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The claim that Christopher Columbus was Jewish was first made by a Spanish scholar in the 1890's. In the current (March) issue of Midstream, Charles Alperin, an attorney, reexamines the evidence produced by a series of scholars since then and concludes that the only hypothesis which accounts for the gaps and inconsistencies in all the Columbus biographies that have been written is his Jewish origin.
Mr. Alperin analyzes various aspects of the Columbus enigma in reaching his decision: Columbus's secrecy as to his origins; his extensive Jewish associations; the fact that he never wrote in Italian; his knowledge of the Old Testament; his use of Jewish phrases and references; his last will and testament; his...