Sephardic Culture
GLOSSARY

Sephardic Terms and People of the Middle Age in Spain

Term used for those Jews who came from the Iberian Peninsula. Today, the term extends to those Jews coming also from Greece, North Africa, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. The Sephardim have their own language called Ladino (a mix of medieval Spanish and Hebrew), holiday traditions, melodies for prayers, and pronunciation of Hebrew words. Unlike the Ashkenazim (Jews who come from Eastern Europe and Russia) who are subdivided into Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed and other categories, the Sephardim have remained a single congregate of free-thinking, non-rigid orthodoxy. The Sephardic dogma is still based largely on Maimonedes' teachings and "Thirteen Principles of Faith."

Sephardic History: The Jews are believed to first have arrived in the Iberian Peninsula after the destruction of the second Temple in Jerusalem, in 70 C.E. Arriving with the Roman legions, the first Jewish settlers were merchants and purveyors. Other historians believe that the Jews arrived during the destruction of the first Temple in 6th century B.C.E and others believe that it was during the 10th century B.C.E. during the reign of King Solomon. During the middle ages, more Jews lived in Spain than in all other European countries combined. According to historian and commentator Norman Roth, during 12the century C.E. 90% of all Jews lived in Spain. This changed soon after with an explosion in the Ashkenazi population. After that while the Ashkenazi typically lived in large towns through Europe, The Sephardim lived in small towns and villages.

In Hebrew the word means Spain. The term Sephardi came to be used to refer to a person of Sephardic heritage.

Language of the Sephardim. Combines an archaic (middle age) version of Spanish usually written in Spanish or Hebrew.

Called the Rambam, he was the greatest Jewish sage of Medieval Spain. He was a philosopher, ethicist, commentator and codifier. He wrote important texts such as "Thirteen Principles of Faith," "Guide to the Perplexed," and "Mishnah Torah," as well as commentary on Biblical scripture. His works are the foundation for modern day Sephardic religious dogma. He was born in Cordova to a wealthy family. When Jews were forced to convert, the Maiman family left Spain for Morocco and then traveled to the Holy Land for a year. Afterwards, they settled in Egypt.

The greatest Jewish poet and philosopher of the Middle Age, known also for the high volume of poetry and writings of his that survived. Also he marks the end of the Golden Age. Not long after his death the Berber took over the city-states of Andalusia and with them came religious persecution which forced most Jews to escape. He was a rich and famous writer as well as a leader of the Sephardic community. He mainly wrote about the struggle between the Christians and Muslims for power in Spain and also about the Crusaders in Palestine. Known for writing "The Kuzari" his philosophical masterpiece that hints at a modern philosophy of Zionism and Jewish nationalism. He describes The Kuzari as a defense of a despised religion and gives the Jews a supernatural connection and fate guided by God. Ha-Levi was born in Toledo but spent many years in Seville, Toledo, and Cordova. At the age of 50 he retired from public life and set out on a voyage to reach the Holy Land. It is not known if he made it there or not.

One of the most influential philosophers of the middle age. He composed a treatise on ethics and one on metaphysics. The secular "Source of Life" followed the philosophy of the secular and not Jewish philosophy of the time. This is endemic of a lot of his writings that deal universal issues rather than simply Jewish ones. He became an influential thinker in a larger context than the Jewish community. He was also one of the best known secular and spiritual poets. In his 37 years of life, he wrote over 400 poems. He was known for being spiritual and his strong connection with nature and God. He spent most of his life ill and was anti-social though for a short time he was part of Samuel Ha Nagid's circle of friends.

The most prestigious member of the cabalistic group of the middle ages. He studied under Yehudah ben Yaquar in Barcelona where he gained a strong Talmudic background. He then became a doctor at the same time that he studied and taught rabbinic studies. In 1264 he became the main rabbi of Cataluña. Though he was a conservative cabalist, he tried to mediate the fights between the followers of Maimonedes and the cabalists. He died in Jerusalem in 1267.

