Gracia Mendes Nasi, born Beatriz de Luna Miques in 1510 in Lisbon, Portugal, was a prominent Sephardi Jewish philanthropist and businesswoman. She belonged to the Mendes Benveniste family, which was influential in banking and trade during the Renaissance. After the death of her husband, Francisco Mendes Benveniste, in 1535, Gracia took control of the family enterprise, Casa Mendes-Benveniste, which operated across Europe and the Mediterranean. Her nephew, Joseph Nasi, also became a significant figure in the Ottoman Empire.Gracia's early life was marked by the forced conversion of her family to Catholicism in 1497, following the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. Despite their wealth, the de Luna family faced persecution, leading them to establish escape networks for crypto-Jews fleeing the Inquisition. In 1528, Gracia married her uncle Francisco Mendes in a secret Jewish ceremony, which was later followed by a public Catholic wedding. The Mendes family became notable spice traders, and after Francisco's death, Gracia inherited a substantial fortune, allowing her to exert considerable influence over the family business.Following Francisco's death, Gracia moved to Antwerp, where she joined her brother-in-law Diogo Mendes. She invested her wealth in the family business and developed an escape network for crypto-Jews fleeing persecution. This network facilitated the safe passage of many to the Ottoman Empire, where Jews were welcomed. Gracia's dealings extended to various European monarchs, and she successfully navigated attempts to confiscate her fortune through arranged marriages for her daughter, Ana.In 1544, Gracia relocated to Venice, where she continued her trading activities while facing disputes over her late husband's estate. To resolve these issues, she moved to the Duchy of Ferrara, where she could openly practice Judaism. In Ferrara, she became a benefactor of the Jewish community, supporting literacy and printing initiatives, including the publication of significant Jewish texts.In 1553, Gracia moved to Constantinople, where she established herself as a leader in the Ottoman Sephardi community. She built synagogues and educational institutions, and organized a trade embargo in response to the persecution of conversos in Ancona. In 1558, she secured a long-term lease of Tiberias from Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, aiming to create a safe haven for Jewish refugees. Gracia financed the reconstruction of the city and supported the existing Jewish community, which included a Talmudic Academy.Gracia Mendes Nasi died in Istanbul in 1569. Her legacy continued through her daughter, Reyna, who established her own printing business in the Ottoman Empire. Gracia's life and contributions to Jewish communities have been recognized in various historical accounts, and her efforts are often viewed as an early example of a modern Zionist movement.

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Doña Gracia Mendes Nasi