The Cross by Day, the Mezuzzah by Night

By Deborah Spector Siegel

Book Overview

A thrilling young adult novel that captures the horrors of the Spanish Inquisistion and the strength and determination of one young girl to preserve her family and culture at any cost.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0827607377
• ISBN13: 9780827607378
• Release Date: December 2000
• Publisher: Jewish Publication Society
• Length: 124 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 13 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 12

Customer Reviews

Great for Bat Mitzvahs

Wonderful coming of age story and introduction to Spanish Inquisition. After living 13 years as a "Catholic", Isabella is presented with the truth that her family are Morrano Jews. As Queen Isabella begins to evict the Jews from Spain, 13 year old Isabella begins to see the world through different eyes and can choose to accept or reject the truth of her identy. I have begun to include this book with Bat Mitzvah gifts, as it really illustrates the life (and death) they have chosen.

Compelling Novel Tells of Marranos and Expulsion from Spain

The Cross by Day, the Mezuzzah by Night tells the story of Isabel, who, on her 13th birthday is told her family's secret: they are Marranos, Jews whose ancestors were converted by force 100 years earlier, who have secretly continued to practice Judaism in the privacy of their homes, passing down Jewish traditions like lighting Sabbath candles on Friday evenings. Isabel learns that she has a Hebrew name, Ruth, and is heir to her family's heritage, a beautiful gold mezuzzah. This revelation shatters Isabel's pampered existence in a wealthy Seville family. Spies are everywhere, seeeking to denounce those who practice Judaism behind the veil of Christianity, even as the unconverted Jews are being ejected from Spain by royal decree in 1492. As events become more frightening, Isabel's father makes desperate plans to spirit them out among the Jews leaving Spain. But will they flee in time or is it already too late...and will the Jews even accept them, as both Christians and Jews speak with disgust of the Marranos? This is a very well written young adult novel that tells the story of a horrifying time in Jewish history through the eyes of a brave narrator. As she reaches 13, the age of adulthood, Isabel is thrust into adult decisions and dilemmas. She has been brought up thoroughly Catholic and loves her faith; how is she to make sense of this other tradition? As things go from bad to worse with her family, can she pull them through it? The novel is an excellent window into this period but I would recommend it for mature readers. The narrative pulls no punches in the telling--Isabel witnesses prejudice, treachery, betrayal, an auto-da-fe (burning to death of discovered Marranos) and the tribulations of the expulsion edict. Yet the story is inspiring too, and is recommended for any young adult reader but especially young Jewish readers who need to learn of their past and to cherish their modern day freedom to worship.

Rolling Meadows, IL

This is touching story of a family courageously dealing with cultural and religious genocide. There is, perhaps, no better way to fight intolerance than to journey with a victin, fictional or otherwise, through the nightmare of persecution. This story needs to be told. As a Catholic, I welcome the opportunity to come to terms with a dark time in our past when Christ's message of love was unrecognizable in Christianity. We don't have to look far to see parallels in the ethnic cleansing taking place today, to realize vigilance is necessary if history is not to repeat itself. I would very much recommend this book and hope it will be read by Christian and Islamic, as well as Jewish, young people.

Great Idea, but mistakes

As a descendant of Conversos, and researcher of their history, I am REALLY glad to see a young adult book of this kind. However, I was very unhappy to see mistakes. They are minor, and I hope that a second edition will be better edited. For example, the mother, at one point, says, "Uno momento." This is horrible Spanish and only non-speakers would say this. The correct way is, "UN momento." Still, I'm glad that the subject is being written by and for non-scholars. Isabel/Ruth's experiences are true to the time she lived in, and this period in history is widely ignored by many. Secret Jews (Anusim) and their descendants deserve more attention!

The Cross by Day, the Mezzuzah by Night

This is an excellent book for both adults and mature junior high and high school age. The information was obviously researched well as I am of this heritage and have read much on the subject. Isabel is a believable young woman who has to grow up way too soon in the face of the Spanish Inquisition. I found the story to be both exciting and educational. Many of the situations Isabel finds herself in are well documented as fact. Parents should read this book first before giving it to their children because the information may be difficult to digest. Treat it as you would a Shoah (Holocaust) book.