Between Influence and Authority: the Rabbinate of the Seventeenth Century Portuguese Jewish Community of Amsterdam by Joseph

CEU eTD Collection Second Reader: Professor L.Supervisor: Professor Wilke Carsten Between Influence and Authority In fulfillmen partial Michael L.Michael Miller Jewish Community Jewish of Amsterdam Jewish Studies SpecializationJewish Central European University :

T History Department Budapest, Hungary t of the requirements fort ofthe thedegree of he RabbinatethePortuguese SeventeenthCentury of

Master of Arts Submitted to Submitted Joseph Dana Joseph

2010 By

CEU eTD Collection not be made without the wr not bemade the without made copies Further made. copies such any of part a form must page This librarian. the from obtained be may Details Library.in European Central the lodged and Author the by given instructions the with accordance in only made be may part, eith process, anyby Copies Author. the with rests thesis this of text the in Copyright itten permission of the Author. permissionitten ofthe in accordance with such instructions may may instructions such with accordance in

er in full or full in er CEU eTD Collection spaceand betweenauthorit influence to the internalin the Amsterdam shown confusion itis rabbinate, reveal theology,issues ofJewish specifically theimmortality sou of the c a community intransition. primary and secondary sources identity despiteconfu internal referredasI theNação (Nation). to argue is notablefor the community rabbinic fromand the perspectiveofcommunalh analyzesThis thesis century therabbinate Amsterdam ofthe seventeenth onverso interaction issueand the position of therabbiposition in

confusion

among rabbis mixture ofPortuguese identitymixture and Jewish which created Discussi Amsterdam was centralized not sion on issue sion on , regarding

I rabbinate in as describe aninstitution the transition working between the rabbinate andbetween therabbinate on of thehistoricalcommunity foundation of the y community. insidethe the creation of creation the that s

regarding law, behaviorand Jewish theology. Abstract the rabbinatea wasvehicle

official positions of therabbinate.official of positions . Internal the lay leadership the lay leadership istory. l and the role ofl andthe Kabbalah, role that

rabbinic argumentsrabbinic about The Amsterdam community the rabbis ina existed Portuguese Portuguese for regulationfor an ethnic identity demonstrate , the Jewish Jewish

of this Usin Due Due

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for for g CEU eTD Collection Bibliography Conclusion intellectual lifestyle: The Sermon and the Theological Debates studiesCase that demonstrate rabbinic placement incommunal coherence and issues regarding Jewish From Converso Identity to a Problematic Communal and Doctrinal Cohesion Rabbi’sThe Placein Community Self InstitutionalThe Traditions and Responsibilities of the Sephardi Rabbinate Introduction Theological Debates SermonThe ConversoThe Issue Interaction with the Mahamad Community Government Negative Reactions against the Rabbinate RabbisThe Seventeenthof Century Amsterdam UnitedThe Kahal Kados de Talmud Torah ThreeThe Commu EarlyThe Community Amsterdam Secular Culture Rabbinic Duties and the Courts Contract Rabbinic Ordination TorahThe Teacher

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CEU eTD Collection invaluable d knowledgethesis. His the Amsterdam of and proved community thescholarship available 1 the first „modern‟ Je residents ofthecity as as theargument Portuguese community well Jewish thatthe one was of the field studies of Jewish strange dueof theAmsterdam tothe position comm scholarship. although t Amsterdam produced employed and rabbis number aof public intellectual borrowing othe elements from However, t Iberianwith intellectualthe cultureexclusivityand identity. in Jewish ofPortuguese Peninsula, Nação best is understood politics identity as a an agendaaddressingthe complexity for „belonging tothe persecution Membershipconversion. community inthis and e was an identity onshared based thatwas government all aspects that controlled behavior. ofsocial t time, specific identities The early inJewish period modern In

Iwould like to troduction he Amsterdam community he office of the rabbi the he hasneverbeenowninthe treatedasofits office of aninstitution he Amsterdam uring myresearch. That factthat the rabbinate has thank Professorhis guidance Carsten forin the writing Wilke and support ofthis Nação . through 1

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Robert Bonfil, Meir Benayahu, Jewish civilization, 1993),Jewish or over the content theof hissermons. over –

and titles”. kindred Rabbis and Jewish communities inRenaissanceRabbis and Italy not haveTorah any the authority over abbinatebecame thus an internationalcollective ofrabbis travel

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hakham A concise of history the rabbinate ,

Torah (Hebrew) Torah creating a resume of work throughout the Jewish world. While this this world. throughout work While resumecreating a of the Jewish 156. See also Ibid, Ch. 6,Sect.Ibid,156. See 4. also Ch.

