Dear Emilie,

A while back you wrote:

"Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Jewish evidence in Los Altos

"Genetic evidence" and evidence you "have read" is like comparing apples and oranges. People used to adopt surnames as was convenient for various reasons especially to gain money and position.

My husband, who is descended from Altenos (the Albas, Cervantes, Ruis de Esparza, Rubalcabas, etc.) has no illusions about his ancestry either in Mexico or going back to Spain.

He just showed me this paragraph from one of his books about the admixture of cultures in Spain over the centuries: "Christian families with more pedigree than cash, or with a prudent respect for ability accepted them [Jews] in marriage. ..In this way the Spanish people, especially the upper classes, received a substantial infusion of Jewish blood. Ferdinand the Catholic and Torquemada the Inquisitor had Jews in their ancestry. Pope Paul IV, at war with Phillip II, called him and the Spanish 'worthless seed of the Jews and Moors'".

I know that the rest of Europe looked askance at Spaniards and Portuguese as not being Europeans. Wasn't there a dust-up about allowing them into the EU?

So, it seems to me that the Spaniards are as mongrel a race as mestizos are now considered, and they always were. Neither Spaniards in the Old World or the New World were "pure" anything.

Emilie

Port Orchard, WA"

Your words were right on target as to one of your ancestors. The upperclass Cervantes have a line of descent from a very rich Jewish man who married his family into Families with more pedigree but much less cash than him. While looking to find the link between the Sanchez / Golluf and Isaac Ha Levi, who is said to be theire first cousin, I found that Isaac Ha Levi is your ancestor through your Cervantes line. This Isaac Ha Levi is from the house of David according to records.

Rick A. Ricci