The Jews of Spain: A History of the Sephardic Experience

by Jane S. Gerber

The history of the Jews of Spain is a remarkable story that begins in the remote past and continues today. For more than a thousand years, Sepharad (the Hebrew word for Spain) was home to a large Jewish community noted for its richness and virtuosity. Summarily expelled in 1492 and forced into exile, their tragedy of expulsion marked the end of one critical phase of their history and the beginning of another. Indeed, in defiance of all logic and expectation, the expulsion of the Jews from Spain became an occasion for renewed creativity. Nor have five hundred years of wandering extinguished the identity of the Sephardic Jews, or diminished the proud memory of the dazzling civilization which they created on Spanish soil. This book is intended to serve as an introduction and scholarly guide to that history.

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

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Billy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a well-written book (the author struggles to write a clear sentence) but it is well worth reading. The post-explusion coverage is better than the descriptions of what came before in Spain. Although here in America our Jewish community was founded by the Sephardim, the coming of the Ashkenazi Jews has eclipsed these beginnings. It's almost as if the Sephardic experience is perceived as peripheral to the main course of Jewish history. As Gerber points out, nothing could be further from the truth. The Jews of Spain and their far-flung descendants built a rich and vibrant culture across and beyond the Mediterranean basin. It is an ultimately tragic story. Although modern Israel has become the new center of this civilization, it cannot replace what has been lost.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating! The Jews of Spain details the history of Jews in Spain for that past 2,000 years, beginning with the Jews who came with the Romans to the Iberian Peninsula. There is rich detail about the flowering of science and Jewish literature during the 800 year Moorish occupation of the peninsula during the Umayyad Caliphate in Cordoba, and the tragic expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 by Ferdinand and Isabella right after the Moors were finally defeated in the Battle of Granada. Gerber continues her history by following the dispersion of Sephardic Jews all over the globe and relating what became of them -- up until the present. I loved this book because it was about not only the Jews, but also about the politics of Europe and the Middle East during the entire period. One of Gerber's theses is that the Expulsion from Spain foretold and provided a model for the extermination of Jews by the Nazis during World War II. It is a fascinating account that is also haunting, and it makes one realize how easily history has repeated itself. It is a cautionary tale that is also frightening. I heartily recommend this book.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gave me invaluable info on the Moorish occupation of Spain, the Reconquest, the Inquisition, and the differences between Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews. I had hoped that it might shed some light on some of the crypto-Judaic heritage in my native San Luis Valley, but instead it helped me realize how obscured that past really is. This is not just due to the 500 years since my Spanish ancestors came to the New World, but also because there were two hundred years, starting in 1391, where there was a lot of converting back and forth between Judiasm and Christianity. So I can effectively give up this part of my research into this part of my conjectured heritage and focus more exclusively on Spanish colonialism. Still, this was an extremely good read and I would recommend it to anyone who already has a basic knowledge of Jewish history.

[JoséMaría BlancoWhite · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written by a Jew and addressed specifically to a Jewish audience, there's no question about it that -regardless of the importance and quality of this work- it is an exercise of Jewish apologetics as few have been consummated. And I don't mean it in a bad sense; a little more of the kind should be expected from other quarters: Christian, to look no further. Why, we have our own tragic story to tell, and no need to point to culprits now. But, in the present times, it seems that Christians are the easy scapegoat for all the evils done in the world. So this quality, in a sense, is something to be welcomed.

Now, in another order of things, the book is also meant for the general reader, but in a broader geographical context than just Spain. The author follows the main characters of her story along the shores of the Mediterranean, and has them mingle with the courts of Baghdad, Cairo, Palestine, etc. And this is the weak spot of the book: it is not a history, in my opinion, but a picking up of stories of prominent Jews who lived in the long time-span presented, and taking those cultural figures as an excuse to present a history "of the Jews" in general.

If one thing this book is not, that's a history of the Jews of Spain in general, for it is not a sociological history nor a historical description of the times, but a collection of achievements by the most outstanding figures of Jewish culture, all intellectuals, therefore not representative of a people as a whole. The people are not here, unless one assumes all were favored courtiers or collaborators.

