Cromwell on the Re-admission of the Jews to England in 1655

Oliver Cromwell’s summing up of the 1655 debate on whether to readmit the Jews to England:

Now the Protector having heard all their [theologians] sentiments upon this affair, declared, “That he had no engagement to the Jews, but what the scriptures held forth, and that since there was a promise of their conversion, means must be used to that end, which was the preaching of the gospel, and that could not be had unless they were permitted to reside where the gospel was preached. That he had hoped, by these preachers, to have hade some clearing of the case, as to matters of conscience, but seeing these agreed not, but were of different opinions, it was left more doubtful to him, and the council, than before: And he hoped he should do nothing herein hastily or rashly, and had much need of all their prayers, that the Lord would direct them so as might be to his glory, and the good of the nation.”

Two journeys to Jerusalem: Containing first, A strange and true ..., Volume 1. Page 152

Sephardim eligible for Spanish citizenship

The Jerusalem Post reports that:

Spain has decided to offer automatic citizenship to anyone who can successfully prove their Sephardi origins, Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz Gallardón announced during a ceremony last week at Madrid’s Casa Sefarad-Israel.

Sweet, I suppose.

Spinoza

A film about the Sephardi Amsterdam philosopher, by the British Marxist Tariq Ali. Interestingly, Spinoza seems to have attended an Ashkenazi synagogue!!! The members of the Mahamad - wealthy merchants - are also presented as stereotypical religious Ashkenazim. Spinoza's father seems to have come of a barrow from Petticoat Lane but, even though it places the philosopher in an alien culture, the film is good fun.