The Abendana Network: Shaping Early Modern European Intellectual Discourse

Author: Rafael Josselson

Field of Study: Judaic Studies; History

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Bryan Kirschen, Dina Danon

Easel: 93

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: Hailing from the Western Sephardi Diaspora, Jacob and Isaac Abendana played pivotal roles in bridging the gap in Early Modern European intellectual discourse through their engagement with Christian contemporaries. While often seen as minor figures, this study reexamines their role as pivotal figures, showcasing a shift from anti-Jewish assumptions among Christian academics to a more tolerant view. While scholars have investigated individual aspects of the brothers’ work over the years, few have attempted to research their lives synthetically. By analyzing primary and secondary sources such as Jacob’s correspondence with Antonius Hulsius and Isaac’s Oxford Diaries, this study will analyze the Abendanas’ focus on cultivating and reflecting on interpersonal relationships in their works. The study concludes that the Abendanas’ success was not just a reflection of the changing attitudes of the time, but due to their active effort to shape how Jews were viewed by Christian scholarly circles.