The awkward position of the elite Jews in Muslim Spain is a subject that deserves historical research itself -and is only hinted at here- for they sure had to be very careful towards their fellow Jews so as not to be perceived as collaborators or apostates, while enjoying all the luxuries afforded by their embedded status within the Muslim courts. A life of consummate hypocrisy, aimed at keeping the best from both worlds: the appreciation and honor granted by the Jews in the persons of their rabbinical leaders, and the riches bestowed upon by the master Muslims. This delicate situation is best visualized when we come to read about the life of Maimonides. The author admits feeling astonishment as to how Maimonides "managed to survive there (in Morocco, the heartland of the fundamentalist Almohads) without converting. And she adds herself to other scholars' puzzle. A puzzle? A puzzle only scholars cannot put together.

It becomes even comical when one reads Maimonides' argument against martyrdom, as must have been suggested by other not-so-scholarly Jews at the time: "How much greater then, will be the reward of the Jews, who despite the exigencies of forced conversion perform commandments secretly." Secretly indeed. And to top if off: "He [Maimonides] divides Jewish precepts into those which must always be obeyed (e. g. the prohibition against murder) and those which may be violated if necessary." If the author didn't smell a rat here, then I proclaim I have lost all faith on scholars. As for the author, it was like this, watch it: "Probably, most of the Jews who endured the fury of the 1140s continued to practice a subterranean form of their faith, observing whatever they could in their homes while paying lip service to Islam." Isn't this contradictory with what the author just said about Maimonides, that one can violate some precepts if necessary? So how come it's only "lip-service"?

Contradictions abound in this book. Take for instance "Granada ... by 1066 the ibn Nagrelas, a family of Sephardic courtiers [one would think all Jews had rooms in the rulers' palaces] were so powerful that envious Muslims became enraged ... causing widespread destruction and Jewish flight." But, then again: "Yet Jews remained in the city even after the persecutions and continued to participate in all aspects of life until its fall in 1492." That "yet" says it all. The one thing that aggravates me a little is that the author seems to discount the possibility that those Jews who remained were willing -let's say it in modern terms- collaborators, while the rest, the common folk, stood true to their faith. But the common folk are exiled from this book; that's the aggravating thing. The hedonistic little world in which this elite class of Jews mingled has successfully claimed, through their scholarly successors, to be the victims of their oppressors, not the accomplices they really were. Saved by proxy.

As I say, the book did hint at many contradictions and relevant data, but never delves into any. Here's another instance: "[in the X and XI centuries] there were customs stations everywhere, but both Christian and Muslim powers seemed intent upon preserving a free-trade community in the Mediterranean." They were all very religious and pious, all right, but when it comes to making money, religion is put aside. But what does the author assume of this apparent contradiction? That those two centuries were a sign that Jews and Muslims were really getting along. Well, again, the money-minded elite was sure doing well. But how about the rest, didn't they exist?

In the best of times, all Jews and Christians had the same treatment by their "tolerant" Muslim oppressors: they were made to "pay the tribute readily, being brought low." (Sura 9:29). Being embedded with the oppressors sure helped.

I want to encourage the reading of this book, nevertheless. Read with a bit of critical reasoning it is enriching, and reads nicely. As I said at the beginning, I wish the West, with our cultural roots deep into Jewish, as well as Greek and Roman, civilizations, were more lenient and forgiving towards ourselves.

[Elliott Bignell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to this volume as part of a project to further my education about Islam and its relationship with the rest of the world, which had led me to an interest in the Golden Age of ha Sefarad, and to inform myself further about Judaism, about which I have had too little information to understand its relationship with the world at all. This book serves both purposes beautifully. While serious in tone, it is very readable indeed and provides what I would judge to be a good, neutral perspective. My purpose and conclusions are probably different to those of a student of Sephardic studies, who will probably already be intimately aware of the tenets of Judaism and less interested in the comparative lessons I draw between Islam and Christendom. (As the astute student will immediately grasp, I am one of what I might lightly refer to as the goyish diaspora.)

The book provides insights on Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Spain and the Jewish Diaspora more generally. I recommend it highly to the serious reader and less so for the seeker after simplistic propaganda formulations. It does not pull punches about the treatment of Jews by the two major rival religions, but I find it fair and carefully-researched.
Comment

[Lauren Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book fascinating and full of surprising facts (the Liberty Bell was brought to America on a ship owned by a Jewish merchant, for instance). The Jewish population clearly often had a disproportionate effect on the countries where they settled: "an estimated thirty-five to sixty percent of the income in every one of the Iberian kingdoms was provided by Jews.” This was, of course, due to punishing taxes inflicted on them. But, it also meant that the countries that expelled them suffered financially for their bigotry.