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Robert Bonfil, Ibid, Ibid,

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Talmid HakhamTalmid Simon Schwarzfuchs,Simon

17 Rabbis and Jewish communities inRenaissanceRabbis and Italy fore capable

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This case tookplaceinSalonika. Ibid, Ibid, Ibid, 19 65. 20. 29.

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(Berkeley:2000), University ofCaliforniaPress,

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kabbalist

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Dutch ial Odette CEU eTD Collection found onpage 105 Portugue Portuguese of Amsterdam community in Jewish 33 withher fellow coJudaism NunesLondon luxury prestige alife and Nunes in of wanted rejected itasshe toreturn but to event and spread, Nunes, officersEnglish one ofthe smitten became A shipcarryi of Amsterdam delTriumpho Govierno Popular LeviDanielBarrios li his de in of Uriand sonAaron. his Halevi grandfather‟ssharedname, ofthe composed foundation his based events a ontestimonies version Uri origin HaleviAshkenazi ofcontroversy. was becamegrandson, a Halevi‟s of point Uri who „fixed‟ identity and parameters from which collective ofbehavior historywere fact that clear, the of the community.the community itself,became Once organized established and stronger a the scarce thatexists. details myths the invite todraw suggestivehistorian are and whichever he conclusion might from desire that show There mythsarefoundation regarding the two rabbis therewritingAmsterdam‟s in of early history. rejudaize optto did not

H.P. Salomon hasH.P. Salomon analyzed documents all extant regarding oftheearly foundations the se studies

how the of Portugueseunderstood Amsterdam Jews their place ng Nunes and a group of other conversos was a conversos stopped groupby and ofother Uponseeingng English. Nunes the with the story of MariaNunes,with the story of the Queen summoned her. The Queen,the Queen her. summoned The struck beauty as by her well, -

108. (Braga: Barbosa &(Braga: Barbosa

themselves Amsterdam uponarrival in

- religionists inAmsterdam.religionists Eventually,Nunes arrived in Maria

terary society ofJewish account inAmsterdam, historical De Barrios‟sDe account

(Triumph ofPopular Government)

Xavier, 1991). 1991). Xavier,

a beautiful conversaento Northerna route beautiful Europe. foundation foundation 21 H. P.Salomon,

and

confirm

His treatmentDe oftheBarrios accountis asked her hand in marriage.asked hand her in of Jewish settlementJewish s

that Uri was Halevi thefirst rabbi .

There was directThere was participation by

Deux études portugaises/ Two Deux Two portugaises/ études

begins the Jewish settlement theJewish begins . Both ofthe. Both foundation

in Amsterdam News of the

offered

CEU eTD Collection which is the minimum numberwhich istheminimum requireda thatis for Jewi 35 Fundação Centr Calouste Gulbenkian, 34 place, where religious Uri Amsterdam, Halevihim to tofollow conviction. thenadvised amore them tolerant them toeat. began withtheir This Jewish discussion neighbor a and they revealed there true andone when they had the he seen brought bringingrecently aforhouse. Theya slaughtered duck aduck thenaskedhim into Jew‟s toeat, a Hebrew door. inscriptionits above PortugueseNew Christians tella storytestimonies howtwoshipsoriginatingIberian and of inthe carry Peninsula conversos part second andconsistsoftwo from testimonials the Uri Halevi andAaron two parts; the firstcomment UriHalevi‟sto part onhowhe details brought Judaism The text, Uri Halevi community Jewish Ashkenazi back playedHalevi, rabbi theAshkenazi creation of thecommunity inthe isdo choosing despite toJudaism offers toreturn resettlement ot in of This mythheroismcenters oftheconversosfleeing ontheIberian Portuguese the and Peninsula of dedication to Judaism the early Judaism. immigrants converso to AmsterdamIberian along withother familythe from members Peni

