambra Decree, issued by the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella on March 31, 1492, marked the beginning of a massive exodus of Jews from Spain. This decree ordered all Jews who did not convert to Christianity to be expelled from the Spanish kingdom. The decree was a watershed moment in the history of Iberian Jews, forcing approximately 200,000 Jews to choose between conversion or exile.

For those Jews who decided to leave, exile meant the loss of their homes, properties, and support networks, casting them into unfamiliar lands, often under harsh conditions. Many sought refuge in Portugal, the Ottoman Empire, and other parts of Europe and North Africa. However, even in Portugal, where Jews initially found a more welcoming reception, the situation quickly worsened, culminating in the forced conversion of 1497. This marked the beginning of a new phase of oppression, where Jewish religious practices were persecuted, and many Jews had to resort to crypto-Judaism to maintain their faith.

In the context of this exodus, the resistance organized by influential families such as the Abravanel played a crucial role in helping Jews escape persecution. The Alhambra Decree not only affected Spain but also triggered a diaspora that would have repercussions throughout Europe and the Middle East, leading to the formation of new Jewish communities in places like the Ottoman Empire, where many Jews found refuge. The decree is widely recognized as one of the most tragic events in medieval Jewish history, whose effects are still felt today.

While Spain expelled its Jews in 1492, many of them fled to Portugal, where they were initially welcomed by King John II, who allowed their entry in exchange for a tribute. However, this stay was brief and marked by strict conditions. In 1497, John II's successor, King Manuel I, issued a decree that forced the conversion of all Jews in Portugal, under political pressure from his desire to marry Princess Isabella, daughter of the Catholic Monarchs.

Unlike in Spain, where the choice was clear between conversion or exile, in Portugal, there was no real option for escape. Instead, Jews were forcibly baptized, often under threats of violence. Many Jews were formally "converted" to Christianity but continued to practice Judaism in secret, becoming the so-called crypto-Jews or marranos. This forced conversion laid the foundation for a prolonged persecution, which culminated in the establishment of the Portuguese Inquisition in 1536.

The forced conversion of 1497 resulted in a significant population of New Christians in Portugal, who soon became the target of inquisitorial surveillance. These New Christians often faced distrust from both their Christian neighbors and other Jews, as their true religious loyalties were constantly questioned. The forced conversions left a deep mark on the Jewish community, and many of the crypto-Jews played an important role in the continuity of Sephardic Judaism.

Crypto-Jews, or marranos, were Jews who, after forced conversion, continued to practice Judaism in secret. Under constant threat of inquisitorial surveillance and persecution, these individuals found clandestine ways to maintain their traditions and faith. The practice of crypto-Judaism involved discreet gestures and rituals, such as lighting candles on Friday nights (Shabbat), avoiding foods forbidden by Jewish law, or performing prayers in hidden locations.

The life of crypto-Jews was a constant struggle between assimilation and the preservation of their religious identity. The Inquisition, through denunciations and torture, investigated suspicions of Judaism, and many crypto-Jews were imprisoned, tortured, or even executed. Crypto-Jewish communities developed support networks and escape routes, enabling those who were discovered to flee to safer regions, such as the Ottoman Empire or the colonies in South America.

It was within this context that families such as the Góis, Benveniste, and Abravanel played a fundamental role. Using their wealth, political influence, and commercial networks, these families helped finance and organize escape routes for persecuted Jews, offering them shelter and temporary security. The resilience of crypto-Jews is a testament to their determination to preserve their beliefs and cultural identity, even under the most adverse circumstances.

The Abravanel family was one of the most prominent families in the Iberian Peninsula, known for both their wealth and political influence. Originating from Seville, Spain, the family had already played an important role in the economic and political life of the region before the expulsion of the Jews in 1492. Their most famous member, Isaac Abravanel, was one of the principal advisors to the Catholic Monarchs, a position that gave him direct access to political power in Spain.

Isaac Abravanel tried, unsuccessfully, to revoke the Alhambra Decree, arguing against the expulsion of the Jews and offering financial support to the kingdom. Despite his influential position, he was forced to flee Spain with his family when the decree was issued. After his flight, he settled in Italy, where he continued to play an active role in the protection and support of persecuted Sephardic Jewish communities.

The Abravanel family's wealth and influence allowed them to act as benefactors of the Jewish diaspora communities, providing funding and support for escape routes and the creation of new communities in safer lands. Isaac Abravanel is remembered not only for his political prominence but also for his commitment to defending the rights and safety of Jews in times of persecution.

Isaac Abravanel (1437-1508) was one of the most notable figures in Jewish history in the Iberian Peninsula, serving as a political advisor to the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella. His influence at the Spanish court was significant, but despite his prominent position, he was unable to prevent the expulsion of the Jews in 1492 when the Alhambra Decree was issued.

