CARRASCON, JUAN

CARRASCON, JUAN (17th century), Spanish controversialist. According to the work Danielillo, Carrascon, a friar born in Madrid, converted to Judaism after discussions with ex-Marranos in Leghorn, and then wrote a book to demonstrate the errors of Christianity. His brother, who followed his example, settled in Jerusalem. Juan has been identified with Fray Carrascon, reputed author of the anti-Catholic work Carrascon ("Nodriza," 1633) – written in fact by the Spanish Protestant theologian Fernando de Texeda. There is reason to believe that the Juan Carrascon who became converted to Judaism is a figment of the imagination of the author of Danielillo, who misinterpreted the religious tenor of Texeda's work. On the other hand the fact that Carrascon libro curiosissimo is included in a catalogue of the printing house of manasseh ben israel in 1652 suggests the possibility of some Jewish association. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: J.C. Brunet, Manuel du libraire et de l'amateur de livres, 1 (1860), 1598; C. Roth, in: REJ, 91 (1931), 7ff.; A. Yaari, in: KS, 24 (1947), 87; A.S. Halkin, in: M.M. Kaplan Jubilee Volume (1953), 404–16; J. Rosenthal, in: Aresheth, 2 (1960), 169; 3 (1961), 438. (Cecil Roth)