The Review of Rabbinic Judaism 21 (2018) 108–133 brill.com/rrj “I bear the burden of treating the gentiles”: Jewish Halakhic Authorities’ Attitudes towards Treating Muslims in the 12th–18th Centuries Abraham Ofir Shemesh Ariel University, P.O.B. 3, Ariel, 40700, Israel
[email protected] Abstract The paper focuses on the religious, social, and historical aspects of the ancient Jewish prohibition against treating non-Jews. It discusses the attitude of rabbinic authorities towards providing medical service to Muslims in medieval and pre-modern times. It points out that circumstances did not enable the public to fulfill these instructions to the letter, and therefore many halakhic authorities in the post-Talmudic period dispensed with the prohibition almost completely. The question of treating Muslims was discussed by halakhic authorities in both Christian and Muslim countries. Stricter views were voiced concerning the treatment of Christians, but the dispensation to treat Muslims and deliver their babies was more pronounced. Halakhic authorities claimed that the original prohibition regarded idolaters, while Muslims do not engage in idolatry. Another major claim supporting the concession was a concern for animos- ity and harassment within the non-Jewish environment. Keywords Maimonides – Baruch Harofe – Ḥekim Yakub – idolaters – halakhic authorities – Jews treating non-Jews The physician-patient relationship is the basis of all medical systems, and it is inherent in all enduring human societies. Such interpersonal relationships have social significance as well, as they create an essential point of conver- gence between people who belong to diverse faiths and cultures, which are © koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2018 | doi 10.1163/15700704-12341339Downloaded from Brill.com09/26/2021 12:30:07PM via free access “I bear the burden of treating the gentiles” 109 sometimes rival and hostile.