H. P.Salomon, Incidentally, notesthattenmen Salomon are Jews” “Iberian ontheship reported been tohave Memoria Futuros ParaosSiglos ‟s grandson another‟s abouttheearly wrote text daysAmsterdamcommunity. ofthe he circumcised them. he ground avoided.Barrios De is

Portrait FernãoPortrait of anewChristian, Álvares Melo, 1569 ‟s history.

arrived in

Theauthorities were Dutchalerted presence Jews tothe ofthe 35

Emden and found accommodaand Emden o Cultural Portugués, 198 Upon arrival, thetravelers exhausted (The Memoirfor toCome)of consists theCenturies , refusing it on the pretext that it, refusing was onthepretext it fatty too for tried to tried 22

minimize any influence Ashkenazi onthe sh quorumforIbid, prayer. 2), 2), her localities. The role that Uri 109. nsula.

tion near a near tion

wnplayed and his The story the shows - 1632 saw their host saw

house which hadhouse

(Paris: Portuguese 116. . ing 34

The

CEU eTD Collection connection Yaakov ismentioned only toBeit briefly. Thismay tothe be controversy due that curious thatthey are referred connection to the Neve toin and their congregation Shalom on thevirtue and piety 38 way.”Ibid,this fictional. thereason is why This all convincing really it isthemost theduck that proof main purpose explain is to theorigin at Amsterdam; if,thatth ofJudaism is, 37 studies commandments.” They theorderfixed ofand and prayerstheregulations taught them howtoobserve God‟s Halevi] their 36 from 1684 Isaacon thevalidity storyAboabfoundation Uri ofthe commented Ha of Amsterdam communityLara century. throughoutCohen thede seventeenth RabbiDavid and true account notesthattheH.P. Salomon manyinthe story inconsistencies validity its to lendweight performed onall ofthecircumcision menand boys. them inSpanish. required wasandthe author‟s able Halevi,who Spanish Aaron tospeak father, tospeak with new Portuguese communityAmsterdam. Jewish of them.Uri tookthejoin place Halevi then of permissionstay to Jews moreIberian Amsterdam families whichsingled in fromto Peninsula the would bring tothegreat city Uponreview, ofAmsterdam. benefit granted themagistrates the goodmade for economicexistence thecitycontinued inth and sense their in the cityraided and the

Salomon includesSalomon reproductions ofthe relevant Hebrew lettersbothrabbis inwhichcomment arguesSalomon for that,“there structuralnecessity isno inastory theduck‟spresence whose The wasgrandfather testimony“My their [Uri Halevi] states,

(Braga: . 38 .

37 hazan In p is fact, it

Reproductions oftheReproductions testi 118. Barbosa &Barbosa 1991), Xavier,

Uri and A Quoted in H. P. Salomon, inH.P. Quoted . They performed circumcision and were the authors of this Congregation.. They this andcircumcision wereperformed theauthors of

of the Uri and Aaron Halevi ofthe theUri Neve andof Halevi It Aaron congregation. Shalom is ir

ossible thatossible Lara RabbiDavid the Cohende firstbe to wasof one house. explainedtothe Thecity thattheir presence Jews magistrates aron inthecommunity Halevialsorole of functioned leaders and

mony of the youngermony Haleviinthe ofthe Uri remained

115.

Hakha Deux ét

m andhissonAaron the became h The travelers didnotspeak anyand Hebrew 36 udes portugaises/ Two udes Two portugaises/ Portuguese

Hakham

and myand father[Aaron levi in documents in dated levi e municipal boundaries e story isindeed azen of the

happened

as the as the CEU eTD Collection Fundação Centro Cultural Calouste Gulbenkian, Portugués,147. 1982), 40 1991), 39 below. arose Uri Halevi and sonAaron. his whoCosta, became Tirado Jacob Yaakov ofJacob) (House A TheThree Communities carried.that it information and Amsterdam uponarrival. opted for Judaism Uritestimony corroborate Halevi‟s does this not argues Portuguese Barrios toshowthat thatDe allofthe immigrants thatarrived wanted in of Portuguesethat Jews history oftestimonies Urias Halevi andAaron todrawof not Amsterdam light version so this to Jewish and howmany inAmsterdam. De thisreason, didnot For Barr The first part of scholar. LaraCohen de for histestimonyinternational tothegreat rabbis‟ as due a reputation rabbinic notes thattheregrandson,Halevi, iseveryreasonbelievetheapproachedDavid to thatUri circumcised Haleviduetothefact by Uri died at thattheone heageseventy in1673.Salomon of

H. P.Salomon, H. P.Salomon, congregation of Jews began in the early yearscongregation began of Jews theseventeenth inthe early of centurybyBeit of thename

regarding ofin1639 whichwill behandled theunification congregation indetail 146. . Ibid, 131 De BarriosyoungerDe largely the theaccountignored ofUri Halevi

39 .

