The Status of Jews
and Christians in Muslim Lands, 1772
A question on the position of Jews in Islam, and the answer of the Shaikh Hasan Al
Kafrawi, The Shafiite [Professor of canon law in Cairo, d. 1788 CE]
Ordinance of the Jews of the Crown of
Aragon, 1354 CE
This ordinance or takkanah was the product of an increased sense of Jewish
vulnerability in the years after the Black Death (1348).
Synod of Castilian Jews, 1432
Ordinances from assembly of the Jews of the kingdom of Castile at Valladolid in
1432.
Sepher Yetzirah
[or Sefer Yatzira], translated from the Hebrew by Wm. Wynn Westcott, [At Wolf's Den]
The Sepher Yetzirah is one of the most famous of the ancient Qabalistic texts. It was
first put into writing around 200 C.E. Westcott's Translation was first published in 1887.
Judah Ha-Levi (ca 1075-1141): The Kuzari, also known as
The Book of Argument and Proof in Defense of the Despised Faith (Kitab al
Khazari).
The entire first book of the Kuzari, a philosophical treatise written by the
Spanish Jewish philosopher and poet, Judah Ha-Levi. It is written in the form of a
dialogue, purportedly between the king of the Khazars and the representatives of various
belief systems, culminating with a rabbi.
The Hypertext Halacha.[At Project
Genesis/torah.org]
A translation of the Shulchan Aruch and Mishna Berurah. An excellent source
for the details of Jewish religious law.
Byzantine Liturgy for Good Friday.
This is a current English translation. It shows how the very negative Christian message
that Jews were "Christ-killers" was conveyed to the people - through the liturgy
of the churches. Latin Catholic Good Friday services were just as anti-Semitic, although
it has now been reformed. This aspect of Christian liturgy made Holy Week an extremely
dangerous time for Jews thoughout Christian-majority lands.
Thomas of Monmouth: The Life and Miracles of
St. William of Norwich, 1144, excerpts.
One of the major accusations against Jews of the charge that they killed Christian
children. This blood-libel was the center of a number of saint's cults. See the Catholic
Encylopedia [1913] article William
of Norwich for much background information. [Note that this article, while rejecting
the Ritual Murder and Blood Libels, does end by suggesting that some of the cases were
based on real incidents.]
WEBImage and
Story of Anderl von Rinn: A Blood Libel Saint, supposedly 1462, in fact 17th century.
An image from Rinn showing the ritual murder of Anderl von Rinn. This file also contains
many links to other "blood libel" information.
The Internet Medieval Sourcebook is part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project. The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of Fordham University, New York. The Internet
Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at
the Fordham University Center
for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the
Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in
providing web space and server support for the project. The IHSP is a project independent of Fordham University.
Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not
the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action.
