Beyond Expulsion

"Beyond Expulsion" is a comprehensive study of Jewish-Christian interactions in early modern Strasbourg, a city from which the Jews were expelled in the late 14th century. The author, Debra Kaplan, illuminates how the Jews who remained in the Alsatian region continued to maintain relationships with the city and its inhabitants. Throughout the 16th century, Jews had daily access to Strasbourg, participated in markets, engaged in legal disputes, and shared their knowledge of Hebrew and Judaica with the Protestant reformers. With the rise of orthodox Lutheranism in the city, the city magistrates and religious leaders sought to restrict contact between Jews and Christians. This book reveals the active participation of Jews in early modern society, examines the impact of the Reformation on local Jews, discusses the concept of tolerance, and describes the shifting boundaries between Jewish and Christian communities.