[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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