Part 17

3. As for the _third_ Point, I say, that although Ferdinand & Isabell, giving colour to so indiscreet a determination, said, that they induced the Nobles to become Iews, yet truely this cannot be said, but by some false informations. For if so be, amongst those difficulties and impossibilities, it may happen, that some of the Sect of the Papists, of a better mind, embrace the Iewish Religion; it cannot therefore be presumed, that they were induced thereunto by the Iews; seeing the Iews do not entice any man to professe their Law: But if any man of his own free-will come to them, they by their rites & Ceremonies are obliged to make proof of them, whether they come for any temporall interest, and to persuade them to look well to themselves what they do: that the Law unto which they are to submit themselves, is of many precepts; and doth oblige the transgressor to many sore punishments. And so we follow the example of Nahomi, cited in the Sacred Scripture, who did not persuade Ruth to go along with her; but said first to her: _Orpa thy sister returned to her Nation and her Gods; go thou and follow her_. But Ruth continuing constant, then at length she received her.

Besides this, the Iews indeed have reason to take care for their own preservation; and therefore will not go about by such wayes to make themselves odious to Princes and Common-wealths, under whose Dominions they live.

Now, because I beleive, that with a good conscience I have discharged our Nation of the Iews of those three slanders or calumnies, as elsewhere I have more at large written about it; I conceive I may from those two qualities, of Profitablenesse and Fidelity conclude, that such a Nation ought to be well entertained, and also beloved and protected generally of all. The more, considering they are called in the Sacred Scriptures, the Sons of God; and ’tis said by all the Prophets, that they who shall wrong them, shall be most severely punished; and that he that toucheth them, toucheth the apple of Gods eye. And at least, it was alwayes the opinion of Augustine, as he made it appear in his works _Libr. de Doctrina Christiana cap._ 28. where he saith, _Quod omnes homines æque diligendi sunt_. That all men are equally to be beloved.

Now, having proved the two former Points. I could adde a third, viz. of the Nobility of the Iews: but because that Point is enough known amongst all Christians, as lately yet it hath been most worthily and excellently shewed and described in a certain Book, called, _The Glory of Iehudah and Israel_, dedicated to our Nation by that worthy Christian Minister Mr. _Henry Iessey_, (1653. in Duch) where this matter is set out at large: And by Mr. _Edw. Nicholas_ Genleman, in his Book, called, _An Apologie for the Honorable Nation of the Iews, and all the Sons of Israel_ (1648. in English.) Therefore I will here forbeare, and rest on their saying of our King Salomon, the wisest on earth, _Let another mans mouth praise thee, and not thine own_. Which is the close of _Rabbi Menesse Ben-Israel_, a Divine, and Doctor in Physick, in the _Strand_ over against the _New-Exchange_ in _London_.

FINIS.

VINDICIÆ JUDÆORUM, OR A LETTER In Answer to certain Questions propounded by a Noble and Learned Gentleman, touching the reproaches cast on the Nation of the JEVVES; wherein all objections are candidly, and yet fully cleared.

_By_ Rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel _a Divine and a Physicyan_.

Printed by _R. D._ in the year 1656.

