An analysis of why Baruch Spinoza received the harshest excommunication ever issued by the Portuguese Jewish community of Amsterdam.
Written in 2002; 3,458 words; 4 sources; MLA; $ 97.95
Paper Summary:
This paper discusses the different political, religious, social, economic and philosophic reasons for Spinoza's excommunication from the Jewish community on July 27,1656. It explores the origins of the phrase "harem" or ban which had power during medieval times to transform a deviant or defiant member of the community into a social pariah to be shunned and excluded. It examines Spinoza's apparent indifference towards the traditional community and how his failure to respond in the normal way of repenting and returning to the synagogue shows his complete and total break with the Jewish community.
From the Paper:
"The leaders of the community may have also wanted to send a message to their Dutch neighbors that the Jewish community did not have an affinity or would not harbor any Cartesians. The conflict over Descartes philosophy was rampant in Dutch universities and had spread throughout the land. (Nadler, 150-151) ?The excommunication of an apparent "Cartesian" by the ma"amad"could have been a signal to the authorities that subversive philosophy was no more tolerated in the Talmud Torah synagogue than it was in the province of Holland at large.? (Nadler 152-153) However, these political and economic arguments are both weak considering that many of the other excommunicants were banned under political and economic considerations as well, and they did not receive the harsh treatment nor the vicious herem formula received by Spinoza."
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