All text selections come from Moseh de Daniel López-Penha’s Chronicle (1826).
The narrative pictured above recounts the plight of Moseh de Daniel López-Penha’s uncle, Isaac, and his steadfast commitment to Judaism while facing pressure to convert by the Bishop of Cartagena. Being that the López-Penha family had a long history of Iberian persecution at the hands of the Inquisition, Isaac’s unwavering devotion to his faith highlights the oftentimes dangerous lengths Jews would go to in order to preserve family ties to Judaism and traditional Jewish practices. This narrative, however, is especially unique in the sense that the Bishop of Cartagena does not condemn Isaac for refusing to convert; instead, he compliments Isaac for his “persistent faith” and gifts him a Hebrew book before the family flees to Curaçao. Unlike other participants in the Inquisition, the Bishop displays a sense of admiration for Isaac’s deep understanding of and commitment to the Jewish faith.