Jews in apostasy
Encyclopedia
In Judaism
, apostasy
refers to the rejection of Judaism and possible defection to another religion by a Jew. The term apostasy is derived from , meaning "rebellious" (.) Equivalent expressions for apostate in Hebrew that are used by rabbinical scholars include mumar (מומר, literally "the one that changes"), poshea Yisrael (פושע ישראל, literally, "transgressor of Israel"), and kofer (כופר, literally "denier"). Similar terms are meshumad (משומד, lit. "destroyed one"), one who has abandoned his faith, and min (מין) or epikoros
(אפיקורוס), which denote the negation of God and Judaism, implying atheism
.
Ezekiel
, thought to be prophetic of the High Priests
Jason
and Menelaus
, deserted their religion and their nation to the horror and hatred of their contemporaries.
, Elisha ben Abuyah
(referred to as Acher, the "Other One") is singled out as an apostate by the rabbis.[3]
, a systematic conversion of Jews to Christianity
took place, largely under threats and force. The apostasy of these converso
s provoked the indignation of some Jews in Spain and it was made illegal to call a converso by the epithet tornadizo (renegade).
Several inquisitors of the Spanish Inquisition
, such as Tomás de Torquemada
, and Francis Quiñones
the Bishop of Coria, are thought to be descendants of apostate Jews. Known apostates who made their mark in history by attempting to convert other Jews in the 14th and 15th centuries include Juan de Valladolid
and Astruc Remoch
.
Some Spanish Jews, however, remained crypto-Jews
despite being compelled to convert to Christianity (see Anusim
). They are also called Marrano
s.
claimed to be the Jewish Messiah. His Jewish followers were known as Sabbateans. Under the threat of death by the Ottoman
Sultan
, Zevi converted to Islam
in 1666. Afterwards, some of his followers willingly converted but continued to practice Sabbatean rituals. These people became known as the Dönmeh
.
In the 1750s Jacob Frank
claimed he was the reincarnation of Zevi and attracted many followers in Poland
, known as Frankists. In 1759, with Frank's encouragement, more than 500 Frankists were baptized as Catholics. Frank himself was also baptized, with the King of Poland
as his godfather.
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, apostasy
Apostasy
Apostasy , 'a defection or revolt', from ἀπό, apo, 'away, apart', στάσις, stasis, 'stand, 'standing') is the formal disaffiliation from or abandonment or renunciation of a religion by a person. One who commits apostasy is known as an apostate. These terms have a pejorative implication in everyday...
refers to the rejection of Judaism and possible defection to another religion by a Jew. The term apostasy is derived from , meaning "rebellious" (.) Equivalent expressions for apostate in Hebrew that are used by rabbinical scholars include mumar (מומר, literally "the one that changes"), poshea Yisrael (פושע ישראל, literally, "transgressor of Israel"), and kofer (כופר, literally "denier"). Similar terms are meshumad (משומד, lit. "destroyed one"), one who has abandoned his faith, and min (מין) or epikoros
Epikoros (Judaism)
Epikoros is a Jewish term cited in the Mishnah, referring to one who does not have a share in the world to come:...
(אפיקורוס), which denote the negation of God and Judaism, implying atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
.
In the Bible
The first recorded reference to apostasy from Judaism is in Deuteronomy 13:6-11, which states:Ezekiel
Ezekiel
Ezekiel , "God will strengthen" , is the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible. In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Ezekiel is acknowledged as a Hebrew prophet...
, thought to be prophetic of the High Priests
Kohen Gadol
The High Priest was the chief religious official of Israelite religion and of classical Judaism from the rise of the Israelite nation until the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem...
Jason
Jason (high priest)
Jason of the Oniad family, brother to Onias III, was a High Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem.Jason became high priest in 175 BCE after the accession of Antiochus Epiphanes to the throne of the Seleucid Empire....
and Menelaus
Menelaus (High Priest)
Menelaus was High Priest in Jerusalem from 171 BC to about 161 BC. He was the successor of Jason, the brother of Onias III.The sources are divided as to his origin...
, deserted their religion and their nation to the horror and hatred of their contemporaries.
In the Talmud
In the TalmudTalmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, Elisha ben Abuyah
Elisha ben Abuyah
Elisha ben Abuyah was a rabbi and Jewish religious authority born in Jerusalem sometime before 70 CE. After he adopted a worldview considered heretical by his fellow Tannaim and betrayed his people, the rabbis of the Talmud refrained from relating teachings in his name and referred to him as the...
(referred to as Acher, the "Other One") is singled out as an apostate by the rabbis.[3]
Medieval Spain
In Medieval SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, a systematic conversion of Jews to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
took place, largely under threats and force. The apostasy of these converso
Converso
A converso and its feminine form conversa was a Jew or Muslim—or a descendant of Jews or Muslims—who converted to Catholicism in Spain or Portugal, particularly during the 14th and 15th centuries. Mass conversions once took place under significant government pressure...
s provoked the indignation of some Jews in Spain and it was made illegal to call a converso by the epithet tornadizo (renegade).
