The Jewish Physicians - between al-Andalus and Christian Spain

Abstract

This article examines the degree to which Jewish communities were integrated in medieval Christian and Muslim societies by comparing the status of Jewish physicians living under Muslim rule in al-Andalus the status of those living in the Christian kingdoms of Spain. The article first describes the prescriptions of religious and didactic sources regarding the 'desirable' status of Jewish physicians, and then moves on to examine restrictions on the training and ordination of Jewish students in medicine. Finally, the article examines the political, economical and social power of Jewish physicians working for royal families. It argues that there was a considerable gap between anti-Jewish rhetoric, and the relatively high social status of Jewish physicians under both Muslim and Christian rule.