_Most Noble, and Learned Sir_,

I have received a letter from your worship, which was welcome to me; and I read it, because yours, with great delight; if you will please to allow for the unpleasantnesse of the subject. For I do assure your worship, I never met with any thing in my life which I did more deeply resent, for that it reflecteth upon the credit of a nation, which amongst so many calumnies, so manifest, (and therefore shamefull) I dare to pronounce innocent. Yet I am afraid, that whilst I answer to them, I shall offend some, whose zeal will not permit them to consider, that self vindication, as defensive armes, is naturall to all; but to be wholly silent, were to acknowledge what is so falsly objected. Wherefore that I may justifie my self to my own conscience, I have obeyed your worships commands: for your request must not be accounted lesse, at least by me. I presume your worship cannot expect either prolix, or polite discourses upon so sad a subject; for who can be ambitious in his own calamity? I have therefore dispatcht onely some concise, and brief relations, barely exceeding the bounds of a letter; yet such as may suffice you, to inform the Rulers of the _English_ nation, of a truth most reall, and sincere; which I hope they will accept in good part, according to their noble, and singular prudence and piety. For innocencie being alwayes most free from suspecting evil, I cannot be perswaded, that any one hath either spoken, or written against us, out of any particular hatred that they bare us, but that they rather supposed our coming might prove prejudiciall to their estates, and interests; charity alwayes beginning at home. Yet notwithstanding I propounded this matter under an argument of profit (for this hath made us welcome in other countries) and therefore I hope I may prove what I undertake. However, I have but small encouragement to expect the happy attainment of any other design, but onely that truth may be justified of her children. I shall answer in order to what your worship hath proposed.

THE FIRST SECTION.

And in the first place, I cannot but weep bitterly, and with much anguish of soul lament that strange and horrid accusation of some Christians against the dispersed, and afflicted _Iewes_ that dwell among them, when they say (what I tremble to write) that the _Iewes_ are wont to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread, fermenting it with the bloud of some Christians, whom they have for this purpose killed: when the calumniators themselves have most barbarously and cruelly butchered some of them. Or to speak more mildly, have found one dead, and cast the corps, as if it had been murdered by the _Iewes_, into their houses or yards, as lamentable experience hath proved in sundry places: and then with unbridled rage and tumult, they accuse the innocent _Iews_, as the committers of this most execrable fact. Which detestable wickednesse hath been sometimes perpetrated, that they might thereby take advantage to exercise their cruelty upon them; and sometimes to justifie, and patronize their massacres already executed. But how farre this accusation is from any semblable appearance of truth, your worship may judge by these following arguments.

1. It is utterly forbid the _Iewes_ to eat any manner of bloud whatsoever, _Levit._ Chapter 7.26. and _Deuter._ 12. where it is expresly said ‏וכל דם‎ _And ye shall eat no manner of bloud_, and in obedience to this command the _Iewes_ eat not the bloud of any animal. And more then this, if they find one drop of bloud in an egge, they cast it away as prohibited. And if in eating a piece of bread, it happens to touch any bloud drawn from the teeth, or gummes, it must be pared, and cleansed from the said bloud, as it evidenely appeares in _Sulhan Haruch_ and our rituall book. Since then it is thus, how can it enter into any mans heart to believe that they should eat humane bloud, which is yet more detestable, there being scarce any nation now remaining upon earth so barbarous, as to commit such wickednesse?

2. The precept in the Decalogue _Thou shalt not kill_ is of generall extent; it is a morall command. So that the _Iewes_ are bound not onely, not to kill one of those nations where they live, but they are also oblig’d by the law of gratitude, to love them. They are the very words of R. _Moses_ of _Egypt_ in _Iad a Razaka_, in his treatise of Kings, the tenth Chapter, in the end, _Concerning the nations, the ancients have commanded us to visit their sick and to bury their dead, as the dead of Israel, and to relieve, and maintain their poor, as we do the poor of Israel, because of the wayes of peace, as it is written, God is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works_. Psal. 145.9. And in conformity hereto, I witnesse before God blessed for ever, that I have continually seen in _Amsterdam_ where I reside, abundance of good correspondency, many interchanges of brotherly affection, and sundry things of reciprocall love. I have thrice seen when some _Flemine_ Christians have fallen into the river in our ward, called _Flemburgh_, our nation cast themselves into the river to them, to help them out, and to deliver their lives from death. And certainly he that will thus hazard himself to save another, cannot harbour so much cruell malice, as to kill the innocent, whom he ought out of the duty of humanity to defend and protect.

