For my sister Karen who is always there for me H S H For Mich P and Bean J A
This story is set in New Bedford Massachusetts once the whaling capital of the world where in the 18th Century a group of secret Jews emigrated from Portugal Here in this bustling whaling village many Jews became merchants providing sea captains with necessary provisions such as oilskins waterproof boots and canvas bags
Emanuel Aguilar knew more about whaling than most nine-year-old boys His father Aaron owned a shop on the wharf where the town’s whalers purchased their supplies Here one could find waterproof boots compasses and barrels to store oil The shop also sold provisions such as molasses potatoes flour and salted meat
