Page 85 - The Track Of The Jew Through The Ages - Alfred Rosenberg

Alfred Rosenberg

should not be begun with the Inquisition, as it mostly happens in
order to throw sand in one's eyes, but from the standpoint of the
Jewish immigration, through which alone one learns to understand
how the ground had been prepared for the persecutions ofthe Church.

The Jews in Portugal

It cannot be strictly ascertained when the Jews immigrated
th
into Portugal; however, from the 11 century already we possess
some reports which permit no doubts on the fact that they were in
possession of all civil rights, that they could acquire land and
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property, indeed in several cases enjoyed preferential rights. We
see therefore that, already at this time, there did not exist any aversion
on the part of the Portuguese or, in case the Jews were also, as
foreigners, not considered in a friendly way, nowhere were
difficulties made for them in their life or activity but, on the contrary,
privileges were soon granted to them. They formed a state within a
state, had their own jurisdiction which, though different from the
state laws, was recognised by the government. The chief rabbi was
at the same time a royal official and constantly enjoyed influence
at the court, he had judicial authority over all Jewish communities,
he combined in his hands the offices of official and penal authority,
which was otherwise considered as the right of only the sovereign
himself.
In a legal dispute between a Jew and a Christian, a Jew, in
case he was the prosecuted, could be brought to court only by his
rabbi; the Christian had to present himselfto the defendant's forum.
Christian judges could in no way interfere in disputes between Jews
and Jews, and no Jew could denounce his fellow tribesman in a
state court. Jewish religious customs were strictly followed, the Jews
could not be summoned to any official activities on the Sabbath and
on their holidays, for, as it states in a decree of King Alfonso III
(1248-79): "Since they (the Jews) are obliged by their religion to
celebrate the Sabbath, nobody should have them summoned to court
on this day". And, besides, since several tax burdens were lifted

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Kunstmann, Rechtsverhaltnisse der Juden.
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