Jewish Life in the Middle Ages

by Israel Abrahams

Highly readable social history comprehensively examines life of European Jews, from approximately the late 10th-century to the early 1500s. Topics include social functions of the synagogue, communal organizations, love, courtship and marriage, monogamy and home life, trades and occupations, medieval pastimes and personal relations between Christians and Jews.

Genres: History, Judaica, Judaism, Religion, Medieval, Jewish, Nonfiction

482 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1896

About the author

Israel Abrahams, MA (honoris causa) (b. London, November 26, 1858; d. Cambridge, October 6, 1925) was one of the most distinguished Jewish scholars of his generation. He wrote a number of classics on Judaism, most notably, Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1896).

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Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

No stone unturned, but suffers from the biases of the time it was written - for example, an extremely paternalistic attitude towards women.

Still, given the number of works that cite this one, I couldn't not read it...

[Eli Mandel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives some good color on Jewish life, but it fails to properly contextualize things and it makes too many pleas on behalf of the poor persecuted Jews to be an objective source.

[K C · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit strange reading a book written almost 150 years ago about social mores centuries before that. Interesting but not compelling reading.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected more from this book. While very readable, there was surprisingly little information given the length. Abrahams does not paint a very vivid portrait of Jewish life in the Middle Ages. In this regard, he could have benefitted from presenting more of a narrative, rather than a survey. Also, he makes broad sweeping generalizations that are notably complimentary and optimistic - one gets the impression that European Jewish life between the Roman Empire and the 16th century was idyllic and that Jews of this era were paragons of virtue. This tendency is so prevalent that I actually doubt the veracity of Abraham's representations and assertions. So, I don't feel I gained much from reading this history.

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

A truly fascinating look at Jewish culture during the Middle Ages. The Jews had a rich cultural heritage, sustained under constant hostility and persecution.