jjares reviewed The Crypto-Jews: The History of the Forcibly Converted Jews Who Secretly Practiced Judaism during the Inquisition on + 3278 more book reviews
This book is clear and well-organized. It explains the religious intolerance exhibited in parts of Europe against the Jews. Both the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions were stunning in their breadth and viciousness. There are several responses to the Inquisition. Some Jews refused to convert to Christianity and were summarily burnt at the stake or worse.
Some Jews paid lip service to be Christian and quietly continued their Jewish rituals and practices. But then, there was Marranism. They adapted to Christianity but kept clandestine religious practices and passed them on from one generation to the next. Since the Marranos had to stay separate from practicing Jews, their faith and religion remained in a vacuum, meaning they developed rituals and beliefs that differed from Judaism and Christianity.
Of course, the Inquisitors never trusted these enforced conversions. The Spanish Inquisition began in 1478 and ended in 1834. The Portuguese Inquisition started later, in 1536, and ended in 1821. The Inquisition leaders constantly watched the converts to make sure there was no circumcision of babies and inactivity on Saturday (Jew's day of prayer). They also tended to see if these new converts ate pork and if they ate unleavened bread.
When the Inquisitors insisted the Jews convert or leave Spain, the Inquisitors thought the Jews would convert. However, most tried to escape. When the Jews began to go, the Inquisitors demanded they leave their deeds to their property and all their cash. The Marranos moved to Morroco and towards the Levant and the Ottoman Empire (Muslims were more tolerant of Jews). They also went westward to the new colonies in the New World to get away from the Inquisition.
Some Jews paid lip service to be Christian and quietly continued their Jewish rituals and practices. But then, there was Marranism. They adapted to Christianity but kept clandestine religious practices and passed them on from one generation to the next. Since the Marranos had to stay separate from practicing Jews, their faith and religion remained in a vacuum, meaning they developed rituals and beliefs that differed from Judaism and Christianity.
Of course, the Inquisitors never trusted these enforced conversions. The Spanish Inquisition began in 1478 and ended in 1834. The Portuguese Inquisition started later, in 1536, and ended in 1821. The Inquisition leaders constantly watched the converts to make sure there was no circumcision of babies and inactivity on Saturday (Jew's day of prayer). They also tended to see if these new converts ate pork and if they ate unleavened bread.
When the Inquisitors insisted the Jews convert or leave Spain, the Inquisitors thought the Jews would convert. However, most tried to escape. When the Jews began to go, the Inquisitors demanded they leave their deeds to their property and all their cash. The Marranos moved to Morroco and towards the Levant and the Ottoman Empire (Muslims were more tolerant of Jews). They also went westward to the new colonies in the New World to get away from the Inquisition.
