Abner of Burgos facts for kids

Abner of Burgos (born around 1270 – died around 1347) was a Jewish thinker who later became a Christian. After his conversion, he was known as Alfonso of Valladolid. He wrote many arguments against his former religion.

Life Story

As a student, Abner became very good at studying the Bible and Talmud (Jewish religious texts). He also learned a lot about philosophy and astrology (the study of stars and planets). At 25, he became a doctor. However, he often struggled to make a living throughout his long life.

Abner said his doubts about his faith began in 1295. This was after he helped many Jewish people who were upset by a failed movement that believed a messiah (a savior) would appear in Avila. Abner wrote in his book, Moreh Zedek, that he had a dream. In this dream, crosses mysteriously appeared on his clothes. This dream made him question his Jewish faith.

Some people believed Abner converted to Christianity not because of spiritual belief, but to gain advantages in life. He quickly received a job as a sacristan (someone who takes care of a church) in a big church in Valladolid. This is where he got the name Alfonso of Valladolid. However, his job as a sacristan was very simple. He never got a more important or higher-paying job, even though he spent many years writing and debating after his conversion (from about 1320 to 1347). This makes some people question if he truly converted only for money.

His Debates

Abner was special because he used many Jewish writings in his arguments. He used hundreds of sources from the Talmud and other Jewish texts. He also used medieval Jewish and Arabic writings. He used all these texts to try and prove that Christianity was true. It was also unusual that he wrote his arguments against Judaism in Hebrew, unlike almost all other debaters at that time.

His most important work was called Moreh Zedek (Teacher of Righteousness). Today, only a 14th-century Spanish translation of it exists, called Mostrador de Justicia. This book is one of the longest and most detailed arguments ever written against Judaism. It is seen as a very important source for understanding anti-Jewish ideas in Europe during the 1300s.

In another essay called Minhat Qenaot, Abner argued that what people do is decided by the planets. He said that ideas like "choice" and "free will" were actually controlled by these planetary influences. Both his conversion and these ideas about planets caused strong disagreements. His former Jewish study partner, Isaac Pulgar, protested his views with great anger. Abner also wrote many letters debating with local Jewish people. These letters, along with their replies and Abner's final response, are still around today. This collection is known as the Teshuvot ha-Meshubot.

Abner also made accusations to Alfonso XI of Castile, who was the king. He claimed that Jewish people were using a prayer called the Birkat haMinim in their services. He said this prayer insulted the Christian God and cursed all Christians. The king ordered a public investigation in Valladolid in 1336. Abner faced representatives from the Jewish community. The king then issued a royal order forbidding the use of that prayer.

Abner also accused Jewish people of always fighting among themselves and splitting into different religious groups. To support this, he listed what he claimed were "sects" (groups) among them. These included Sadducees, Samaritans, and other divisions. He even said there were two "sects" of Pharisees and Rabbinites. He also claimed that some Jewish mystics believed in a "tenfold God" and spoke of a new "sect" that believed in two Gods.

His Writings

Here are some of the things Abner wrote:

• The Moreh Zedek (Teacher of Righteousness). This book is now only found as Mostrador de justicia in Spanish. It is a dialogue with ten chapters of discussions between a religious teacher (possibly Abner) and a Jewish debater.
• Teshuvot la-Meharef (Response to the Blasphemer), also in Spanish as Respuestas al blasfemo.
• His debate letters and the Teshuvot ha-Meshubot.
• The Libro de la ley (Book of the Law).
• The philosophical work Minhat Qenaot (Offering of Zeal), which argued about determinism (that actions are decided by outside forces). This is only found in Spanish as Ofrenda de Zelos or Libro del Zelo de Dios.
• A math book called Meyyasher Aqob (Straightening the Curve).

Some of his lost works might include:

• A commentary on Abraham ibn Ezra's commentary on the Ten Commandments. He wrote this before he converted.
• Sefer Milhamot Adonai ("Wars of the Lord"). This was translated into Spanish as "Las Batallas de Dios."
• La Concordia de las Leyes, which tried to find Old Testament reasons for Christian beliefs.
• Iggeret ha-Gezerah (Epistle on Fate).

Some works that were wrongly thought to be written by him include:

• Libro de las tres gracias (Book of the Three Graces).
• Libro de las hadas (Book of the Fairies).
• Sermones a los moros y judios (Sermons to Moors and Jews).
• The Epistola Rabbi Samualis and Disputatio Abutalib by Alfonsus Bonihiminis.

See Also

In Spanish: Alfonso de Valladolid para niños

• Criticism of Judaism
• Petrus Alfonsi