Abravanel was a respected intellectual and a deeply religious man who sought to unite his Jewish faith with the politics of the time. He attempted, unsuccessfully, to persuade the Catholic Monarchs to reconsider the expulsion decree, even offering large sums of money to the kingdom. However, the interests of the Catholic Church and the idea of "religious unity" prevailed, and Abravanel was forced to flee Spain along with other Jews.

After his escape to Italy, Isaac Abravanel continued to use his influence and resources to support Sephardic Jewish communities. He played a central role in creating a support network for expelled Jews, helping them find refuge in other regions, such as the Ottoman Empire. His dedication to the Jewish cause earned him great respect among Sephardic Jews, and his legacy continues to live on as one of the greatest defenders of the Jewish people during one of the most difficult periods in their history.

After fleeing Spain, Isaac Abravanel and his family settled in Italy, which at that time was a relatively safe haven for expelled Jews. In cities like Naples and Venice, Abravanel continued his political career and maintained a strong connection with Sephardic Jewish communities. He became an advocate not only for Jewish survival but also for the spiritual and cultural revival of Jews in the diaspora.

Abravanel’s influence in Italy was not limited to politics. He was an important thinker and writer, authoring several works on Jewish philosophy and theology. His most famous work, a commentary on the Bible, reflects his deep commitment to Jewish tradition while revealing his efforts to integrate religious principles with the political realities of his time.

The Abravanel family’s flight to Italy was part of a larger movement of Sephardic Jews who sought refuge in various parts of Europe and the Middle East. The Abravanel family, with their prominent position, helped establish new communities and protect Jews who had been displaced by the Inquisition. The presence of the Abravanel family in Italy symbolizes Jewish resistance and the ability to adapt in times of crisis.

The Góis family (or Goes, Gois, Góis) was one of the most influential Jewish families in Portugal during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Unlike the Abravanel family, the Góis had been New Christians since 1497, when King Manuel I decreed the forced conversion of Jews in Portugal. However, despite their conversion, the Góis family maintained their Jewish identity in secret and used their position of power and influence at the court to protect and assist other persecuted Jews.

The rise of the Góis family in Portuguese society was marked by their involvement in international commerce and politics. Their network of commercial contacts, which extended throughout Europe and the colonies, gave them a privileged position in the economic sphere. They also had close ties with the nobility, allowing them to act in favor of New Christian Jews, many of whom were their economic or social allies.

The wealth and influence of the Góis family were crucial in allowing them to finance escape operations for Jews who wanted to flee the clutches of the Inquisition. This involvement in the protection of Jews made the Góis family viewed as protectors of the crypto-Jewish community in Portugal and beyond.

Jacob Nunes Góis was one of the most prominent members of the Góis family and played a central role in the transatlantic trade that connected Portugal to its colonies in Brazil and other parts of the world. Maritime trade in Portugal was vital to the country’s economy, and New Christians like the Góis played a crucial role in this commerce. Jacob Nunes Góis used his position and vast financial resources to help other persecuted Jews escape the reach of the Inquisition.

Jacob Nunes Góis was a skilled strategist, using commercial expeditions as a cover to organize escape routes for Jews. Many of these expeditions were, in fact, missions to transport persecuted Jews to Brazil, where the presence of the Inquisition was less severe. Brazil offered a relatively safe haven for crypto-Jews, and many found shelter in the new Portuguese colonies, where they could practice their faith in secret.

The transatlantic trade network of Jacob Nunes Góis was also a vital tool for building alliances between Sephardic Jews in different parts of the world. These alliances helped maintain the flow of information and resources between dispersed Jewish communities, allowing persecuted Jews to have a support network in times of need.

Isaac Nunes Góis, another important member of the Góis family, played an equally vital role in protecting Jews during the Portuguese Inquisition. He used his vast financial resources and commercial contacts to create escape routes and support networks for Jews who needed to leave Portugal quickly. His influence at the Portuguese court was also instrumental in ensuring the safety of many Jews.

Isaac Nunes Góis helped finance maritime expeditions that, under the guise of commerce, transported Jews to safer places like Brazil and the Ottoman Empire. These operations were organized with extreme discretion to avoid detection by the Inquisition. Isaac Góis also established connections with merchants and authorities in different parts of the world, allowing him to provide continuous support to Jews who escaped persecution.

In addition to organizing escape routes, Isaac Nunes Góis used his wealth to establish financial support networks for Jewish communities in Portugal and abroad. These resources were essential in ensuring that escaped Jews had the means to settle in new places and rebuild their lives after fleeing.