[Lois Portnoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have some background about the Sephardic Jewish community but I had never internalized what it meant to be unable to find a place to live...where no country anywhere would welcome these people.

The book is comprehensive and an easy read.

[Leslie Levine Adler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a timely book in explaining not only the history of the Jews in Spain but throughout the Arab world. At a time when accusations toward Israel of being a “colonial” and an “apartheid state”, reading about the history of Jews in the Arab world provides a sobering counterargument to this propaganda. It provides perspective that over 2000 years there have been isolated times of being able to flourish in Christian and Islamic lands interspersed with times of “auto-de-fe” -persecution with false accusations, torture or expulsion. It is a history which not purposely and through no apparent bias demonstrates that safety in any particular country, especially in the old world, was temporary and conditional. I realized that my education had been limited to the history of Eastern European Jews and this also helps me understand why the Sefardí ten toward the more conservative and religious parties in Israel.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scholarly but eminently readable. Gerber provides a sweeping panormaof these Separdim from the beginning of their settlement during Roman times and after they were expelled in 1492 through modern times. The first half the book focuses on these Jews while they were living in Spain, the influence of Islamic culture, the "Golden Age" and effort at conversion by the Church and its monarchs. The second half of the book details what happended to the Jews after they were expelled from Spain, the relentless pursuit by the Inquisition, the migration east to Islamic lands (especially the Ottoman Empire) by Sephardim (Jews who had never converted) and the migration north by Conversos. The author is adept at pointing out what influences in politics and philosophy affected these Jews in each time period. Except for the Golden Age, it is story of unmitigated tragedy for almost 2000 years.

[N. N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid treatment of an important topic in the history of the world. Also, Sephardic history is an aspect of the background to the Arab-Israeli conflict that is missed by a lot of people who otherwise read everything they can get their hands on about that topic. I only gave it 3 out of 5 stars because it is marred by political editorializing and the printing (at least of my version) was so bad as to be almost unreadable in certain places (I also found the inclusion of long sections of translated verse to be sort of distracting and annoying). Having said all of that, I recommend this more highly than other books I have given 3 stars to, and the sense I get is that this book is regarded by historians of the Sephardim to be the best introductory work on Sephardic history.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 500 year history of Sephardic (Spanish) Jews and their Diaspora from 1492, when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella expelled all Jews from Spain (on the same day Columbus set sail to find a western route to India -- through the formation of the Israeli state and the election of Sephardic Jew Menachem Begin as prime minister. The Sephardic diaspora eventually spreads from Portugal to other European countries, North and South America, and North Africa, and then they continue to flee the Inquisition, WWII's Final Solution, and many other pogroms. It's an interesting history, but written in such a dry language, I find it hard to recommend this book.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing in February 2019
I got the book as a present seven years ago.
I read it only this year with an interest in the demography of The Jews of Spain after their many experiences of expulsions, assimilations and tortures of the Jews in Spain.

The book is a very comprehensive research.

[Joelle Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some sections could begin to feel a bit pedantic and choppy, it was still a fascinating read. The level of persecution the Jews have endured is unrivaled. Their commitment to provide for and support their fellow brethen is phenomenal.

[Alex Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is honestly the best description for this book. While certainly a slow book, it contains a vast array of sources, stories, people, and events that create a fascinating take on an integral group of people that shaped world history.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not dry at all and contains a good overview of the history of the Sephardi Jews (of particular relevance to me given my background!)...if you have an interest in the topic, it's a pretty light read (as far as history books go).

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there's a history buff in you, this should be picked up. It's a good book, but not for everybody.

[Florence Buchholz · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me this was an introduction to Jewish Sephardic history and culture. My appetite is whetted and I am hungry for more information now.

[Denise DeRocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise account of when, how and why the Jews of Spain were kicked out of the country - great history.

[Nranger7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a history book this one is really good. It is not written in an overly pretentious manner and is an enjoyable read.

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful as I prepared for a Jewish study mission to Spain

[Susan Cosden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE source book for the history of Jews in Spain.

[Channah]

Read for class fall 2018.