Captain Tito

Washington Post via Amazon:

What we have here is the obvious inspiration for Mel Brooks's next movie. Forget Capt. Jack Sparrow. How about Capt. Jacob Sparrowitz, swashbuckling around in a tricorn yarmulke, drinking, wenching and never paying retail? Alas, Edward Kritzler, a writer and tourism promoter in Jamaica, describes no such hi-jinks in this, his first book. Nor does he present much evidence of genuine piracy on the part of Jews in the Caribbean. What he gives us instead is an earnest but rather disjointed retelling of the Spanish Inquisition, the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 and their flight to such refuges as Holland, Brazil and Jamaica, where they played a growing role in trade during the 16th and 17th centuries. True, some interesting Jewish seafarers crop up in this volume. Moses Cohen Henriques, a Dutch privateer, captured a Spanish silver fleet off Havana in 1628. Sinan "the Great Jewish Pirate" allied with the Barbary pirates in the mid-16th century. As a young man, Samuel Palache attacked Spanish ships and later, as a rabbi, helped found the Jewish community in Amsterdam. That was apparently enough evidence for Kritzler and his publisher to give the book its catchy title. They would have us believe that masses of Sephardic Jews took to the seas to wave a defiant cutlass at their persecutors. To make this stretch, the author blurs the lines between those accused by the Spanish Inquisition of being secret Jews (or "conversos") and those who actually were, between those who owned buccaneer ships and those who manned them, and between outlaw pirates and privateers who had legal backing from a sovereign state. Still, Kritzler usefully reminds us of the scholarly heritage that gave birth to Jewish astronomers and cartographers without whom Columbus (and wasn't he at least part Jewish? The debate goes on!) could not have sailed.

Aye that doth make much sense. Twill be interesting when I do read it.

Happy Belated Syren!! I hope such a fine lass had such a fine day!!

Has anybody read Edward Kritzler's Jewish Pirates of The Caribbean?

I just got a copy and wondered if anyone knew anything about this band of ancient Jews who swashbuckled their way to the new world?

I not be makin it this year, as I be off to NYC during it. Try again next year.

Aye, I do hope it be more organized than mates reported in the past.

Aye let us hope tis all fine when it resurfaces!

I just saw an old Bugs Bunny cartoon yesterday (on the DVD of the old "Horatio Hornblower" with Gregory Peck) called "Captain Hareblower" Great classic Bugs Bunny stuff, with Yosemite Sam as "Pirate Sam." I was impressed at how they got the look of the ship correct. Most drawings of ships done by people without any knowledge will make huge mistakes, but the naval architecture in this cartoon was quite good. I guess I've just become too much of a tall ship nut to not look for that sort of thing.

Is that the one where Bugs throws the match down into Sam's powder magazine?? I remember that one a ton of times when I was but a cabin boy turnin on the Saturday morning 'toons. There was also another one where Bugs goes aboard Sam's ship, thinking its a pleasure cruise, but he's tricked into being the crew.

Here be a lovely lass celebratin a fine day!

Let us all raise our mugs and toast her in a fine way!!

Hope ye has a year full o'treasures and pleasures m'lass.

Happy Birthday.

Happy Belated me fellow NY-er!!

Be sendin prayers up for ye Rumba! A speedy recovery may God grant ye with all the blessings coming your way.

Aye Ms. Syren, be lightin a candle and burnin insense to waft me prayers up to the heavens for yer recovery! Bendiciones para ti!

Congrats be with ye!!!

Happy Belated! Why not celebrate all month eh?

my family has an original reel to reel of steamboat willie (not much left of it im afraid- we found it going through old boxes, been preserved since then) and two signed lithographs of captain hook and pan. seems gramp sold ol walt a car back in the day.... how many points ya think.

Aye MANY fer that!

Anybody out there into Disney's Movie Rewards? I plundered a beautiful lithograph o'the 3 ships from POTC 3, for (twas either 4-500 pts. It be a real steal!!

Aye Jenny, may yer birthday bring ye a year o'fine treasures ahead!

A Merry Christmas and Happy Channukah to all ye lads and lasses!

May your new year be so treasure filled.

Lets all now raise our glasses!!

My own Island in the Caribbean.

All pyrate lasses and lads from this here pub would be free to dock and set sail for other destinations as they would please.

Cheryl may ye has a year ahead full of treasure, pluner, and happiness!

Stynky, may every port o'call worldwide fire a salute on your great day!

Happy Thanksgiving to ye all!!

Gee, I wonder what would have happened had Pirates boarded and taken The Mayflower??

Happy Birthday Scupper!!

Happy Belated Christine!

I liked the transformation in California better, with the Bayou at the beginning. It gave it more of a feeling like you were really headed for danger in a creepy night. I like the wench auction. I also thought the pirate hangin out with the pigs was cute.

Let me know the rules and regulations too, then I can decide, with what I has to offer, whether or not I can do it.