- Futuros ParaosSiglos Memoria was 132.

Portrait Portrait of anewChristian, PortugueseDeux Two portugaises/ études studies

purposely ignored despite the official approval of senior rabbinicapprovalpurposely official despite figures ignored the ofsenior

which was

tried to crea 40

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name te in the minds ofhisreaders. persuasively H.P. Salomon te intheminds

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Fernão Álvares Melo, 1569 24

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Barbosa &Barbosa Xavier,

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Salomon notesthatthe arrivalSalomon and of Samuel Palache Joseph had an ofMorocco impact onthe Ibid,149 were familiar with Jewish prayerwith Jewish familiarwere and communi Hebrew, the

ter of the religious institutions in the religious of in the ter a city.As early institutions Portugueseas 1604, they were ableofrabbinic notrequiretheyform toexcessivedid were a authority that th

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CEU eTD Collection History ofHistory DutchJewry 44 Jews""new Leviand Saul Mortera, himself as inwhichthe a„Jew,‟name of a word specifically Portugal frequently Even presented themselves… [here inSpain Iberian meaning and Peninsula, the people names, proclaim usedhe in Jewish his toconcealwould their yearswent, During uponhim. the firstwas God‟s (Holland), name invoked land when inthis authority 43 andProtestant Catholic Europe Arenal of Samuel Palacheand connections his theAmsterdam to community see Fundação Cent Calouste Gulbenkian, in 1622. documents left serious thata Venice showPardo statedebt. of in community from inAmsterdam the EasternBena Mediterranean. Meir Pardo of VeniceRabbi Joseph congregation.was toleadrabbi Pardo their thefirst of Jewish IsaacInresponseemployment totheFez, Yaakov rabbi Beit of oftheSephardi Uziel sought which created a inthe community split thatultimatelyresulted ofBeitIsrae inthe creation Amsterdam.Farrar, a David parnasbegan and physician, rabbinate authority toattack ofthe the was founded in1618. In NeveandBeitaddition to congregationIsrael Beit Shalom Yaakov, aIsrael) third (House of life inAmsterdamJewish more Sephardi religious. butalso a conservative stand The rabbis mostly brought from landstolead approached Muslim Neve Shalom life from Jewish

Meir Benayahu,"Joseph Pardo David Farrarwashigh in community esteemby held his and Gerard Albert Wiegers,Gerard Albert and H. P.Salomon . On the occasion of hisdeath, of . Onthe occasion

(Cincinnati: Hebrew point. point. -

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, vol. 5 (Jerusalem: Institutevol. 5(Jerusalem: , Jewry, forDutch Research 1984 on , Exil

Portrait ofanewChristian,Portrait Fernão Álvares 1569 Melo, T e in Amsterdam: Saul Levie inAmsterdam:Morte Saul he creation of represented Neve Shalom attempt tomake notonlyan

(Baltimore: HopkinsUniversity Johns 2003) Press,

- Union College Press, 2005),

the First RabbiofAmsthe First

A man of three worlds: Samuel worlds: A man Pallache, ofthree aMoroccanJew in ro Cultural Portugués, 1982), Rabbi

Saul LeviSaul “Wherever Farrar, he Mortera saidof 26 God is contained.” is in God Quoted

terdam (Hebrew),"in

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Daniel Swetschinski, OdetteLight Vlessing, "New History onthe Earliest AmsterdamPortuguese of Jews," Dutch Proceeding Jewish History: ly

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they

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of the Fifth Symposiumof the Fifth onthe of History the Jews inthe ent of the debt. It entPardo unlikelycould ofthedebt. seems be that f Jewish Civilization, 2000), Civilization, f Jewish i ssue

congregation employedcongregation ownr its

of financial bankruptcy. Itof financialbankruptcy. clear is a fight thatfor 45 27

affected areas of education asaffected areas as the well of .

