Through the works of Edward Kritzler and other modern sources, we will tell the tale of an unlikely group of swashbuckling Jews who ransacked the high seas in the aftermath of the Spanish Inquisition. In ships bearing names such as the Prophet Samuel, Queen Esther, and King Solomon, they attacked and plundered the Spanish fleet while forming alliances with other European powers to ensure the safety of Jews in hiding.

A native Las Vegan who didn’t have the aspirations to be a showgirl, Beri Kaplan Schwitzer put her time, energy, and enthusiasm into education. A graduate of the University of Nevada with a degree in Journalism, her true passion remains in Jewish education where she has served in a variety of capacities over the last twenty-five years and is currently the Director of Adult Education and Engagement at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, TX. Beri is a nationally recognized Jewish educator honored by Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA) and by the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE). She received her Certificate of Jewish Education from the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership and studied at Pardes as a Senior Educator Leadership Fellow.