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) October 13, 2008 -- While Bible and Torah Codes divine the future using complex computer algorithms, and works like "The Da Vinci Code" and "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" derive pictorial ciphers to poke holes in the past, de-ciphering a rare triangular Kabbalistic signet now reveals the secret identity of the celebrated maritime adventurer best known to America. Israel National Radio producer Ephraim Eliyahu presents a historical journey back to 15th Century Spain to uncover the amazing history of the man they call "Columbus".
The recent discovery of Columbus' original 15th century signet, a unique triangular monogram, like inscriptions found on gravestones in Jewish cemeteries of Spain and South France provides the first clue this mystery. A decree from the Crown of Spain, begins the next: "By the grace of God, King and Queen of Castile, ...in the year 1480, we ordered that the Jews be separated from the cities and towns... and we ordered that and an Inquisition be established in such domains."
And thus, having expelled all the Jews from all your kingdoms and dominions...;
Christopher Columbus' Kabbalistic Siglum (Signature)
The Jewish population was already expelled from England, most of France, and most of Germany. The remaining Jews had to identify themselves by wearing a round yellow patch over their heart. Thousands of Jews were slaughtered. Many others "voluntarily" converted to Christianity. The sincerity and religious loyalty of the "new Christians" or Conversos (Marranos) were always suspect.
Every Jew was forced to choose between conversion to Christianity or leaving the country forever without their possessions. As a final insult, the date of departure was to coincide with Tisha B'Av, the day of mourning to commemorate the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people, including the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem (the first by the Babylonians in 586 BCE and the second by the Romans in 70 CE).
Luis de Santange, a Converso and accountant to the Royal Court, offered the financing of 17,000 ducats to find a new home for the expelled Jewish communities. Abraham Zacuto, the physician for King John II, was recruited to assist. An astronomer and mathematician, he developed the "Almanac Perpetuum," which included the Tables of Navigation in his native tongue -- Hebrew. It was through King John II, that Abraham was introduced to Salvador Fernando Zarco, a maritime Admiral born in Cuba, a small town in Portugal.
With the Edict of Expulsion signed, Luis urged the Crown to approve the expedition in "an enterprise of so little risk, yet which could prove of so great service to God...to speak of very great increase and glory for her realms and crown..." He pleaded a westward project would, it was hoped, help to finance a crusade to the East.
In his presentation to the Queen, Salvador announced, "Your Highnesses, having driven out all the Jews from your realms and lordships... I should go to the said parts of India, and for this accorded me great rewards and ennobled me so that from that time henceforth I might style myself "Don" and be high admiral of the Ocean Sea and perpetual Governor of the islands and continent which I should discover... from generation to generation."
Despite their shock at hearing his demands, and the astonishment of the country, surrounding Kingdoms, and the Pope himself, the documents were signed. For a signature, Zarco used his triangular monogram, a Kabbalistic siglum, in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, containing two secret names: Cristobal Colon, his "nom de plume," and Salvador Fernando Zarco, his birth name.
On the 9th of Av, August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus, as his Converso name is now recorded, departed Palos, Spain at the command of three ships and 90 men, nearly all of his crew Conversos. He carried with him Abraham Zacuto's Hebrew Table of Navigation and charts. His vessels reached the Canary Islands on August 9th and departed out into the unknown of the Atlantic on September 8th. None of Columbus' crew had ever sailed over 300 miles from Europe, but by October 12, covering over 3,000 miles, they sighted landed in the Island which Columbus named San Salvador. On October 29, he reached Cuba, naming it after his birthplace.
Columbus' official report of his first voyage to Ferdinand and Isabella began with the following words: "And thus, having expelled all the Jews from all your kingdoms and dominions...;" a very strange beginning statement for an Admiral returning from a remarkable, supposedly impossible voyage. Even following three subsequent voyages across the Atlantic, Columbus declined to admit that he had not found the true Indies and Cathay which he had searched for. Columbus died refusing to accept that he had discovered a brand new world in the Caribbean.
It is ironic, however, that Ferdinand and Isabella's attempt to rid the Jews from Spain, ultimately resulted in a new homeland for them called America, a refuge for more Jewish people than anywhere else on Earth. In fact, today the population of Jews living in New York City is greater than in all of Europe combined. As an expert sailor, navigator, and cartographer, and indeed a Kabbalist, who understood the secrets of heavenly bodies, perhaps Salvador Fernando Zarco knew exactly where he was going.
Link to http://VirtualYeshiva.com to read the entire untold story.
Reb Ephraim Eliyahu produces the Tovia Singer Show for Israel National Radio, and various programs weekly on the Torah Chat Radio Network. He serves as Director of the Virtual Yeshiva, Torah Chat, Noah Chat and international counter-missionary organization, The Messiah Truth Project, a Federal 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization providing kiruv through free interactive Torah education on the Net since 2001.
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