Historical Interactions Among Jews, Christians, and Muslims

The chapter delves into the complex and often uncomfortable historical relationships between Jews, Christians, and Muslims, particularly during the early formation of Islam in the seventh century. It highlights the historical enmities and hostilities that shaped Jewish perceptions of Christianity, especially amid antisemitic practices in the Byzantine Empire, leading Jews to view Islam more favorably as a more tolerant alternative. The discussion further illustrates how Jews, particularly throughout the Islamic Golden Age, often found greater acceptance and community within Muslim societies compared to Christian ones, with notable reflections on events like the Spanish Inquisition and subsequent movements to the Ottoman Empire.