Set against the historic Council of Trent in Renaissance Rome, a Jewish doctor to his friend and intellectual companion, Pope Paul III, and rabbi to his community, tries to think his way through incidences that might presage danger to his family and community. Should a dangerous Passion Play, sudden rantings of Dominican Friars in his synagogue, and unjust jailing and potential execution of his son be enough reason to consider leaving his beloved city? The author persuasively narrates a story that helps us understand how events bedevil individuals who struggle to see their significance.