History of the Jews in Malta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The history of the Jews in Malta can be traced back to approximately 1500 BC. Although the population was probably never in a number greater than 1,000 inhabitants, their presence probably dates back to the Hebrew-speaking but not yet Jewish seafaring tribes of Zebulun and Asher. During the long Arab rule of the island, Jews often held posts as civil servants, one member of the community even reaching the highest possible rank, Vizier.[1]
The Jewish population of Malta reached a peak in the Middle Ages under Norman rule, which began in 1090, with five hundred living on the main island and 350 on Gozo. The Jewish people generally prospered during this period, they were not required to live in ghettos and most owned agricultural land or worked as shopkeepers or traders. Their only burden was to provide annual gifts to high office holders. Avraham Abulafia, a well-known Jewish mystic, lived in Comino from 1285 to his death in the 1290s.[1]
In 1479, Malta and Sicily came under Aragonese rule and the 1492 Edict of Expulsion forced all Jews to leave the country with only a few belongings. Because they made up such a large portion of the island's population, the Spanish Crown even forced them to pay compensation for the losses caused by their expulsion. It is not clear where the Jews of Malta went, but they likely joined the Sicilian community in Levant.[1] It is also likely that several dozen Maltese Jews converted to Christianity in order to be able to remain in the country as did many Sicilian Jews. This is further evidenced by the large number of Maltese surnames thought to be of Jewish origin.[2]
In 1530 Charles V of Spain gave Malta to the Knights of Saint John, who ruled the island until 1798; many Sicilian conversos then moved here remembering the Knights' liberal policy towards the Jews of Rhodes, but they had to continue practicing their religion in secrecy.[2] There was no free Jewish population in the country during this period, but the Knights would often take passengers of merchant ships - including numerous Jews - hostage in order to get the ransom and it would be up to Jewish Societies for the Redemption of Captives to raise it. There were therefore many enslaved Jews in Malta during this period. Because of this situation, Malta became a symbol for evil in Jewish literature of that time.[3] Free Jews wishing to visit the country could only enter through the port in Valletta, which is to this day known as the Jews' Sallyport.[1]
Today's Jewish community in Malta dates back to the Jewish immigration from Gibraltar, England, North Africa, Portugal, and Turkey during the short period of French rule from 1798 to 1800 and British rule after that.[1] From 1805, however, Jews were the targets of campaigns by the Maltese directed at all foreigners including them.[3] In 1846, a Tripolitanian became the country's first rabbi. During the early 20th century, the island did not always have a rabbi of its own, since the community was so small. Rabbis would be flown in from Sicily to perform ceremonies.[1] In the time before World War II, many Jews fleeing Nazism came to Malta as it was the only European country not to require visas of Jews fleeing German rule[3] and numerous Maltese Jews fought Germany in the British Army during the war. Today, twenty-five Jewish families live in Malta, of which many are old due to the tendency of young inhabitants to emigrate. In 2000, a new synagogue was built with donations from the US and the UK. The Jewish Foundation of Malta now manages it along with a Jewish Center.[1]
Malta's relations with Israel have been friendly since the former's independence.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Tayar, Aline P'nina: "The Jews of Malta". Accessed December 25, 2006.
- ^ a b The Virtual Jewish History Tour: Malta in Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed December 29, 2006.
- ^ a b c Hecht, Esther: The Jewish Traveler: Malta in Hadassah Magazine. December 2005. Accessed December 28, 2006.
|
|||||||||||