3. It is forbidden _Exodus_ 21.20. to kill a stranger; _If a man smite his servant, or his maid with a rod, and he die under his hand, he shall surely be punished, notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished, for he is his money_. The text speaks of a servant that is one of the Gentile nations, because that he onely is said to be the _money_ of the _Iew_, who is his master, as _Aben Ezra_ well notes upon the place. And the Lord commands, that if he die under the hand of his master, his master shall be put to death, for that as it seems, he struck him with a murderous intent. But it is otherwise if the servant dies afterwards, for then it appeares, that he did not strike him with a purpose to kill him; for if so, he would have killed him out of hand, wherefore he shall be free, and it may suffice for punishment that he hath lost his money. If therefore a _Iew_ cannot kill his servant, or slave that is one of the nations, according to the law, how much lesse shall he be impowred to murder him that is not his _enemy_, and with whom he leads a quiet and a peaceable life? and therefore how can any good man believe that against his holy law, a _Iew_ (in a strange countrey especially) should make himself guilty of so execrable a fact?

4. Admit that it were lawfull (which God forbid) why should they eat the bloud? And supposing they should eat the bloud, why should they eat it on the Passeover? Here at this feast, every confection ought to be so pure, as not to admit of any leaven, or any thing that may fermentate, which certainly bloud doth.

5. If the _Iewes_ did repute, and hold this action (which is never to be named without an epethite of horrour) necessary, they would not expose themselves to so eminent a danger, to so cruell and more deserved punishment, unlesse they were moved to it by some divine precept; or at least, some constitution of their wise men. Now we challenge all those men who entertain this dreadfull opinion of us, as obliged in point of justice, to cite the place of Scripture, or of the Rabbins, where any such precept, or doctrine is delivered. And untill they do so, we will assume so much liberty, as to conclude it to be no better then a malicious slander.

6. If a man, to save his life, may break the Sabbath, and transgresse many of the other commands of the law, as hath been determined in the Talmud; as also confirmed by R. _Moses_ of _Egypt_, in the fifth Chapter of his treatise of the fundamentalls of the law; yet three are excepted, which are, _idolatry_, _murther_, and _adultery_; life not being to be purchased at so dear a rate, as the committing of these heinous sins: an innocent death being infinitely to be preferred before it. Wherefore if the killing of a Christian, as they object, were a divine precept, and institution, (which far be it from me to conceive) it were certainly to be null’d and rendred void, since a man cannot perform it, without indangering his own life; and not onely so, but the life of the whole congregation of an entire people; and yet more, since it is directly a violation of one of these three precepts, _Thou shalt do no murder_: which is intended universally of all men, as we have said before.

7. The Lord, blessed for ever, by his prophet _Ieremiah_ Chap. 29.7. gives it in command to the captive Israelites that were dispersed among the heathens, that they should continually pray for, and endeavour the peace, welfare and prosperity of the city wherein they dwelt, and the inhabitants thereof. This the _Iewes_ have alwayes done, and continue to this day in all their Synagogues, with a particular blessing of the Prince or Magistrate, under whose protection they live. And this the Right Honourable my Lord _St. Iohn_ can testifie; who when he was Embassadour to the Lords the States of the united Provinces, was pleased to honour our Synagogue at _Amsterdam_ with his presence, where our nation entertained him with musick, and all expressions of joy and gladnesse, and also pronounced a blessing, not onely upon his honour, then present, but upon the whole Common-wealth of _England_, for that they were a people in league and amity; and because we conceived some hopes that they would manifest towards us, what we ever bare towards them, _viz._ all love and affection. But to return again to our argument, if we are bound to study, endeavour, and sollicite, the good and flourishing estate of the city where we live, and the inhabitants thereof, how shall we then murder their children, who are the greatest good, and the most flourishing blessing that this life doth indulge to them.

