New Christian To New Jews Essay

From “New Christians” to “New Jews” Judaism was not always an openly free religion. During the late Middle Ages, the Inquisition expanded in Spain and Portugal due to New Christians, who were called conversos. The phrase “New Christians” refers to Sephardic Jews in Rome and Portugal who at the time converted to the Catholic Church due to multiple reasons. Many had to go against their beliefs and converted because they were forced to. At this time, Amsterdam was a safe place for Jewish participation. At the end of the 16th century, Jews from Spain, Portugal, and Central and Eastern Europe emigrated to Amsterdam to finally be able to practice their beliefs. The Portuguese and Spanish Inquisitions were mostly focused on the
Costa was a philosopher who emigrated to Amsterdam in 1615 to explore the Jewish religion and to eventually reclaim his Jewish heritage. He grew up as a Christian but always questioned the Jewish religion. According to Uriel da Costa’s Autobiography, he studied the Book of Moses and of the Prophets. Reading and learning more about Judaism in a deeper way connected him to God and made him come to {the conclusion that he wanted to return to Judaism. “[He] decided to convert to the Law of Moses. As he declared himself to be only deliverer of what was revealed by God himself” (Costa 200). He discovered the beauty behind Judaism. His parents were also considered New Christians and decided to return to Judaism as well. He could finally practice the Oral Law without being forced to stop. “So dangerously is it in that country to speak freely on this subject, even to one’s dearest friends” (Costa 201). Finally, after many years of living in Portugal where he could not live openly in freedom, he was free to express his origins and engage in the Jewish