The Expulsion of the Jews from Spain

On March 31st, 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella signed the Edict of Expulsion, which began the process of exiling the Jews of Spain unless they converted to Christianity. Beinart (history, Hebrew U. of Jerusalem) examines the effects of the expulsion on the families of the Jewish diaspora. After looking at the history of Jewry in Spain and the attitudes of the monarchy to them he explains the process leading to the expulsion. By examining court records, he explores the fate of Jewish communal and fa…