8. The children of Israel are naturally mercifull, and full of compassion. This was acknowledged by their enemies, _Kings_ 1.20, 31. when _Benhadad_ King of _Assyria_ was discomfited in the battel, and fled away, he became a petitioner for his life to King _Ahab_, who had conquered him; for he understood that _the Kings of the house of Israel were mercifull Kings_; and his own experience confirmed it, when for a little affection that he pretended in a complement, he obtained again his life and fortunes, from which the event of the warre had disentitled him. And when the _Gibeonites_ made that cruell request to _David_, that seven of _Saul’s_ sons who were innocent, should be delivered unto them, the prophet saies, _now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel_, Sam. 2.21, 2. as if he had said, in this cruelty, the piety of the Israelites is not so much set forth, as the tyranny, and implacable rage of the Gentiles, the _Gibeonites_. Which being so, and experience withall declares it, _viz._ the fidelity which our nation hath inviolably preserved towards their superiours, then most certainly it is wholly incompatible, and inconsistent with the murdering of their children.

9. There are some Christians, that use to insult against the _Iewes_, as Christian homicides, that will venter to give a reason of these pretended murtherous practises. As if the accusation were then most infallibly true, if they can find any semblance of a reason why it might be so. As they say, that this is practised by them in hatred and detestation of Jesus of Nazareth. And that therefore they steal Christian Children, buffeting them in the same manner that he was buffetted; thereby to rub up, and revive the memory of the aforesaid death. And likewise they imagine that the _Iewes_ secretly steal away crosses, crucifixes, and such like graven images, which Papists privately and carefully retein in their houses, and every day the _Iewes_ mainly strike, and buffet, shamefully spitting on them, with such like ceremonies of despight, and all this in hatred of Jesus. But I admire what they really think, when they object such things as these, laying them to our charge. For surely we cannot believe, that a people, otherwise of sufficient prudence, and judgement, can perswade themselves into an opinion that the _Iewes_ should commit such practises, unlesse they could conceive they did them in honour and obedience to the God whom they worship. And what kind of obedience is this they perform to God blessed for ever, when they directly sin against that speciall command _Thou shalt not kill_? Besides, this cannot be committed without the imminent, and manifest perill of their lives and fortunes, and the necessary exposing themselves to a just revenge. Moreover, it is an _Anathema_ to a _Iew_ to have any graven images in his house, or any thing of an idol, which any of the nations figuratively worship, _Deut._ 7.26.

10. _Matthew Paris_ p. 532. writes, how that in the year 1240. the _Iewes_ circumcised a Christian child at _Norwich_, and gave him the name _Iurnin_, and reserved him to be crucified, for which cause many of them were most cruelly put to death. The truth of this story will evidently appear upon the consideration of its circumstances. He was first circumcised, and this perfectly constitutes him a _Iew_. Now for a _Iew_ to embrace a Christian in his armes, and foster him in his bosome, is a testimony of great love and affection. But if it was intended that shortly after this child should be crucified, to what end was he first circumcised? If it shall be said it was out of hatred to the Christians, it appears rather to the contrary, that it proceeded from detestation of the _Iewes_, or of them who had newly become proselytes, to embrace the _Iewes_ religion. Surely this supposed pranck (storied to be done in popish times) looks more like a piece of the reall scene of the Popish _Spaniards_ piety, who first baptiz’d the poor _Indians_, and afterwards out of cruel pity to their souls, inhumanely butchered them; then of strict-law-observing _Iewes_, who dare not make a sport of one of the seales of their covenant.

11. Our captivity under the Mahumetans is farre more burdensome, and grievous then under the Christians, and so our ancients have said, _it is better to inhabit under Edom then Ismael_, for they are a people more civill, and rationall, and of a better policie, as our nation have found experimentally. For, excepting the nobler, and better sort of _Iewes_, such as live in the Court of _Constantinople_, the vulgar people of the _Iewes_ that are dispersed in other countries of the Mahumetan Empire, in _Asia_ and _Africa_, are treated with abundance of contempt and scorn. It would therefore follow, that if this sacrificing of children be the product and result of hatred, that they should execute and disgorge it much more upon the Mahumetans, who have reduced them to so great calamity and misery. So that if it be necessary to the celebration of the Passeover, why do they not as well kill a _Mahumetan_? But although the _Iewes_ are scattered, and dispersed throughout all those vast territories, notwithstanding all their despite against us, they never yet to this day forged such a calumnious accusation. Wherefore it appeares plainly, that it is nothing else but a slander, and such a one, that considering how the scene is laid, I cannot easily determine whether it speak more of malice, or of folly: certainly Sultan _Selim_ made himself very merry with it, when the story was related him by _Moses Amon_ his chief Physicyan.

