Pre-Modern Sephardism

Who are the Sephardim and where do they come from?

Jews of Spain or of Spanish descent.

In this article, Cohen is making a rather subtle argument about the relative situation of Jews under Muslim and Christian rule in the Middle Ages, and is arguing against two views that he considers incorrect. On the one hand, he is arguing against the “lachrymose conception” of Jewish history found among 19th century Jewish historians, who saw Jewish history as merely a trail of tears. On the other hand, he is arguing against a romanticized vision of Jewish history in Muslim Spain fostered by those same historians. How does Cohen argue that Jewish history under Muslim rule should be seen in a more balanced, realistic light?

Cohen argues that Christians were very confrontational towards the Torah and treated the Jews poorly as they were the alleged killers of Jesus Christ. The Muslims, on the other hand, saw both Jews and Christians as people of the book, whom they had ancient connections to, and would not treat poorly. This is rather ironic considering the stance between Jews and Arabs in today’s world.

According to Cohen, why was Jewish life under Muslim rule generally easier than under Christian rule?

The Muslims were not hung up on converting Jews to Islam as the Christians were on converting everybody to the teachings of Jesus, thus the Muslims were less confrontational towards the Middle-Eastern Jews. This allowed an easier life for these Jews because they did not live in fear of persecution from Muslims as the Ashkenazi Jews of Europe did from Christians.

What was the legal status of Jews living under Muslim rule?

The Christians turned the Jews into “serfs of the royal chamber,” as they became property of the monarchy. They had an oppressive legal status in which they were treated poorly, receiving much hostility from Christians, and were given limited freedom and heavy taxes as punishment for not converting.
In Muslim countries, Jews and Christians alike had no legal status. They were both under the protection of the Muslims leaders as long as they paid an annual poll tax.

What were the differences in the economic roles of Jews in Muslim and Christian lands in the Middle Ages?

The Jews were traditionally very predominant in the economic world. Although disliked for this trait, they were rather successful. They were often known as long-distance merchants who would travel to other lands to trade goods. Later, Jews started lending money out to Christians who were donating large amounts of their money to the Church. “People resented Jewish power over their economic well-being.” Jews in Muslim countries were heavily integrated into the Muslim economic system. Muslims were too keen on becoming a prosperous people economically and their hate for Jewish businesses increased their desire to compete in the market.

What led to the downfall of Jews in Christian Spain?

The Spanish Kabbalah appeared among the Sephardic Jews in Christian Spain which re-booted the Sephardic Jews into a newly ruled land. No longer controlled by the Muslims, the Sephardic Jews rebuilt their religious practice in Spain. Their new way of life sparked intense religious debates between the Jews and Christians of Spain. Christian anti-Semitism grew quickly throughout Spain in the fourteenth century.

Where did the Spanish Jews go after the expulsion? Why did the Ottomans welcome them in?

Most of the Jews went to Muslim countries as most European countries under Christian rule were uninviting. They fled to Morocco and Algeria, Egypt, Palestine and Syria. They received mixed reactions upon entering these territories however they were successful in the Muslim Ottoman Empire in Anatolia, Turkey, and the Balkans. They were accepted because the Ottomans and the Sephardics had a common enemy, the Habsburg Empire. The Ottomans were happy to have the prosperous Jews of Spain with them to help. After the success of the Jewish settlement in the Ottoman Empire, many of the Marranos from Spain fled to join the other Jews Turkey and the Balkans.