De confutatione hebraice sectae

Provenance	Rome
Chronology	1500
Material	Ink on paper, leather binding
Registration	MHJ127
Section	A difficult relationship

From the second half of the 14th century onwards, relations between the Jewish and Christian communities deteriorated considerably, due to structural changes in attitudes and mentalities, but also to episodes of crisis, wars, plagues and conflicts that increased the marginalisation of the Jewish population and attacks against the main ideas and traditions of Judaism. Texts containing accusations against Judaism began to proliferate, encouraging mass conversions to Christianity.
The book "De confutatione hebraicae sectae", written by Joannes Baptista Gratia Dei, is one of these treatises presenting the alleged theological errors of Judaism.
On the second floor of the museum, in the room dedicated to the conflicts of this period, an original copy is on display. It was printed in Rome in 1500 and comes from the Judaica library collection of the Nahmanides Institute for Jewish Studies. The book can also be consulted online on the website of the National Library of Israel.

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