Family of translators. Tradition started with Yehudah ibn Tibbon, a doctor, who was asked to translate local Arab works into Hebrew. From there started the tradition of his family to translate the great philosophical, scientific and andalusian works of importance into Hebrew. Yehudah was known for translating many major works which included literature by Selomoh ibn Gabirol and Yehudah ha-Levi. Yehudah also invented a medieval Hebrew that incorporated Arabic numerals- an invention which gave the Hebrew language more flexibility and depth. After his death, Yehudah's son Semu continued the tradition by translating Maimonides' texts. The family was from Granada and later moved to the south of France because of persecution.

Granada-born poet who at first wrote on topics like women, wine and songs. He was born into a wealthy and influential Jewish family. His lavish life came to an end when his family had to leave the city because of fall of the city-states of Andalucia to the Berbers in 1090. He moved to Granada and spent most of his life mourning the loss of his wealth and influential inner circle of friends. .Later, after many disappointments in life he became religious and spent the rest of his life writing religious poetry. In addition to his poetry, he composed several literary theory treatise.

Famous biblical commentator, mathematician and poet from Northern Spain. He was a friend of Ha-Levi's and later left Spain because of the Almohade invasion. He wandered Western Europe and also traveled the Middle East. Most of his writings are about astronomy, mathematics, and grammar. However, his Biblical commentaries are what he is famous for. He approached the Bible with a technical, grammar oriented view and his neo-Platonic views are also apparent in his commentaries. He also left behind a large selection of secular and liturgical poetry.

Ha Nagid was the most powerful Jew of the middle ages. Cordoban poet, rabbi, statesman and general whose writing is marked by his knowledge of rabbinical and biblical literature. He moved to Malaga, part of the province of Granada, after the North African Berber invasion in Cordoba. His skills as an Arabic calligrapher gained him an employment by the Vizier of Granada as his personal secretary. When the Vizier died, he recommended Ha Nagid to the King of Cordoba, who hired him and made him vizier in 1027. With this prominent position in the Jewish Granada, he gained the nickname "Prince" ("Nagid" in Hebrew) by fellow Jews when he was only 35 years old, for his influence in both Jewish and non-Jewish Spanish life. He was also made General of the King's armies and fought successfully against Seville many times. He also was a leader of the Jewish community, managing affairs and leading literary functions. He died in Granada. His son Joseph became the only Jew to lead a Muslim army in Spain.

First poet who adapted Hebrew so that it could be used to write poetry in the style of Arabic. This allowed writers an important tool for developing a new more sophisticated breed of Hebrew poetry and prose. His fame as both poet and grammarian spread in Spain. His works that survive proclaim his longing to see Israel under Jewish power again. Born in Morocco, he later moved to Cordova after having studied with Saadia Gaon, a tenth century rabbinic authority of Iraq.

Supporter of the Cabala against Maimonedes' new rationalist movement. Author of the "Mesib debarim nekohim" written between 1230 and 1240 which disputes Maimonedes' works. He also wrote "Sa'ar ha-samayim" the first cabalistic work written in rhymed prose.

Poet born in Meridia known for his liturgical work, some of which was adopted into the prayer books of the Jews in Provencal, Catalonian, and North Africa. His poetry kept the flavor of Eastern Mediterranean instead of adopting the new Jewish style from Spain. He moved to Cordoba but was forced to leave after loosing the race to be the leader of the intellectual Jewish community. He spent the last part of his life traveling the Middle East. He died in Damascus in c. 1012.

North African poet who spent most of his life in Cordoba and wandering about other Spanish cities. He is said to be the first Jewish poet to make a living from his poetry. His poems express his contempt of his contemporaries and patrons. Like Ibn Gabriol, Kalpon was sponsored and friends with Samuel Ha-Nagid.

Bibliography:

www.orthohelp.com
www.judaism.about.com
www.olamtikvah.org
The Jewish Poets of Spain
Languages of Power in Islamic Spain edited by Ross Brann
http://flsj.ucdavis.edu/home/sjjs/orallit/litorale1
Literatura Hebrea En La Espana Medieval by Angel Saenz-Badillos
Encyclopedia Judaica