History of the Jews: An Enthralling Guide from Ancient Times to the Present (Religion in Past Times) by Wellman Billy

Author:Wellman, Billy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-17T00:00:00+00:00

Mamluk warrior

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mamluke.jpg

Although Christians and Jews were “protected people” under Muslim law, the Mamluks were nervous about the high administrative positions some of them held. Would they be more loyal to the Crusaders or Egypt? The Mamluks began strongly encouraging conversion to Islam, especially among the Coptic Christians who handled taxes and other financial affairs. The Mamluks sometimes swept the Jews into their conversion efforts. Those who refused to convert lost their positions. Rather than convert, many Egyptian Christians and a few Egyptian Jews left the country.

Riots erupted in Cairo against Christians in 1293, and Sultan Malik al-Ashraf Khalil dismissed all Jews and Christians from administrative positions. In 1301, more riots broke out, this time involving both Jews and Christians, forcing them to convert to Islam and closing all of Cairo’s synagogues and churches. Jews had to wear yellow turbans and Christians blue turbans.

Originating in northern Asia, the Black Plague swept the Mediterranean coast from 1347 to 1349. Spreading to Europe, it killed about half the population. The plague and its ramifications plunged Egypt’s economy into disarray, inciting more angst against non-Muslims. Rioters grabbed Jews and Christians and threw them into fires if they refused to recite the Shahada (the Muslim creed). The Jews were also suffering financially. They had once enjoyed a middle-class status in Egypt, and some were wealthy. The sultanate itself suffered economically due to the plague and other factors. Now, Jews in higher positions had lost their jobs, and most Jews were struggling through poverty.

In 1442, the Egyptian authorities found what they considered blasphemous writing against Islam in a Jewish synagogue. The name “Muhammed” was faintly inscribed on a raised platform upon which the rabbi would stand to read the scriptures; thus, he was “standing on Muhammed.” The Mamluks destroyed the platform, then inspected other synagogues and churches. They discussed cutting off the feet or hands of the rabbis who had stood on Muhammed’s name, but the rabbis vehemently denied knowing it was there. Under torture, three rabbis confessed. Two died, and the third converted to Islam.

Inspecting other synagogues and churches revealed that some had built new structures against the Pact of Umar. Others had renovated their interiors following a fire. Despite the Jews and Christians showing certificates of approval from the authorities for the renovations, the Mamluks insisted they were breaking the pact made in 632 in Jerusalem. Many of the Jews and Christians were unaware of the ancient pact, so they were all informed of its contents and warned that any further infractions would result in the destruction of their synagogue or church.[53]

Although Jews were harassed under Mamluk rule, their plight paled compared to what happened to Jews in Europe. Blaming the Black Plague on Jews poisoning the wells, European mobs destroyed hundreds of Jewish communities. An anti-Semitic campaign in Barcelona, Castille, and Valencia killed thousands of Jews in 1391. Pope Benedict XIII banned the Talmud in 1415, and Jews were forced to live in ghettos throughout Europe.

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