Born in 1902 into a prosperous Sephardic Jewish family in Constantinople, Rebecca grows into a strong-willed dressmaker. She relies on her sewing skills and personal charm to support her loved ones after they lose their fortune. She deeply values her culture and insists on maintaining Jewish traditions wherever she lives. Her journey takes her from Turkey to Spain, Cuba, and eventually the United States.

Rebecca's mother is an optimistic and devout woman who values generosity. She maintains her positive outlook even after her husband loses their wealth and the family relocates to Spain. She serves as the emotional center of the household, stepping in to watch her grandsons while Rebecca works.

Rebecca's father begins as a wealthy but careless businessman who mismanages his factory and loses his deed. After relocating the family to Barcelona, he takes a job as a synagogue caretaker. The hard physical labor and reduced status embitter him initially, but he eventually works to secure rights for the local Jewish community.

Rebecca's eldest son is a reserved and perceptive boy who feels intensely displaced by his family's moves. He views Spain as his true home and finds it difficult to learn English and connect with peers in New York. He eventually joins the Navy, serving aboard the USS Franklin.

Sam Levy's daughter is a highly intelligent girl with cerebral palsy. She endures painful loneliness and struggles with internalized ableism during her youth. With her stepmother's demanding training regimen, she works to build her physical strength and independence.

A quiet, hardworking immigrant who manages a newspaper and candy shop in New York. He took on the responsibility of caring for his mother and six siblings after his father abandoned them. He is more secular than his second wife, Rebecca, but supports her desire to raise their children in the Jewish faith.

Rebecca's first husband is a polite man whose health and mental state were permanently damaged by mustard gas in World War I. He spends much of his time traveling abroad under the guise of starting a trading business, leaving his wife to raise their sons alone.

Rebecca's closest childhood companion. The two girls look so similar that neighbors sometimes mistake them for twins. Her family moves to the United States when World War I breaks out, changing the trajectory of her life.

Alberto Cohen's first wife. She lives as a social outcast after her divorce, which was prompted by her inability to bear children. She copes with her isolation by retreating into fantastical stories about spirits.

Rebecca's older sister. She moves away from Europe early on and later helps facilitate introductions that shape the rest of her family's immigration paths to the Americas.

Sam Levy's mother. She harbors a generally sullen disposition and resents her new daughter-in-law's former high social status, but she shows immense warmth when caring for her granddaughter.

A Christian filmmaker creating a documentary funded by the Spanish Ministry of State. He intends to teach the Spanish public about Jewish history but views the community more as a museum curiosity than a living culture.

Rebecca's second son, also known as Berto or Al. He grows up watching his mother work tirelessly to support the family during his father's long absences.

David's fifth-grade teacher. She recognizes his potential and goes out of her way to encourage him to participate in school activities.