Jewish Life in Medieval Spain: A New History

Jewish Life in Medieval Spain explores the Jewish experience in medieval Spain, from the ninth century to the expulsion of 1492, integrating it into the history of medieval Christian Spain. It traces the collapse of Jewish life in Muslim Spain, the emigration of Andalusi Jewry to Christian Iberia, and the complex relations between Spanish Jews and their Muslim and Christian neighbors.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 03 April 2023
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

Jewish Life in Medieval Spain is a comprehensive examination of the Jewish experience in medieval Spain, spanning from the emergence of Sephardic society in the ninth century to the expulsion of 1492. The book makes a significant contribution by integrating the history of Jewish life in Muslim al-Andalus into the broader narrative of Jews in medieval Christian Spain. It traces the decline of Jewish existence in Muslim Spain, the emigration of Andalusi Jews to the territories of Christian Iberia, and the intricate interplay between these two distinct Jewish subcultures. By focusing on internal developments within Jewish society, the book provides a narrative of Jewish history from the perspective of the Jewish community itself, shedding light on the various divisions and rivalries that existed within it. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of the complex relations between Spanish Jews and their Muslim and Christian neighbors.

Jonathan Rays unique perspective on the Jewish experience is particularly insightful when examining the widespread anti-Jewish riots of 1391. The combination of violence and mass conversion of the Jews had a profound impact on inter-religious relations and within the Jewish community itself. However, even in the aftermath of these tragic events, the Jews of Spain continued to thrive, fostering a culture that they would carry into exile and preserve the memory of Jewish Spain for centuries to come.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781512823837