Hagut ha-shemad

By Shalom Sadik

Book Description

This groundbreaking scholarly work examines a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter in Jewish spiritual history through the lens of intellectual transformation. Shalom Sadik presents the first comprehensive analysis of prominent Spanish Jewish converts to Christianity, including Petrus Alfonsi, Abner of Burgos, and Pablo de Santa Maria, offering readers a unique window into the complex spiritual journeys of medieval religious thinkers.

Rather than viewing these conversions through the traditional perspective of those who remained within Judaism, Sadik invites readers to understand the ideological motivations directly from the converts themselves. The book reveals how these intellectual leaders influenced broader patterns of religious transformation within Spanish Jewish communities, providing fresh insights into the dynamics of spiritual change and religious identity.

The study explores how former philosophers and kabbalists applied their existing spiritual knowledge to their new Christian faith, attempting to bridge their past and present religious understanding. Through careful examination of their theological perspectives on Christianity's core doctrines and their critiques of Jewish religious practice, Sadik uncovers the common threads that connected these diverse spiritual journeys.

For readers interested in religious transformation, interfaith dialogue, and the complex nature of spiritual identity, this work offers valuable perspectives on how intellectual conviction shapes religious choice. The book illuminates the universal human struggle to find authentic spiritual expression while navigating competing religious worldviews and community expectations.