The Benveniste Mendes family (or simply Mendes) was one of the wealthiest and most influential Jewish families in Europe during the 16th century. Under the leadership of Francisco Mendes (also known as Tzemá Benveniste), the family established the Banco Mendes, one of the most powerful financial institutions of its time, with headquarters in Lisbon and operations throughout Europe. The Mendes family’s wealth was impressive, and they used this fortune to help Jews persecuted by the Inquisition escape from the Iberian Peninsula.

The Mendes family's rise to economic power was remarkable, especially given the climate of suspicion and persecution that surrounded New Christians in Portugal. However, the Mendes family not only survived but thrived by leveraging their connections with merchants and bankers across Europe. The Mendes family’s fortune allowed them to provide financial support to Jews who needed help escaping persecution, financing escape routes, and offering shelter to many Jewish families.

Francisco Mendes, also known as Tzemá Benveniste, was the principal founder and administrator of the Mendes Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in Europe during the 16th century. Initially established in Lisbon, the bank became a center of financial operations for European elites, including monarchs and nobles. However, for Francisco Mendes, the institution also served a greater purpose: helping Jews persecuted by the Inquisition to escape the Iberian Peninsula.

The Mendes Bank was more than just a financial institution; it was a support network for crypto-Jews and conversos who needed to flee persecution. Francisco Mendes used the bank's resources to fund escape routes and establish safe havens for persecuted Jews, especially in more tolerant countries like the Ottoman Empire.

With operations in Lisbon and Antwerp, the bank became one of the largest of its time, and its wealth was crucial to sustaining efforts to protect Jews. Francisco Mendes' ability to manage a financial empire while also promoting charitable and rescue causes was extraordinary. After his death, the bank's legacy was continued by his wife and niece, who also played central roles in the rescue of Jews during the Inquisition.

After the death of Francisco Mendes, his widow, Dona Gracia Mendes Nasi, took over the family’s business and their network for protecting Jews. Dona Gracia, also known as Beatriz de Luna in her public life as a New Christian, was one of the most influential figures in Sephardic history. Her wealth, intelligence, and political influence allowed her to continue her husband’s work, saving thousands of Jews from the Inquisition.

Dona Gracia organized safe escape routes for Jews who wanted to flee the Iberian Peninsula, helping them settle in the Ottoman Empire, which was, at the time, a relatively safe haven for Sephardic Jews. Additionally, she funded the development of new Jewish communities in Salonica and other parts of the empire. Her support for Jewish refugees was one of her greatest achievements.

Dona Gracia was also a great advocate for the establishment of a Jewish community in the city of Tiberias, in Palestine, in an effort to revive Jewish settlement in the Holy Land. Her dedication to the Jewish people made her a revered figure in Jewish history, and her legacy of philanthropy and protection continues to be an inspiration.

The Ottoman Empire was one of the few places in the world during the 16th century where Sephardic Jews found a relatively welcoming reception. Under the reign of sultans like Bayezid II, Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal were invited to settle in Ottoman lands, where they could freely practice their religion and rebuild their lives.

Bayezid II is famously quoted as saying, "The Catholic Monarchs impoverish their kingdom by expelling the Jews, and I enrich mine by welcoming them." The Ottoman Empire provided a tolerant religious environment compared to Europe, where Jews faced constant persecution. Cities like Salonica, Istanbul, and Smyrna became important centers of Jewish life, and many Sephardic families, including the Benveniste Mendes, found a new home in these regions.

The Ottoman Empire’s role as a refuge was crucial to the survival of Sephardic Jews after their expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula. Thanks to individuals like Dona Gracia Mendes Nasi, many Jews were able to escape the Inquisition and rebuild their lives in these lands, significantly contributing to the economic and cultural development of the Ottoman Empire.

Although Brazil was a Portuguese colony during the height of the Inquisition, it became an important destination for Jews fleeing inquisitorial persecution. The Góis, Benveniste, and Abravanel families were instrumental in organizing escape routes that took Jews to Brazil, where the presence of the Inquisition was less strict, at least in the early years of colonization.

Transatlantic trade, conducted by families like the Góis, was one of the main ways of organizing these escapes. Using the cover of commercial expeditions, many Jews were transported to Brazil, where they could find refuge far from the immediate reach of the Inquisition. Some of these families contributed to Brazil's economic development, particularly in the areas of trade and agriculture.

Although the Inquisition eventually reached Brazil in the 17th century, many Jews were able to practice their faith in secret during the early years of colonization. Brazil thus became an important destination for those seeking to escape religious persecution in Europe.

Crypto-Judaism in colonial Brazil was a common practice among Jews who had been forcibly converted to Christianity in Portugal and Spain. These New Christians, who secretly maintained their Jewish traditions, played a fundamental role in the economic and social development of the Portuguese colonies.

