RHODES, CONGO, BRAZIL: A Sephardic Memory – Journeys of the Benatar and Hasson Families by Claudio Benatar

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From the island of Rhodes to Central Africa, and across to Brazil, this book traces the intertwined destinies of two Sephardic Jewish families: the Benatar and the Hasson.

Through a meticulous and heartfelt investigation, drawing on archives, photographs, oral testimonies, and period advertisements, the author brings to light the forgotten journeys of these pioneers, once subjects of the Ottoman Empire, driven into exile by history and guided by a spirit of trade and survival.

In retracing their paths, he restores presence and dignity to lives that history has often overlooked. He pays tribute to those who left a Mediterranean island to shape an uncertain future elsewhere. And above all, he seeks to pass on to his own, to readers, to those still searching for their roots, the belief that every life is worth telling.

Year first published: 2025