a nation in flux #14

the 14th century

RinTFleish Massacres

• A series of massacres against Jews in the year 1298
• The first large-scale persecutions in Germany since the First Crusade.
• 100000 Jews were killed
• Jews head Eastwards to Poland and Russia
• Some fled to Spain...

The Rosh

• 1350-1427
• The leader of German Jewry, student of the Maharam
• How to distribute property of families that were killed?
• 1306 arrived in Spain. Was offered a job in Toldedo as Av Beis Din on the recommendation of the Rashba.
• Jewish courts in Spain were autonomous, and has power to execute
• Disapproved of the study of Philosophy

The Tur - Yaakov ben Asher

• 1275-1340
• Fled to Spain with his father
• "It is forbidden to traverse there (Germany), much less to live in a land of blood."
• Rav Yehuda succeeded his father, leaving Rav Yaakov to write.
• He wrote the Arba Turim, the basis of the Shulchan Aruch.
• Also wrote a commentary on Chumash

Leaders of Spain

• RAV ASHTORI HAPARCHI: Made Aliya Kaftor VaFerach
• RITVA: Talmudist
• RABBEINU BACHYA
• RAN
• VIDAL of TOLOSA: The Maggid Mishna
• ABUDRAHAM: commentary on the siddur

Black Death

• Fleas on rats on ships in the Mediterranean entered Europe
• 75 - 200 Million people died. 1/3 - 1/2 of Europe died.
• Jews were blamed. In 1348 Jews were forced to confess that they were responsible.
• Attempts by Clement VI to exonerate the Jews were to know avail.

Accusations

• Witchcraft
• Poisoning the Wells
• Incantations to make deals with the devil
• More Jews died from the massacres than from the plague.

Bittersweet return

• 1361 - Charles V brought Jews back and then were expelled
• 1385 - Germany absolved debt to Jews in 38 towns.

Consequences

• Rabbi Meir ben Baruch HaLevi, Rabbi of Vienna in 1360
• Formal Ordination Requirements were established
• Beginning in Austria, community Rabbis were paid by communities.

1391

• Ferrand Martinez begins demonizing Jews in the 1380's. Jews were blamed for obstructing Christian prosperity
• June 4, 1391, riots broke out in Seville. 50000 Jews were killed.
• For the first time, conversions happened.

The Inquisition

• Conversos would gather in secret, and if caught, faced death.
• Many people today have quasi-Jewish practices descending from Conversos.

Why Convert?

• Higher standards of living.
• Not much Torah learning.
• More assimilation into Spanish culture.
• Abraham Abulafia's failed predictions for the Messiah.

Those who Survived

• Rivash (1326-1407), Rabbi of Saragossa, moved to Algiers
• Don Chisdai Crescas stayed in Barcelona and Valencia to rebuild

Eastern Europe

• 1388 - Grand Duke of Lithuania grants economic incentives to encourage Jewish immigrations.
• Jews begin to settle Poland.