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This electronic version has been made available under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) open access license. The attitude of Jews living in the medieval Christian world to Jews who converted to Christianity or to Christians seeking to join the Jewish faith reflects the central traits that make up Jewish self-identification. The Jews saw themselves as a unique group chosen by God, who expected them to play a specific and unique role in the world. This study researches fully for the first time the various aspects of the way European Jews regarded members of their own fold in the context of lapses into another religion. It attempts to understand whether they regarded the issue of conversion with self-confidence or with suspicion, and whether their attitude was based on a clear theological position, or on issues of socialisation. The book will primarily interest students and lecturers of Jewish/Christian relations, the Middle Ages, Jews in the Medieval period, and inter-religious research

Aux nombreuses recherches qui ont récemment renouvelé en profondeur l'historiographie des relations entre juifs et chrétiens dans l'Europe du Moyen Age, la présente étude voudrait apporter sa contribution en examinant la manière dont les juifs appréhendaient ceux de leurs coreligionnaires qui, abjurant leur foi d'origine, entraient dans la société chrétienne. Statut du nouveau chrétien, nature des relations entretenues avec lui, conditions de son éventuel retour dans le giron du judaïsme : telles sont les questions auxquelles cette étude ambitionne de répondre.

El autor intenta valorar la importancia de las ceremonias en el proceso de socialización de los niños en las comunidades judías durante la Edad Media. Se estudian dos casos : la circuncisión, y la ceremonia que introduce el niño en el mundo de los estudios y le hace pasar del hogar paternal a la sinagoga. El primer ritual se efectua cuando el niño tiene una semana, y el segundo entre tres y cinco años. El autor analiza los elementos que componen los dos rituales, identifica los mitos subyacentes y los mensajes dirigidos hacia la comunidad cuando las ceremonias.

Goldin's study explores the relationships between men and women within Jewish society living in Germany, northern France and England among the Christian population over a period of some 350 years. Looking at original Hebrew sources to conduct a social analysis, he takes us from the middle of the tenth century until the middle of the second half of the fourteenth century, when the Christian population had expelled the Jews from almost all of the places they were living. Particularly fascinating are the attitudes towards women, as well as their changes in social status. By examining the factors involved in these issues, including views of the leadership, economic influences, internal power politics and gender struggles, Goldin's book provides a greater understanding of the functioning of these communities. This volume will be of great interest to historians of medieval Europe, gender and religion