Language:
English
Year of publication:
1989
Titel der Quelle:
Basler Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Altertumskunde
Angaben zur Quelle:
89 (1989) 135-144
Keywords:
Buxtorf, Johann,
;
Jews History 1500-1800
;
Jews
;
Berit milah History
Abstract:
There were no permanent Jewish residents in Basel, except Jews employed by printers of Hebrew books. In 1619, three Jews were working on a Hebrew Bible edition under the direction of Christian Hebraist Johannes Buxtorf (1564-1629). A son was born to one of them, and he and Buxtorf approached the city official responsible for Jewish affairs for permission to have the circumcision ceremony and invite Jews from out of town, which was granted. Afterwards, a pastor complained to the city council, which ordered the Jews arrested and the wife and infant son expelled. The Jew had to pay a large fine, and Buxtorf and his son-in-law were fined for participating in the event. Other Christian participants and the city official who permitted the event were jailed. The Jewish workers were eventually allowed to complete their work on the Bible. States that Buxtorf has frequently been portrayed as a vigorous proponent of mission to the Jews and an implacable foe of Judaism. This incident contradicts these views, although in a letter to a friend he contended that he attended the circumcision in order to testify to his Christian faith and point out the Jews' spiritual blindness.
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