subject: A Short History of Spanish Jews [print this page] A Short History of Spanish Jews A Short History of Spanish Jews
The history of the Jews of the Spanish and Portuguese Kingdoms ended in 1492 and in 1497 with the edicts of expulsion issued by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella for Castile and Aragon and by King Manuel I of Portugal. This occurred after a long and difficult century of radical changes in Jewish life. The presence of Jews in Spain and Portugal is attested to as early as the fourth century as evidenced by anti-Jewish legislation enacted under the Council of Elvira.Archeological evidence and Jewish literature arguably date the presence of a Jewish community far earlier. The latter not withstanding, the presence of Jews in Iberia represents more than a thousand years of continual habitation which far exceeds the continued presence of Jewish communities in other regions and even rivals communities of the Land of Israel.The history of Spanish Jewry is often characterized as having included a Golden Age. The unique circumstances created under Moorish rule beginning the 8th century CE have notoriously been termed Convivencia. The Spanish historian Americo Castro coined this term implying he peaceful coexistence that prevailed among the Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The former term has led many scholars to envision a utopian society in which Jews, Christians, and Muslims lived and worked alongside each other in almost idyllic symbiosis.This environment of Convivencia is argued to have initiated the Golden Age of Sephardic Jewry. Yet as has been suggested, the Golden Age may have been golden for only a few hundred well placed individuals. There is little doubt that Spanish Jewry experienced a period of relative tranquility and success during periods of Moorish rule at least when compared to other Jews living in Christian dominated lands, but the extent of that success beyond the ranks of the great Jewish poets and philosophers of the two hundred year period is likely exaggerated. Nevertheless, the individuals who thrived during this period is impressive.Initiated through Hasdai ibn Shaprut in the 10th century, the works of various Sephardic writers was encouraged. Through Hasdai's efforts, a number of prominent individuals were brought to Crdoba, including Dunash ben Labrat and Menahem ben Saruq. Eventually a number of poets, philosophers, and biblical commentators rose during this era including Solomon ibn Gabirol, Yehuda Halevi, Samuel Ha-Nagid ibn Nagrela, and Abraham and Moses ibn Ezra. The rise of the Islamic Almoravids and Almohades sects violently ended the complicated relationships which had previously existed.
