The Historical Background of the Destruction of the Synagogue on Minorca (418 ce): Anti-Jewish Preaching and Forced Conversion

Abstract

The violent events that led to the forced conversion of local Jews to Christianity and, consequently, the plausible appearance of “crypto-Judaism,” are revealed to us by an epistle sent to the hierarchy of the universal Church by bishop Severus of Minorca around the year 418. It was that the Christians, incited and directed by the bishop himself, who had been spreading anti-Jewish sentiments among his followers through his preaching for a long time, undertook the course of action that their ardent faith required: to “save that multitude.” Thus, they first harassed and persecuted the Jews, after which they burned and completely destroyed their synagogue, an action which apparently remained unpunished. Severus states that the Jews themselves, once converted to Christianity, contributed to the reconstruction of the building not only by contributing funds, but also with their own labor, carrying building material on their own backs. According to him, there could be no better proof of the triumph of the Church over the Synagogue, deliberately ignoring the phenomenon of falsa conversio.