The Golden Age of Jews

[Tajir]

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/...Sephardim.html

Apparently, it was under a Muslim Caliph.

The situation improved in 711 when Spain fell under the rule of the Muslim Moors. Both Muslims and Jews built a civilization, based in Cordoba, known as Al-Andalus, which was more advanced than any civilization in Europe at that time. Jews were able to coexist peacefully with their neighbors; however, they were still treated as dhimmis, "People of the Book" (Jews and Christians) who are protected under Islamic law. Jews did not have complete autonomy and had to pay a special tax, the jizha , but were able to freely practice their religion.
The era of Muslim rule in Spain (8th-11th century) was considered the "Golden Age" for Spanish Jewry. Jewish intellectual and spiritual life flourished and many Jews served in Spanish courts. Jewish economic expansion was unparalleled. In Toledo, Jews were involved in translating Arabic texts to the romance languages, as well as translating Greek and Hebrew texts into Arabic. Jews also contributed to botany, geography, medicine, mathematics, poetry and philosophy.
A number of well-known Jewish physicians practiced during this period, including Hasdai Ibn Shaprut (915-970), who was the doctor for the Caliph (leader of Spain). Many famous Jewish figures lived during the Golden Age and contributed to making this a flourishing period for Jewish thought. These included Samuel Ha-Nagid, Moses ibn Ezra, Solomon ibn Gabirol Judah Halevi and Moses Maimonides.
Jews lived separately in aljamas (Jewish quarters). They were given administrative control over their communities and managed their own communal affairs. Jews had their own court system, known as the Bet Din. Rabbis served as judges and rendered both religious and civil legal opinions.
Islamic culture also influenced the Jews. Muslim and Jewish customs and practices became intertwined. For example, Arabic was used for prayers rather than Hebrew or Spanish. Before entering the synagogue, Jews washed their hands and feet, which is a practice done before entering a mosque. Arab melodies were used for Jewish songs. Jews wore the clothing style of their Moorish neighbors, although they were not allowed to wear silk or furs.
Jews lived peacefully in Al-Andulus for 400 years. The Golden Age for Jewry in Muslim Spain declined after the Almovarids gained power in 1055 and continued to deteriorate after the Almohads came to power in 1147. Jews continued to work as moneylenders, jewelers, cobblers, tailors and tanners, however, they had to wear distinguishing clothing, such as a yellow turban.

Was there another time when Jews flourished so publicly and so powerfully in a non-Jewish state? The closest example is the current USA, but most Jews have become too assimilated, either out of fear, or through time.

Any other times in history?

I'm interested in how Jews were treated in Muslim societies in the Medieval period.

[jankren]

During the time of David.

[Tajir]

During the time of David.

I was actually wondering about Jewish dominance in a non-Jewish society.

And I don't mean the whole "hidden" power type thing in the West, where Jews are constantly under the threat of White Nationalists seeking to expose some sort of "agenda."

I mean, open, public Jewish prosperity and political involvement where it was safe and encouraged.

The Jews are said to have helped the Muslims build the Andalusian state.

[KingDesra]

Arabs sometimes claim that, as "Semites," they cannot possibly be anti-Semitic. This, however, is a semantic distortion that ignores the reality of Arab discrimination and hostility toward Jews. Arabs, like any other people, can indeed be anti-Semitic.
The term "anti-Semite" was coined in Germany in 1879 by Wilhelm Marr to refer to the anti-Jewish manifestations of the period and to give Jew-hatred a more scientific sounding name.(1) "Anti-Semitism" has been accepted and understood to mean hatred of the Jewish people.
While Jewish communities in Arab and Islamic countries fared better overall than those in Christian lands in Europe, Jews were no strangers to persecution and humiliation among the Arabs and Muslim. As Princeton University historian Bernard Lewis has written: "The Golden Age of equal rights was a myth, and belief in it was a result, more than a cause, of Jewish sympathy for Islam."(2)
Muhammad, the founder of Islam, traveled to Medina in 622 A.D. to attract followers to his new faith. When the Jews of Medina refused to convert and rejected Muhammad, two of the major Jewish tribes were expelled; in 627, Muhammad's followers killed between 600 and 900 of the men, and divided the surviving Jewish women and children amongst themselves.(3)
The Muslim attitude toward Jews is reflected in various verses throughout the Koran, the holy book of the Islamic faith. "They [the Children of Israel] were consigned to humiliation and wretchedness. They brought the wrath of God upon themselves, and this because they used to deny God's signs and kill His Prophets unjustly and because they disobeyed and were transgressors" (Sura 2:61). According to the Koran, the Jews try to introduce corruption (5:64), have always been disobedient (5:78), and are enemies of Allah, the Prophet and the angels (2:97*98).
The Dhimmi

