Skip to main content

Marking Diaspora History of the Sephardic Jewry


Marking Diaspora History of the Sephardic Jewry
            The period from about 900 to 1200 brought forth a wealth of influential characters in the Jewish community. During this time, Christian Europe had a dark cloud over it, but civilization was flourishing in places like Muslim Spain. Two influential Jews of Muslim Spain in the 10th and 11th centuries were Hasdai ibn Shaprut and Samuel Ha-Nagid.
            A wealthy and learned Jew of Jaen, Spain had a son about the year 915. That son was Hasdai. Even in his youth, he learned Hebrew, Arabic and Latin. He had a strong interest in science and medicine that would lead him to become a physician. While he did not bear the title of vizier, he worked as physician for the calif ‘Abd al-Rahman III and ministered foreign affairs, as well. He was in strong support of the Jewish communities.  He sent riches to and corresponded with the heads of the dwindling Babylonian academies. Instrumental in moving Jewish scholarship to his home of Cordova, he established a school and appointed Moses ben Enoch from one of these academies, but now in Cordova, to serve as the school’s director. He was a scholar honored by other scholars of the time. As the study of poetry and grammar become more in vogue for Spanish Jewry during his time, he excelled in them. The date of his death is unclear. He seems to have died perhaps 970 or 990 in Cordova, Spain.
            Shortly after Hasdai passed on, 993 Cordova saw the birth of a Jewish man who would later become one of the most influential men of Spain. A native of Merida, Samuel’s father saw to it that his son should receive a thorough education of both rabbinical and secular studies. His rabbinical studies were under Enoch, son of Moses ben Enoch, whom was appointed by Hasdai. Like Hasdai, he excelled in languages and studied Hebrew, Arabic and Latin, for certain. It is said that he wrote a letter in seven different languages at some point in his life. He was to become a grammarian, poet and Arabic calligrapher. It was for these talents that a slave of  vizier, Abu al-Kasim ibn al-‘Arif employed him for writing and calligraphy. When the vizier happened upon some of these writings made for the slave, Samuel came to work as this vizier’s secretary. On Abu’s death bed, he informed the king that his Jewish secretary was his “man behind the man.” The king elevated Samuel to hold the title of vizier for himself. In 1037, this king died. Luckily for Samuel the son which succeeded him retained Samuel. In 1055, he died and Joseph ibn naghrela, his son took over his position in Spain.
            Hasdai ibn Shaprut and Samuel Ha-Nagid both had fathers who ensured they would be well educated. Both learned Hebrew, Arabic and Latin. Both were grammarians and Poets who either began or concluded their life in Cordova, Spain. Both of these men rose to have a hand in the affairs of a Muslim government. Both of these Jewish men made their mark in Diaspora history of the Sephardic world. Of course, as a calligrapher, Samuel did so both literally and figuratively.  


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Obama's "accomplishments"

I saw this on FB. I know some are true because I remember them being in the papers. Disclaimer some might not be, if so, let me know in the comments. A LIST OF OBAMA’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: First President to apply for college aid as a foreign student, then deny he was a foreigner. First President to have a social security number from a state he has never lived in. First President to preside over a cut to the credit-rating of the United States. First President to violate the War Powers Act. First President to be held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. First President to require all Americans to purchase a product from a third party. First President to spend a trillion dollars on “shovel-ready” jobs when there was no such thing as “shovel-ready” jobs. First President to abrogate bankruptcy law to turn over control of companies to his union supporters. First President to by-pass Congress and ...

OP-ED: My Experience at the Rally Against Pro-Terror Anti-Semite Linda "Cockroach" Sarsour

Because I have been following politics, I heard about Linda Sarsour from a non-Jewish source. Tomi Lahren interviewed John Guandolo about Sarsour . I think it was back in January. I heard that she was tied to Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood. I knew that wasn't good for me, as a Jew. I occasionally heard her name come up again. Then one day I was looking through these political articles I read and there it was like a punch in the stomach. She had been elevated to unearned commencement speaker by my own CUNY. I graduated from a CUNY school. I live in New York City. "Here? Here? Not here!" I found myself saying sitting in front of my computer. I watched to see when my fellow moderate right wingers would be speaking up. I was ready to sign a petition, go to a protest. I was ready. Eventually, a protest was announced. I thought, "I'm sure it's on Saturday and I can't go." I looked at the calendar and got very excited, "A Thursday-YES." It did...

The Rally Against Pro-Terror Anti-Semite Linda Sarsour

Last Thursday, May 25th, a midtown east block was overtaken by a rally and two counter-protests. The primary event was a rally hoping to get CUNY to change their mind about the key-note invitation to Hijabi Muslim activist Linda Sarsour, who is said have ties to terrorist groups like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. The two counter-protest groups were the Neturei Karta and the “NO!” group. The rally was organized by activist Pamela Geller, president of American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI).  She also served as the presenter to the speakers for the event. The first speaker was NYS assemblyman Dov Hikind. Hikind is an Orthodox Jew and Zionist whose district is located in predominantly Hasidic Orthodox Boro Park, Brooklyn. The next speaker was John Guandolo whose knowledge about Sharia and Islam comes from a military and law enforcement background. Egyptian-born, Nonie Darwish passionately spoke about how she escaped Sharia. When she said she did not want to live unde...