Rabbinic attitudes toward nonobservance in· the Medieval Period

Abstract

Medieval rabbinic authorities encountered several different modes of nonobservance. Perhaps the most vexing consisted of Jews who were converted, either willingly or forcibly, to Christianity or Islam. Halakhists had to consider the intention and possible intimidation of the apostate, as well as the extent to which he or she upheld Jewish practices and beliefs after conversion. They had to rule on the apostate's status as a Jew in regard to issues ranging from divorce to the status of the wine he touched. In addition, they had to set the conditions for his possible return and to define the posture toward him to be adopted by members of the Jewish community.1