[Avodah] Bene Israel of India

David Riceman driceman at optimum.net
Fri Jun 1 09:18:08 PDT 2012


RZS:
> Provence counts as Ashkenaz (as opposed to Sefarad), just as France does.
> The line between A and S seems to correspond to that between Christendom
> and Dar-al-Islam.  Communication within each empire was easier than with
> each other.  When Spain became Xian its Jews might eventually have merged
> with Ashkenazim, but soon after there were no Jews there.
>
>
This is thoroughly anachronistic.  Provencal Jewry viewed itself as 
independent until its culture petered out in the aftermath of the 
Albigensian crusade.  For the Raavad in particular see Rabbi Twersky's 
biography, pp. 19-29, and see chapter 3 of Professor Ta Shma's biography 
of R. Zerahia HaLevi.  IIRC Professor Katz wrote something similar about 
the Meiri, but I don't have a copy available.

For a contemporary analogue see what happens if you describe a Teimani 
as Sefaradi.

The claim about Spain is also outrageous.  Ramban, Rashba, the Ran, all 
were Sephardic poskim who lived in Christian Spain and who defended 
Sephardic traditions against Ashkenazic incursions.  Not only did the 
cultures not merge in 300 years, but, numerically, we Ashkenazim were a 
small minority compared to Spanish Jews.

David Riceman




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