Odette Vlessing notes that, “Pardo VlessingOdette notesthat,“Pardo 46 al problems if it was ifit to not al problems

Educational andcharity 176.

abbi (Hakham)who lthough ), 47. -

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CEU eTD Collection 48 imposta Je 47 ofthedimensions unification worshipersentitled topray and inthe synagogue.Daniel Swetschinski KahalAll Jewish men of Kados.theNação inthecommunity were included with rights as The agreement thatprovisions Ashkenazi included unification KadosAmsterdamcreated. and Talmud Tora theKahal was of oneinto single On3April authority. Yaak Ouderkerk Amsterdam near the city of The kept the inside co collect for taxes Ams creation of the to enablebenefit Jewis and us[the ofthe nation collection boardtax called a Before i theunification, TheUnited Kahal KadosdeTalmud Torah considerations congregations.collectiveIssues existence of Jewish ritu such as

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board

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terms ax revenue, levied on imports and exports, could revenue, be exports, ax levied and onimports of agreementof that would 28

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the 1620‟s and

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control control

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parnas

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from Dutch Dutch from and one treasure t to choose rabbis chooset to

that were

CEU eTD Collection Saul LeviSaul Isaac Mortera, R. RafealFaar AboabR.Moses Yitzhaq Fonseca, R. Aguilar, de de and I David R. Pardo, beginning ofthecentury UriR. Aaron seventeenth Halevi tothe end; (and Halevi), R. son his 52 192. number oncommunity offines levied memb were board was notasa seen anobligation. privilegeBy the but theend seventeenth a of century, 51 rabbinate inthe K TheRabbis of rabbisindividual reflect at once directives. governanceof social clearlycharacter definetheNação Portug of version of Judaism decisions ofsocial T control. Despite themahamadcontinually lendreligious this, to rabbis used tothe the rationale The rabbinic Jews. yetseventeenth being Kahal a without forced century ofthe not member uponindividual was it Itthe state. would have been theOttoman in association contexts unlikeEmpire Jewish no parallel the contemporary in world.

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Century Amsterdam

y to were seen 51 The community rabbis began serve to by hiringoutside

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Familia, religión ynegocioFamilia, religión en entrerelaciones las el :el mundo sefardismo

, like many Amsterdamrabbis, , like other 56

France

Ibid, 275 e famous most rabbi ofconverso educated in Amsterdam and excelled primaryeducated inhis inAmsterdamand and secondary school Jaime Contreras,Jaime Bernardo García,and García Serrano José. Juan , following a common converso route away from the Iberian converso, following a the away common route from

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Dicionário do judaísmo português Dicionário dojudaísmo (J erusalem: Yad VaShem, 1986),

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es foundinmany libraries Amsterdamrabbis‟ personal d

in Europe high in Europe

Iberian Peninsula Familia, religión ynegocioFamilia, religión en las :el sefardismo ad educateduniversities been inChristian while living maintained 36

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Kaplan, "TheCommunityKaplan, ofAmsterdam the17thCentury Portuguese in Between

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Society andCommunity: Proceedings ofthe International Second

Christian in the Iberian inthe Christian and Peninsula inaChristian educated

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Farrar‟s Farrar‟s 37

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Spinoza was born inAmsterdam was Spinoza born to

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Daniel Swetschinski, Ibid, examininggrant hischanges, may one permission. him Iaddressesknown persons.and thatthe particular think placesthat insome exceedsother he allboundsofmodesty and and propriety in not tolerate tobe saidinjesttruth,are things which,ifFurthermore, saidin socriminal. attributes divinityI (albeit forreasons). tothem poetic am ofth in publishing theme concernsand amorous lascivious any verses justification would that little have Jew Apolo Magnificos Senhores 244.

