Medieval Christendom

October 20, 2015 Temple Mount – United Nations
By December 5, 2017 Read More →

October 20, 2015 Temple Mount – United Nations

October 20, 2015 Temple Mount United Nations “United Nations ― Senior United Nations officials have objected to a proposal by some Arab states to classify the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism, as part of the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalems’s Old City, following angry denunciations by Israel and many Jewish American groups. […]

Perceptions of Medieval Times
By September 27, 2016 Read More →

Perceptions of Medieval Times

The medieval period was a period of unusual violence and an unusual level of irrational thinking about the Jews but it didn’t involve unremitting violence. Prof. Robert Chazan. Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS.

Why did Jews choose to live in Christian Europe?
By September 27, 2016 Read More →

Why did Jews choose to live in Christian Europe?

In the year 1000, there are just about no settled Jewish communities in the northern half of Europe. And yet, Jews for the first time decide to cast their lot in this area. Why? Prof. Robert Chazan. Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS.

What was the attitude of the Church towards the Jews?
By September 26, 2016 Read More →

What was the attitude of the Church towards the Jews?

The Church, by the year 1000, had developed a kind of theory about the Jews and their place in Christian society. Prof. Robert Chazan. Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS.

Cultural Stimulation
By September 26, 2016 Read More →

Cultural Stimulation

The Jews moved into a society which was culturally backward compared to the Muslim world but it was also in the process of catching up very quickly. Prof. Robert Chazan. Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS.

Posted in: Rabbinic Creativity
What was the original purpose of the Crusades?
By September 26, 2016 Read More →

What was the original purpose of the Crusades?

The Crusades were initially military undertakings to conquer the sacred sites of Christianity in the Holy Land. Prof. Robert Chazan, New York University. Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS.

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
By September 22, 2016 Read More →

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella

The wedding portrait of Ferdinand and Isabella, c. 1469.

Posted in: Expulsion
What were the reasons for the numerous expulsions of Jews from Christian lands?
By September 22, 2016 Read More →

What were the reasons for the numerous expulsions of Jews from Christian lands?

The expulsions aren’t lawless acts. They are always justified. There is always a document which explains the reason behind the expulsion. Prof. Robert Chazan. Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS.

Posted in: Expulsion
Crucifixion with Ecclesia and Synagoga
By September 22, 2016 Read More →

Crucifixion with Ecclesia and Synagoga

Ecclesia et Synagoga, the name given to the symbolic representations in Christian art of the Middle Ages of the victorious Church and defeated Synagogue, symbolizing the triumph of Christianity. Excerpted from Encyclopedia Judaica.

Why were Jews harmed during the Crusades?
By September 22, 2016 Read More →

Why were Jews harmed during the Crusades?

There is a group of Crusaders for whom the unstable situation leads to occasional anti-Jewish violence. Prof. Robert Chazan. Produced by Down Low Pictures for COJS.