Jewish Life in the Middle Ages

by Israel Abrahams

Jewish Life in the Middle Ages is a comprehensive book written by Israel Abrahams that explores the lives of Jewish people during the Middle Ages. The book covers a wide range of topics, including the religious practices, social customs, economic activities, and political circumstances of Jewish communities throughout Europe and the Middle East. Abrahams draws on a variety of sources, including historical documents, personal accounts, and rabbinic literature, to provide a detailed and nuanced picture of Jewish life during this period. The book also examines the challenges and hardships faced by Jewish communities, including persecution, forced conversions, and economic discrimination. Despite these challenges, Abrahams highlights the resilience and creativity of Jewish people during this time, as they developed unique cultural traditions and contributed to the broader intellectual and artistic movements of the era. Overall, Jewish Life in the Middle Ages offers a fascinating and informative account of a crucial period in Jewish history.1911. A study of the life and lives of Jews during the Middle Ages. The Centre of Social Life; Life in the Synagogue; Communal Organization; Institution of the Ghetto; Social Morality; The Slave Trade; Monogamy and the Home; Home Life; Love and Courtship; Marriage Customs; Trades and Occupations; The Jews and the Theater; The Purim-Play and the Drama in Hebrew; Costume in Law and Fashion; The Jewish Badge; Private and Communal Charities. The Relief of the Poor; Private and Communal Charities. The Sick and the Captive; The Medieval Schools; The Scope of Education; Medieval Pastimes and Indoor Amusements; Medieval Pastimes. Chess and Cards; Personal Relations between Jews and Christians; and Personal Relations. Literary Friendships. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: History, Judaica, Judaism, Religion, Medieval, Jewish, Nonfiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1896

About the author

Israel Abrahams, MA (honoris causa) (b. London, November 26, 1858; d. Cambridge, October 6, 1925) was one of the most distinguished Jewish scholars of his generation. He wrote a number of classics on Judaism, most notably, Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1896).

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Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

No stone unturned, but suffers from the biases of the time it was written - for example, an extremely paternalistic attitude towards women.

Still, given the number of works that cite this one, I couldn't not read it...

[Eli Mandel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives some good color on Jewish life, but it fails to properly contextualize things and it makes too many pleas on behalf of the poor persecuted Jews to be an objective source.

[K C · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit strange reading a book written almost 150 years ago about social mores centuries before that. Interesting but not compelling reading.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected more from this book. While very readable, there was surprisingly little information given the length. Abrahams does not paint a very vivid portrait of Jewish life in the Middle Ages. In this regard, he could have benefitted from presenting more of a narrative, rather than a survey. Also, he makes broad sweeping generalizations that are notably complimentary and optimistic - one gets the impression that European Jewish life between the Roman Empire and the 16th century was idyllic and that Jews of this era were paragons of virtue. This tendency is so prevalent that I actually doubt the veracity of Abraham's representations and assertions. So, I don't feel I gained much from reading this history.

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

A truly fascinating look at Jewish culture during the Middle Ages. The Jews had a rich cultural heritage, sustained under constant hostility and persecution.