Mara W. Cohen Ioannides

This book is a good example of historical fiction. The setting, in Thessaloniki Greece in the 1400s, provides an interesting backdrop for the contrasting of two Jewish sects - Sephardim Jews and Romanist Jews. Miguel is a poor Jewish refugee from Spain and David is the son of a wealthy fabric merchant. When Miguel takes a job in David's family business, they become good friends until an argument about David's sister's betrothal to Jacob takes place at the kiddushin ceremony for Rebecca. Eventually Miguel apologizes to David and the two boys are friends again. Their two Jewish communities are also able to move past the hard feelings.

We are reminded that the Greek Jewish community of Thessaloniki was almost entirely destroyed during World War II. - Jane M.… (more)