Description
Book SynopsisBetween Christian and Jew pivots around the inquisitorial trial of three Jews who were accused in 1341 of persuading Jewish apostates to return to Judaism and die as martyrs. This cultural history explores the worlds of Jews, Jewish converts, and medieval inquisitors as they intersected in northern Iberia in the Crown of Aragon.
Trade Review"Tartakoff's facility with the diverse and abundant source base makes her book an important new contribution to scholarship on medieval conversion." *
American Historical Review *
"A shining example of microhistory. . . .
Between Christian and Jew is a careful and well-written study which through its clear focus raises important questions about medieval Jewish apostasy-for Jews and Christians of the time and for the apostates themselves." *
Jewish Book World *
"
Between Christian and Jew represents a rare combination of a highly original study that makes major historiographical contributions and engages in sophisticated source analysis and in a moving story that resurrects historical subjects in a way that promotes the reader's curiosity and empathy. It not only offers a constructive new way of viewing the role Jewish converts played in Jewish-Christian coexistence that will inspire innovative future research but also stands as a model of readable history writing that other scholars should aspire to emulate." *
Comitatus *
"An outstanding book and a compelling read, this is the first thorough account of a trial of Jews by the papal inquisition, under whose jurisdiction Jews did not normally fall. This is also the first work to attempt an overview of the phenomenon of Jewish conversion to Christianity in medieval Spain prior to the watershed of 1391, and Tartakoff's conclusions regarding the motives for conversion are very important." * Mark Meyerson, University of Toronto *
Table of ContentsNote on Names, Money, Terminology, and Transliterations Map 1 Map 2 Map 3 Introduction PART I. BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL Four Arrests Chapter 1. Defending the Faith: Medieval Inquisitors and the Prosecution of Jews and Converts Chapter 2. From Resistance to Surrender: Jewish Responses to Inquisitorial Prosecution Four Condemnations PART II. AT THE FONT OF NEW LIFE Alatzar and Abadia, Baptized Chapter 3. Between Doubt and Desire: Jewish Conversion, Converts, and Christian Society Chapter 4. Homeward Bound: The Fates of Jewish Converts Two Converts, Repentant PART III. BY THE FIRE The Intervention Chapter 5. Apostasy as Scourge: Jews and the Repudiation of Apostates Chapter 6. Recruiting Repentance: The Re-Judaization of Apostates The Road to the Stake Conclusion List of Abbreviations Notes Glossary Bibliography Index Acknowledgments
