Sunday marks the 508th anniversary of the death of Christopher Columbus . Charles Garcia : Columbus was a Jew , or a Jew who claimed to be a Christian . He says that during Columbus ' voyage , Jews were the target of religious persecution . Garcia : ( Coincidentally or significantly , the day he set forth was the very day that Jews were , by law , given the choice of converting , leaving Spain , or being killed . ) Columbus ' voyage was motivated by a desire to establish a safe haven for Jews .
Sunday marks the 508th anniversary of the death of Christopher Columbus . Charles Garcia : Columbus was a Jew , or a Jew who claimed to be a Christian . He says that during Columbus ' voyage , Jews were the target of religious persecution . Garcia : Columbus ' voyage was motivated by a desire to establish a safe haven for Jews .