In Brazil, many of these families practiced Judaism in secret, away from inquisitorial control. They maintained hidden Jewish practices, such as lighting Shabbat candles, observing Yom Kippur, and reciting prayers in private. These practices were passed down through generations, allowing Judaism to survive even under extremely adverse conditions.

The Góis and Benveniste families were among those who kept these secret traditions alive, often organizing clandestine gatherings to celebrate Jewish holidays. Crypto-Judaism in Brazil had a lasting influence, and to this day, there are communities in northeastern Brazil that trace their roots to these colonial crypto-Jews.

Although the Inquisition began in Europe, it did not take long to extend to the New World, including Brazil and other Spanish and Portuguese colonies. In Brazil, the first auto-da-fé occurred in the 17th century, when the Inquisition began investigating suspicions of crypto-Judaism among New Christians.

The auto-da-fé was a public ceremony where those accused of heresy, often crypto-Jews, were judged and sentenced. Those found guilty could face penalties ranging from excommunication to execution by burning. Many Brazilian crypto-Jews were condemned by the Inquisition, but some managed to escape before being captured, thanks to the support networks organized by influential families.

The impact of the Inquisition in Brazil was significant, particularly on New Christian communities. However, even in the face of persecution, many of these families maintained their faith in secret, contributing to the preservation of Jewish tradition in the New World.

The Sephardic families who fled the Inquisition and settled in Brazil and other colonies left a lasting legacy, both in terms of preserving Judaism and their contributions to the economic development of the regions where they settled. Families such as the Góis, Benveniste, and Abravanel played key roles in trade and agriculture, helping to lay the foundations of the colonial economy.

Additionally, these families helped establish new Jewish communities in the New World, where crypto-Jews could practice their faith in secret. Although the Inquisition eventually reached Brazil, many of these communities managed to survive, preserving their traditions and passing them down to future generations.

The legacy of these families lives on today, particularly in Brazil, where descendants of crypto-Jews maintain their Sephardic identity and connection to Judaism.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Inquisition began to lose its grip as Enlightenment ideas gained ground in Europe and the Americas. The process of secularization and the weakening of the Catholic Church’s authority led to the decline of the Inquisition, which was officially abolished in Portugal in 1821.

With the end of the Inquisition, many Sephardic Jewish communities were able to reemerge and openly practice their religious traditions. Families such as the Góis, Benveniste, and Abravanel, who had lived as crypto-Jews for centuries, could finally embrace Judaism without the constant fear of persecution.

In Brazil, many New Christian families began reconnecting with their Jewish roots, forming the foundations of today’s Jewish communities. The decline of the Inquisition also allowed Sephardic Jews to integrate more fully into the societies where they lived, while maintaining their identity and traditions. Although the Inquisition left deep scars, the Sephardic Jewish communities managed to preserve their faith and culture, ensuring that the legacy of Judaism would endure.

The Jewish revival after the fall of the Inquisition was not only a return to religious practice but also a symbol of the resilience and strength of a community that refused to be erased by intolerance. Families like the Góis, Benveniste, and Abravanel, who were at the forefront of this resistance, continued to play key roles in the preservation and strengthening of Jewish communities, not only in Europe but also in the New World.

The impact of the Góis, Benveniste, and Abravanel families on Jewish history and the fight against the Inquisition is immeasurable. These families not only survived one of the darkest periods in European history, but they also actively worked to protect other Jews who were forced to flee, hide their faith, or face inquisitorial persecution. By using their wealth, influence, and trade networks, these families helped organize escape routes, shelter refugees, and ensure the survival of Jewish tradition and identity.

Isaac Abravanel was a classic example of a Jewish leader who, even in positions of political power, never ceased to defend his people, using his influence at the Spanish court to try to prevent the expulsion of the Jews and later helping them in their diaspora.

The Góis family used their economic power and transatlantic trade network to facilitate the escape of Jews from Portugal to Brazil and other safe regions, while Jacob Nunes Góis and Isaac Nunes Góis continued to protect the Jewish community in secret, helping it survive amid persecution.

The Benveniste Mendes family, with their wealth and influence, financed escape routes to the Ottoman Empire, where Sephardic Jews found refuge in cities such as Salonica and Istanbul, thanks to the support of figures like Dona Gracia Mendes Nasi, one of the great Sephardic leaders of the time.

The legacy of these families is a testament to the resilience and courage of the Jewish people during the Inquisition. Even in the face of overwhelming adversity, they found ways to resist, survive, and ultimately thrive. Their lasting impact not only saved thousands of lives but also helped preserve a cultural and religious heritage that continues to flourish to this day.