Still, as "People of the Book," Jews (and Christians) are protected under Islamic law. The traditional concept of the "dhimma" ("writ of protection") was extended by Muslim conquerors to Christians and Jews in exchange for their subordination to the Muslims. Peoples subjected to Muslim rule usually had a choice between death and conversion, but Jews and Christians, who adhered to the Scriptures, were allowed as dhimmis (protected persons) to practice their faith. This "protection" did little, however, to insure that Jews and Christians were treated well by the Muslims. On the contrary, an integral aspect of the dhimma was that, being an infidel, he had to openly acknowledge the superiority of the true believer--the Muslim.
In the early years of the Islamic conquest, the "tribute" (or jizya), paid as a yearly poll tax, symbolized the subordination of the dhimmi. Later, the inferior status of Jews and Christians was reinforced through a series of regulations that governed the behavior of the dhimmi. Dhimmis, on pain of death, were forbidden to mock or criticize the Koran, Islam or Muhammad, to proselytize among Muslims or to touch a Muslim woman (though a Muslim man could take a non*Muslim as a wife).
Dhimmis were excluded from public office and armed service, and were forbidden to bear arms. They were not allowed to ride horses or camels, to build synagogues or churches taller than mosques, to construct houses higher than those of Muslims or to drink wine in public. They were not allowed to pray or mourn in loud voices-as that might offend the Muslims. The dhimmi had to show public deference toward Muslims-always yielding them the center of the road. The dhimmi was not allowed to give evidence in court against a Muslim, and his oath was unacceptable in an Islamic court. To defend himself, the dhimmi would have to purchase Muslim witnesses at great expense. This left the dhimmi with little legal recourse when harmed by a Muslim.(4)
Dhimmis were also forced to wear distinctive clothing. In the ninth century, for example, Baghdad's Caliph al-Mutawakkil designated a yellow badge for Jews, setting a precedent that would be followed centuries later in Nazi Germany.(5)
Violence Against Jews

At various times, Jews in Muslim lands were able to live in relative peace and thrive culturally and economically. The position of the Jews was never secure, however, and changes in the political or social climate would often lead to persecution, violence and death. Jews were generally viewed with contempt by their Muslim neighbors; peaceful coexistence between the two groups involved the subordination and degradation of the Jews.
When Jews were perceived as having achieved too comfortable a position in Islamic society, anti-Semitism would surface, often with devastating results: On December 30, 1066, Joseph HaNagid, the Jewish vizier of Granada, Spain, was crucified by an Arab mob that proceeded to raze the Jewish quarter of the city and slaughter its 5,000 inhabitants. The riot was incited by Muslim preachers who had angrily objected to what they saw as inordinate Jewish political power.
Similarly, in 1465, Arab mobs in Fez slaughtered thousands of Jews, leaving only 11 alive, after a Jewish deputy vizier treated a Muslim woman in "an offensive manner." The killings touched off a wave of similar massacres throughout Morocco.(6)
Other mass murders of Jews in Arab lands occurred in Morocco in the 8th century, where whole communities were wiped out by Muslim ruler Idris I; North Africa in the 12th century, where the Almohads either forcibly converted or decimated several communities; Libya in 1785, where Ali Burzi Pasha murdered hundreds of Jews; Algiers, where Jews were massacred in 1805, 1815 and 1830 and Marrakesh, Morocco, where more than 300 hundred Jews were murdered between 1864 and 1880.(7)
Decrees ordering the destruction of synagogues were enacted in Egypt and Syria (1014, 1293-4, 1301-2), Iraq (854-859, 1344) and Yemen (1676). Despite the Koran's prohibition, Jews were forced to convert to Islam or face death in Yemen (1165 and 1678), Morocco (1275, 1465 and 1790-92) and Baghdad (1333 and 1344).(8)
As distinguished Orientalist G.E. von Grunebaum has written:

It would not be difficult to put together the names of a very sizeable number of Jewish subjects or citizens of the Islamic area who have attained to high rank, to power, to great financial influence, to significant and recognized intellectual attainment; and the same could be done for Christians. But it would again not be difficult to compile a lengthy list of persecutions, arbitrary confiscations, attempted forced conversions, or pogroms.(9)

The situation of Jews in Arab lands reached a low point in the 19th century. Jews in most of North Africa (including Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Morocco) were forced to live in ghettos. In Morocco, which contained the largest Jewish community in the Islamic Diaspora, Jews were made to walk barefoot or wear shoes of straw when outside the ghetto. Even Muslim children participated in the degradation of Jews, by throwing stones at them or harassing them in other ways. The frequency of anti-Jewish violence increased, and many Jews were executed on charges of apostasy. Ritual murder accusations against the Jews became commonplace in the Ottoman Empire.(10)
By the twentieth century, the status of the dhimmi in Muslim lands had not significantly improved. H.E.W. Young, British Vice Consul in Mosul, wrote in 1909:

The attitude of the Muslims toward the Christians and the Jews is that of a master towards slaves, whom he treats with a certain lordly tolerance so long as they keep their place. Any sign of pretension to equality is promptly repressed.(11)

The danger for Jews became even greater as a showdown approached in the UN over partition in 1947. The Syrian delegate, Faris el-Khouri, warned: "Unless the Palestine problem is settled, we shall have difficulty in protecting and safeguarding the Jews in the Arab world."(12)
More than a thousand Jews were killed in anti-Jewish rioting during the 1940's in Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Syria and Yemen.(13) This helped trigger the mass exodus of Jews from Arab countries.
Notes

[Tajir]

Desra,

Interesting post. I just discovered the Jewish Virtual Library, lots of interesting stuff.

