Between Christian and Jew: Conversion and Inquisition in the Crown of Aragon, 1250-1391

In 1341 in Aragon, a Jewish convert to Christianity was sentenced to death and then saved from the stake. His confession revealed a Jewish conspiracy to persuade converts to denounce their faith. This led to a series of trials against Jews in medieval Spain, revealing the intensity of mutual hostility between Christians and Jews. The majority of Jewish converts turned to baptism to escape personal difficulties, but often faced a chilly reception from their new Christian brethren. The book explores Jewish antagonism toward Christians and Christianity by examining the aims and techniques of Jews who sought to re-Judaize apostates and the Jewish responses to inquisitorial prosecution.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2023
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

In 1341, in Aragon, a Jewish convert to Christianity faced a harrowing fate. Initially sentenced to death on a burning stake, he miraculously survived and was subjected to a rigorous religious interrogation. His astonishing confession left his inquisitors in disbelief, as he revealed a Jewish conspiracy aimed at convincing recent converts to renounce their newfound Christian faith. Supported by eyewitness accounts, his claims ignited a series of trials that unfolded over the next twenty months.

Christian and Jew: A Divided World delves into these events, viewed by Paola Tartakoff as emblematic of inquisitorial proceedings against Jews during this period. Moreover, the trials serve as the foundation for her nuanced exploration of Jewish conversion to Christianity and the often hostile Christian response to such conversions. The book unveils the profound intensity of the mutual hostility between Christians and Jews in medieval Spain. Tartakoff's extensive research reveals that many Jewish converts sought baptism as a means to alleviate personal hardships, such as poverty, conflicts with fellow Jews, or unhappy marriages. However, they often encountered a chilly reception from their new Christian brethren, hindering their integration into Christian society.

To delve deeper into Jewish antagonism toward Christians and Christianity, Tartakoff examines the strategies employed by Jews who aimed to re-Judaize apostates, as well as the Jewish responses to inquisitorial prosecution during an actual investigation. Prosecutions like the 1341 trial, while perceived by papal inquisitors as defending Christianity against perceived Jewish attacks, are explored by Tartakoff as part of a broader narrative. She sheds light on the complex dynamics and tensions that characterized this period, highlighting the challenges faced by Jewish converts and the complex interplay between religion, politics, and social dynamics.

In conclusion, Christian and Jew: A Divided World offers a captivating and insightful exploration of the complex relationship between Christians and Jews in medieval Spain. Through meticulous research and a nuanced analysis, Tartakoff sheds light on the trials, conversions, and antagonisms that characterized this period, providing a valuable contribution to our understanding of medieval history and religious relations.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781512825459