Judaism on Trial
Jewish-Christian Disputations in the Middle
Ages
'A
superb work of committed scholarship . . . a work full of interest to
those already familiar with the material it contains, and compelling reading
for those who are not. Maccoby has done a fine job in recapturing the
intellectual and social drama of the confrontations.'
Jonathan Sacks, Jewish Journal of Sociology
Hyam Maccoby's now classic study focuses on the major Jewish-Christian disputations of medieval Europe: those of Paris (1240), Barcelona (1263), and Tortosa (1413-14).
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'A classic text . . . When the book first appeared in 1982 it received much
praise, and it certainly deserves the new paperback edition which has now been
brought out.'
European Judaism
'For those coming to this book for the first time, Judaism on Trial is a
fascinating and gripping account; for students, it has enough material to bear
re-reading and studying in depth. Its strength is not only that it is a most
scholastic and erudite work, but that it makes compulsive reading.'
Alan Orchover, Jewish Book News & Reviews
'Prefaced by a most competent introduction . . . should be obligatory reading
for both the student of Jewish history and the intelligent layman not only because
of its literary and expositional merits, which are considerable, but because
it highlights an important stratagem of the medieval Church in its attempts
to convert contemporary Jewry to the dominant faith.'
Sydney Leperer, Le'ela
Hyam Maccoby's now classic study, originally published in 1982, focuses on the major Jewish-Christian disputations of medieval Europe: those of Paris (1240), Barcelona (1263), and Tortosa (1413-14). It examines the content of these theological confrontations with a sense of present-day relevance, while also discussing the use made of scriptural proof-texts. Part I provides a general thematic consideration of the three disputations and their social and historical background. Part II is a complete translation of the account of the Barcelona Disputation written by Nahmanides, one of the greatest figures in the history of Jewish learning, who was Jewish spokesman at the disputation. Part III contains Jewish and Christian accounts of the Paris and Tortosa disputations.
A new introduction reviews the relevant literature that has been published since the original edition appeared.
About the author
The late Hyam Maccoby was Emeritus Fellow of the Leo Baeck College, London, and Research Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Leeds from 1998 until his death. He published many books and articles on rabbinic literature, Jewish‹Christian relations, Christian origins, and the origins of antisemitism. Among his writings are Revolution in Judaea (1980), The Sacred Executioner (1982), The Mythmaker (1986, second edition 1998), Early Rabbinic Writings (1988), Judas Iscariot and the Myth of Jewish Evil (1992), awarded the Wingate Prize, A Pariah People: The Anthropology of Antisemitism (1996), and Ritual and Morality: The Ritual Purity System and its Place in Judaism (1999).
Contents
Introduction to the paperback edition
Additional bibliography
List of abbreviations
Introduction
Part 1 The Three Disputations: General Considerations
1 The Paris Disputation, 1240 2 The Barcelona Disputation, 1263
3 The Vikuah: Textual Considerations 4 Biographical Notes on the Chief
Persons Present at Barcelona 5 The Tortosa Disputation, 1413-14
Part 2 The Barcelona Disputation: Texts
6 Introductory Note on the Vikuah 7 The Vikuah of Nahmanides:
Translation and Commentary 8 The Christian Account of the Barcelona Disputation
Part 3 The Paris and Tortosa Disputations: Texts
9 The Vikuah of R. Yehiel of Paris: A Paraphrase 10 The Christian Account
of the Paris Disputation 11 A Hebrew Account of the Tortosa Disputation 12 The
Christian Account of the Tortosa Disputation
Notes
Bibliography
General index
Index of quotations
Reviews
'A classic text of three famous disputations . . . When the book first appeared
in 1982 it received much praise, and it certainly deserves the new paperback
edition which has now been brought out.'
European Judaism
'For those coming to this book for the first time, Judaism on Trial is
a fascinating and gripping account; for students, it has enough material to
bear re-reading and studying in depth. Its strength is not only that it is a
most scholastic and erudite work, but that it makes compulsive reading. We await
his further works with anticipation and excitement.'
Alan Orchover, Jewish Book News & Reviews
'Maccoby has rendered an important service in making their salient features
available in English. ... certainly not only for scholars in that Maccoby has
blended this learning with an exposition of the issues involved that is accessible
to the layman. Both Jew and Christian will learn much from the records of these
confrontations, which are important in Jewish history.'
Lionel Kochan, Jewish Chronicle
'A superb work of committed scholarship ... Judaism on Trial is a work full
of interest to those already familiar with the material it contains, and compelling
reading for those who are not. Maccoby has done a fine job in recapturing the
intellectual and social drama of the confrontations. ... Altogether an impressive
addition to the already outstanding Littman Library of Jewish Civilization.'
Jonathan Sacks, Jewish Journal of Sociology
'Prefaced by a most competent introduction . . . should be obligatory reading
for both the student of Jewish history and the intelligent layman not only because
of its literary and expositional merits, which are considerable, but because
it highlights an important stratagem of the medieval Church in its attempts
to convert contemporary Jewry to the dominant faith.'
Sydney Leperer, Le'ela
246 pages
ISBN: 978-1-874774-16-7
£15.95 / $22.95
Published 1982; paperback 1993