Spanish scientists announced in a new documentary that first aired on Saturday that DNA analysis shows the 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe.
The documentary titled, "Columbus DNA: The true origin," which aired on Spain's national broadcaster TVE, showcases the research of a 22-year investigation led by forensic expert Miguel Lorente.
Lorente and his team tested samples of remains buried at Seville Cathedral, long believed to be Columbus' final resting place, though the claim had been contested. Researchers compared the DNA with those of known relatives and descendants of the navigator who led trans-Atlantic expeditions for the Spanish crown from the 1490s onward, inducing European exploration and colonization of the Americas.
"We have DNA from Christopher Columbus, very partial, but sufficient. We have DNA from Hernando Colón, his son," Lorente said in the documentary. "And both in the Y chromosome [male] and in the mitochondrial DNA [transmitted by the mother] of Hernando there are traits compatible with Jewish origin."
Columbus was traditionally believed to have come from Genoa, Italy, though historians also had theorized him as being a Spanish Jew or perhaps Greek, Basque, Portuguese or British. Lorente's study analyzed 25 possible locations, but ultimately could only conclude that Columbus was born in the Spanish Mediterranean arc, most likely in Valencia or the Balearic Islands.
Dear Cuban Hebrew Community,
It is always good to make new friends, and for acquaintances to become friends too. For various reasons we find ourselves single later in our lives. Good friends can fill a void we may feel from time to time. There are new people coming into our community all the time. We are a warm and welcoming Temple. But it is not easy to make friends. We are looking to restart a social group for single seniors members. To be real chevra, a group of friends who value each other’s company, we need to find activities we want to share, and good times to meet.
So here is an informal survey, please respond. (contact@cubanhebrew.com) We can have a relaxed meet –up at the temple for those who are interested to begin.
- Do you prefer to meet during the day, evening or either is good?
- Meet for coffee, lunch, dinner – any preference?
- Outings –movies, theater trips, museum trips – club with live music?
- Classes – art, music, dance, yoga?
Cuban Hebrew Congregation of Miami, Inc.
Cuban Hebrew Congregation of Miami, Inc. 1700 Michigan Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 US
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