This part especially reminded me of the cross-societal Jewish persecutions throughout history:

At various times, Jews in Muslim lands were able to live in relative peace and thrive culturally and economically. The position of the Jews was never secure, however, and changes in the political or social climate would often lead to persecution, violence and death. Jews were generally viewed with contempt by their Muslim neighbors; peaceful coexistence between the two groups involved the subordination and degradation of the Jews.

When Jews were perceived as having achieved too comfortable a position in Islamic society, anti-Semitism would surface, often with devastating results: On December 30, 1066, Joseph HaNagid, the Jewish vizier of Granada, Spain, was crucified by an Arab mob that proceeded to raze the Jewish quarter of the city and slaughter its 5,000 inhabitants. The riot was incited by Muslim preachers who had angrily objected to what they saw as inordinate Jewish political power.

I wonder, however, if Muslims ever collectively, not locally or tribally, attacked Jews? Like the inquisition. Maybe the inquisition was just a rare occurrence, maybe there is more.

[Kiljan Arslan]

Wow someone here dosn't like muslims, and no they arn't anti semetic they are anti jewish, but that dosn't mena they are anti semetic.

[PointOfViewGun]

I might say Ottoman Empire. There are few times that the Ottoman Empire acted as a protector for the Jews that were running away from the European countries.

[roy34543]

Id have to say that "equality" is a very broad term in any case since jews were degraded in the medieval ages in general, but the time it happened least is definatly under spanish muslim rule.
A similar time of course, occured in the khazar empire i suppose. since the nobility converted to judaisim .
I think that they were nearly equal in most of italy, There they were probably just seen as rivals.

[jankren]

I think Jews kinda prospered in the Persian Empire.

[Heinz Guderian]

I think Jews kinda prospered in the Persian Empire.

Iran has the third largest Jewish population in the world even now.

[Ummon]

Shrinking fast, currently.

[Heinz Guderian]

Shrinking fast, currently.

why do you say that my italian brother?

[Blau&Gruen]

The Golden Age if you want so was the european jewish emancipation, which started slowely in the 18th century. The best years were maybe those before the first World War, when Jews saw themselves accepted and more or less equally treated. After the first World War this changed within two decades for a majority of the european Jews.

[cegorach]

Was there another time when Jews flourished so publicly and so powerfully in a non-Jewish state? The closest example is the current USA, but most Jews have become too assimilated, either out of fear, or through time.

Any other times in history?

I'm interested in how Jews were treated in Muslim societies in the Medieval period.

The obvious example is Poland to the end of the First Republic ( 1795) - there was even the Jewish Parlament (Council of Four Lands - Va'ad) and most of more modern Jewish religious movements was born out there.

To the XIXth century 3/4ths of all Jews in the world (or at least in Europe because it is too hard to measure the numbers in places like the Ottoman Empire) live there.

Ignoring that community is rather... suprising to say the least.:hmmm:

[Ummon]

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/.../iranjews.html

1948 Jewish population: 100,000
2004: ~25,000

Like Zoroastrians, they aren't exactly welcome.

[Heinz Guderian]

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/.../iranjews.html



Like Zoroastrians, they aren't exactly welcome.

But isnt that the same trend for jews in maroc, rus, and many other countries? The fact that Iran allows for them to migrate to Israel is a good thing right?

[Ummon]

The fact that they are allowed to migrate to Israel would be good if that didn't require land in Palestine to be destined to colonists, and then this caused conflict with Palestinians which is in turn bankrolled by Iran...

[Heinz Guderian]

The fact that they are allowed to migrate to Israel would be good if that didn't require land in Palestine to be destined to colonists, and then this caused conflict with Palestinians which is then bankrolled by Iran...

I think Iran should be proud of its Jewish community (who have been there long before the arrival if Islam) and try to persuade the oldest diaspora without intimidation to stay. As for the bankrolling by iran: millions for palestinians compared to billions for Israel from america is another argument.

[Ummon]

The sums payed weren't exactly part of the argument. Fact remains that there is only one Jewish nation on earth, and muslims, instead of giving help and land to their coreligionaries ousted by Israelis, are fueling a conflict with Israel.

This is implicit in the law of Islam, that no piece of the Umma can be given back to those it has been taken from. One of the many bad features Islam is designed with, more worried with a theoric sense of retribution than peace.

[Heinz Guderian]

The sums payed weren't exactly part of the argument. Fact remains that there is only one Jewish nation on earth, and muslims, instead of giving help and land to their coreligionaries ousted by Israelis, are fueling a conflict with Israel.

This is implicit in the law of Islam, that no piece of the Umma can be given back to those it has been taken from. One of the many bad features Islam is designed with, more worried with a theoric sense of retribution than peace.

In that case, with the current continuing support of the West, and the total disregard of Palestinian muslim and christian rights, i say the Golden Age is now.