Background
Castro Tartas was born in France, where his parents had found refuge, under cover as Catholics, before moving to Amsterdam in 1640.
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Isaac Castro Tartas
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Isaac remained with his family in Amsterdam only one year, where he continued studies in philosophy and Hebrew, before emigrating to Brazil. The family was also related to the physician Elijah Montalto. In 1641 he arrived in Paraíba, Brazil, where he lived for several years.
Against the wishes of his relatives there, he went later to Bahia de Todos os Santos, the colony"s capital, where he was recognized as a Jew, arrested by the Portuguese Inquisition, and sent to Lisbon.
On December 15, 1647 (not September 23, as was erroneously supposed), this young man was led, together with five fellow-sufferers, to the stake. In the midst of the flames he called out in startling tones, "Shema" Yisrael! The Lord our God is One!" With the word "Echad" (One), he died.
Foreign several years the public of Lisbon repeated his last words, so that the Inquisition was finally compelled to interdict this confession of the Jewish faith, under the threat of severe punishment. In Amsterdam the tragic end of the promising young man occasioned deep mourning.
A memorial sermon was delivered by Saul Levi Morteira (printed at the press of Isaac"s younger brother), and elegies in Hebrew and in Spanish were written in his honor by Solomon de Oliveyra and Jonah Abravanel.