Several inquisitors of the Spanish Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
, such as Tomás de Torquemada
Tomás de Torquemada
Tomás de Torquemada, O.P. was a fifteenth century Spanish Dominican friar, first Inquisitor General of Spain, and confessor to Isabella I of Castile. He was described by the Spanish chronicler Sebastián de Olmedo as "The hammer of heretics, the light of Spain, the saviour of his country, the...
, and Francis Quiñones
Francis Quiñones
Francisco de Quiñones was a Spanish cardinal who was responsible for some reforms in the church.-Biography:...
the Bishop of Coria, are thought to be descendants of apostate Jews. Known apostates who made their mark in history by attempting to convert other Jews in the 14th and 15th centuries include Juan de Valladolid
Juan de Valladolid
Juan de Valladolid , also known as Juan Poeta , was a Castilian poet. Born Jewish, he converted to Christianity later in life. As a Marrano, or baptized Jew, he married a Christian woman named Jamila...
and Astruc Remoch
Astruc Remoch
Astruc Remoch was a Jewish convert to Catholicism who made his mark in history by attempting the conversion of other Jews during the 14th century.Remoch was a medical doctor in Fraga, Spain in the 14th century...
.
Some Spanish Jews, however, remained crypto-Jews
Crypto-Judaism
Crypto-Judaism is the secret adherence to Judaism while publicly professing to be of another faith; practitioners are referred to as "crypto-Jews"...
despite being compelled to convert to Christianity (see Anusim
Anusim
Anusim is a legal category of Jews in halakha who were forced or coerced to abandon Judaism against their will, typically while forcibly converted to another religion...
). They are also called Marrano
Marrano
Marranos were Jews living in the Iberian peninsula who converted to Christianity rather than be expelled but continued to observe rabbinic Judaism in secret...
s.
Sabbatai Zevi and Jacob Frank
In 1648 Sabbatai ZeviSabbatai Zevi
Sabbatai Zevi, , was a Sephardic Rabbi and kabbalist who claimed to be the long-awaited Jewish Messiah. He was the founder of the Jewish Sabbatean movement...
claimed to be the Jewish Messiah. His Jewish followers were known as Sabbateans. Under the threat of death by the Ottoman
Ottoman Dynasty
The Ottoman Dynasty ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1299 to 1922, beginning with Osman I , though the dynasty was not proclaimed until Orhan Bey declared himself sultan...
Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
, Zevi converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in 1666. Afterwards, some of his followers willingly converted but continued to practice Sabbatean rituals. These people became known as the Dönmeh
Dönmeh
Dönmeh refers to a group of crypto-Jews in the Ottoman Empire and present-day Turkey who openly affiliated with Islam and secretly practiced a form of Judaism called Sabbateanism...
.
In the 1750s Jacob Frank
Jacob Frank
Jacob Frank was an 18th century Jewish religious leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of the self-proclaimed messiah Sabbatai Zevi and also of the biblical patriarch Jacob...
claimed he was the reincarnation of Zevi and attracted many followers in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, known as Frankists. In 1759, with Frank's encouragement, more than 500 Frankists were baptized as Catholics. Frank himself was also baptized, with the King of Poland
Augustus III of Poland
Augustus III, known as the Saxon ; ; also Prince-elector Friedrich August II was the Elector of Saxony in 1733-1763, as Frederick Augustus II , King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1734-1763.-Biography:Augustus was the only legitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, Imperial Prince-Elector...
as his godfather.
See also
- Conversion to JudaismConversion to JudaismConversion to Judaism is a formal act undertaken by a non-Jewish person who wishes to be recognised as a full member of the Jewish community. A Jewish conversion is both a religious act and an expression of association with the Jewish people...
- Heresy in Orthodox JudaismHeresy in Orthodox JudaismHeresy in Orthodox Judaism is principally defined as departure from the traditional Jewish principles of faith. Mainstream Orthodox Judaism holds that rejection of the simple meaning of Maimonides' 13 principles of Jewish faith involves heresy, although the status of creed in Medieval Jewish...
- Yetzia bish'eilaYetzia bish'eilaYetzia bish'eila is theIsraeli term for leaving a religion, usually Judaism, to lead a secular life-style, or a life-style adhering significantly less to religion. It is sometimes also called chazara bish'ela ; both terms are attempted reversals of the term chazara bit'shuva Yetzia bish'eila is...
- Schisms among the JewsSchisms among the JewsSchisms among the Jews are cultural as well as religious. They have happened as a product of historical accident, geography, and theology.-First Temple era:...
- Who is a Jew?Who is a Jew?"Who is a Jew?" is a basic question about Jewish identity and considerations of Jewish self-identification. The question is based in ideas about Jewish personhood which themselves have cultural, religious, genealogical, and personal dimensions...
- HalakhaHalakhaHalakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
- Ger tzedek
- Religious disaffiliationReligious disaffiliationReligious disaffiliation means leaving a faith, or a religious group or community. It is in many respects the reverse of religious conversion...