12. If all that which hath been said is not of sufficient force to wipe off this accusation, because the matter on our part is purely negative, and so cannot be cleared by evidence of witnesses, I am constrained to use another way of argument, which the Lord, blessed for ever, hath prescribed _Exod._ 22. which is an oath; wherefore I swear, without any deceit or fraud, by the most high God, the creatour of heaven and earth, who promulged his law to the people of Israel, upon mount _Sinai_, that I never yet to this day saw any such custome among the people of Israel, and that they doe not hold any such thing by divine precept of the law, or any ordinance or institution of their wise men, and that they never committed or endeavoured such wickednesse, (that I know, or have credibly heard, or read in any Jewish Authours) and if I lie in this matter, then let all the curses mentioned in _Leviticus_ and _Deuteronomy_ come upon me, let me never see the blessings and consolations of Zion, nor attain to the resurrection of the dead. By this I hope I may have proved what I did intend, and certainly this may suffice all the friends of truth, and all faithfull Christians to give credit to what I have here averred. And indeed our adversaries who have been a little more learned, and consequently a little more civill then the vulgar, have made a halt at this imputation. _Iohn Hoornbeek_ in that book which he lately writ against our nation, wherein he hath objected against us, right or wrong, all that he could any wayes scrape together, was notwithstanding ashamed to lay this at our door, in his _Prolegomena_ pag. 26. where he sayes, _An autem verum fit quod vulgò in historiis legatur, &c._ _i.e._ whether that be true which is commonly read in histories, to aggravate the _Iewes_ hatred against the Christians, or rather the Christians against the _Iewes_, that they should annually upon the preparation of the Passeover, after a cruell manner sacrifice a Christian child, privily stollen, in disgrace, and contempt of Christ, whose passion, and crucifixion the Christians celebrate, I will not assert for truth; as well knowing, how easy it was for those times wherein these things are mentioned, to have happen’d, (especially after the Inquisition was set up in the Popedome) to forge, and fain; and how the histories of those ages, according to the affection of the writers, were too too much addicted, and given unto fables and figments. Indeed I have never yet seen any of all those relations that hath by any certain experiment proved this fact, for they are all founded; either upon the uncertain report of the vulgar, or else upon the secret accusation of the Monks belonging to the inquisition, not to mention the avarice of the informers, wickedly hanquering after the _Iewes_ wealth, and so with ease forging any wickednesse. For in the first book of the _Sicilian_ constitutions tit. 7. we see the Emperour _Frederick_ saying, _Sivero Iudæus, vel Saracenus fit, in quibus prout certò perpendimus Christianorum persecutio minus abundat ad præsens_, but if he be a _Iew_ or a _Saracen_, against whom, as we have weighed, the persecution of the Christians do much abound, _&c._ thus taxing the violence of certain Christians against the _Iewes_. Or if perhaps it hath sometimes happened, that a Christian was kill’d by a _Iew_, we must not therefore say that in all places where they inhabit, they annually kill a Christian Child. And for that which _Thomas Cantipratensis_ lib. 2. cap. 23. affirms, _viz._ that it is certainly known, that the _Iewes_ every year, in every province, cast lots what city or town shall afford Christian bloud to the other cities. I can give it no more credit then his other fictions and lies wherewith he hath stuffed his book. Thus farre _Iohn Hoornbeek_.