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The Tikvah Podcast

Cynthia Ozick on "The Conversion of the Jews" (Rebroadcast)

Feb 7, 2025
Cynthia Ozick, a legendary essayist and novelist known for her incisive works on Jewish fiction, delves into the complexities of faith and identity. The discussion centers around the 1263 Disputation of Barcelona, exploring what drives individuals like Pablo Christiani, a former Jew turned Dominican friar, to betray their roots. Ozick examines themes of cultural identity, the struggles between belief systems, and the psychological impact of historical persecution on personal narratives. It's a profound exploration of transformation and resilience.
34:15

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast explores the Disputation of Barcelona as a critical event illustrating the complexities of Christian-Jewish relationships and identity.
  • Cynthia Ozick's narrative emphasizes the psychological turmoil of conversion, highlighting themes of self-hatred and the enduring struggle for Jewish identity.

Deep dives

The Significance of Historical Context

The podcast discusses the historical significance of the Disputation of Barcelona in 1263, where Dominican friar Pablo Cristiani debated Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman. This event serves as a backdrop for understanding the complexities of Christian-Jewish relationships and the motivations behind conversion narratives. The exploration of Cristiani’s own background as a Sephardic Jew who converted to Christianity raises intriguing questions about identity and self-hatred. Cynthia Ozick's story, 'The Conversion of the Jews,' reflects on these themes by examining the psychological and contextual factors that drive individuals to turn against their own community.

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