Taxes and Tensions: The Story of Jewish Tax Disputes in Medieval Spain

Rabbi Shlomo ben Aderes, the legendary rabbi and leader of Barcelona, received countless questions during his tenure, many of which have been preserved to this day. In this class, we discuss six compelling cases of tax disputes. They reveal remarkable insights into the political and economic realities of the time, the dynamics within Jewish communities, and their interactions with the surrounding non-Jewish world. Taxes and Tensions: The Story of Jewish Tax Disputes in Medieval Spain