(London: LittmanLibrary(London: of , composed by deBarrios, inwhich Miguel -

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Harmonia del Mundo Harmonia Jewish Civilization, 2000), Civilization, Jewish

[the mahamad] [the 39 The rabbis were given of rabbis The position were the

- not to mentionthe factnot to that its

I entitled examineda book, 72 73 , with its Sabbatean, withits un se need corrected.On tobe

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were criticism from thefirst of target ithin the ithin CEU eTD Collection Portuguese Community," onthe Jewish Jews 74 themes, and verses dedicatedtomenof rank.” butincludingand outstanding numerous personalities, digressions onreligious andmoral “dealing withthe mainly Amsterdam Portuguese ofthemotivations Amsterdam community. Jewish Miguel Commun identity willbereviewed thedutiesof to ofAmsterdamtherabbis. Jews inrelation largercontemporary picture ofemulationsrepublic. ofthe biblical those disagreements.It wil infiltrated the tothe dismay community leadership.analyze ofthewill lay Thischapter one of about keyreligious issues ofJewish and which philosophy occasionally lawrabbis between the life religious rabbiscommunity The the observance. of toestablish were used centered ontheethnicNação the superiority collective of whilemaintain identity of acceptable Jewish the community matters of authority a The S Converso

tructure Miriam"Biblical Hebrews Bodian, ofand theRhetoric Republicanism: S

through and publicpersonal intellect sermons their mahamad

de Barrios‟de ity Government ity

of the unified Portuguese ofAmsterdam the control Jewish unified complete overof exercised

because the of Community Jewish Amsterdam Identity and and Identity

introduction to his tohis introduction

lifestyle nd social behavior. The issue ofsocial behavior. behavior issue significancend social special The for had

many and unclear were toJudaism members returning of theparameters l alsodiscuss the nature communal ofthe government Jewish the in .

The

mahamad mahamad the Triumpho Triumpho del govierno popular

Rabbis P Rabbis

fixed a Portuguese clear ethnic of fixed identity AJS Review AJS 74 41

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Miriam ual pursuits. lace in the lace in

22, no.2(1997).

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Jews Jews that CEU eTD Collection Jewish Quarterly Review 76 75 writes pres historyBarrios at looks Jewish categoriesgovernance throughas theAristotelian away of of aristocracy andof finally such Joshua as those The first were themonarchie The biblical work government argues details and structures thatthereare threemaincategories. “political” andcommunity ona thattheAmsterdam wanted Jewish “republic”. tomodelitself leadersunderstandappreci communal thathis would

Kenneth Scholenberg, "Miguel R. Barriosthe AmsterdamCommunity," de and Sephardi Ibid, enting the Jews asenting theJews having theabilitytobemodern based history. ontheir

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Sanhedrin three and the others

bers of the 76

gabay

, the Mahamad. Mahamad.

53, n or treasurer, held office for a yearfor andor held treasurer, nopay their a received office for Mahamad s such as those run by David, Saul and Solomon. Therun by andSolomon. seconds suchasSaul David, thosewas o. 2(October 1962), gabay These seven officials, six ofwhom wereThesesix officials, seven called

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teacher , ed. R.G.Fuks pan ofroughly ommunities”

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Evidence against ofnegative therabbinate are reactions found in See footno EvelynOleil mahamad e de la tradition fait de latransmissiondujudaïsmequiincombee aux traditionune fait de véritablemission, la 314.

Transmission etpassagesen mondeTransmission juif

viewed rabbinate as influenceand having the significant authority, which served the te 57

contro - Grausz contextualizes the position of theposition Grausz contextualizes the rabbi withthe mahamad relation in

lled all social behaviorlled society. inAmsterdam mahamad 81

The image ofthe authority as inthe mahamad thesole

was the sole authoritywas whichinteract right to with thesolehad the ctual output, andaddress concernsctual of output, the specific the un rôle fundamental” ascamot 44

, ed. Esther Benbass ) as well as - portugaises, les rabbins etleursrabbins portugaises, les 79

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The maamad a ([Paris]: Publisud, ([Paris]: a y de Hambourg, duSud Some Some

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Simon SchwarzfuchsSimon notes thatrabbinatec on 21JulyYosef Kaplan notesthathad 1670,themahamad all Ibid, The History ofThe History the Jews intheNetherlands affirmation ofthe rabbinate 137.

From Christianity to Judaism: the story of Isaac toJudaism:Orobio de thestoryof Castro From Christianity

(head of ofthe educationinstitution) the Kahal Tora. de Talmud Kados of the rabbinate s a senior s asenior

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