Image: Ban of Baruch Spinoza, Amsterdam, 27 July 1656, 6 Av 5416

Description: Document through which Spinoza was banned by the Portugese Jewish community of Amsterdam, Thursday, 27 July 1656 = 6th of Av, 5416. Escamoth, register of the resolutions of the parnassim (rulers) of the Portugese Jewish synagogue Talmud Tora, Amsterdam. Translation of the Portugese transcription above The Lords of Maamad [the leaders of the community] announce that they have long known of the wrong opinions and erroneous behavior of Baruch de Spinoza and by various means and warnings have tried to turn him away from the wrong path. As they did not obtain any result and, on the contrary, the horrible heresies that he practiced and taught were increasing, as well as his unheard-of behavior on which there are many testimonies that were given in the presence of the mentioned Spinoza, all analyzed in the presence of the Messrs. Chachamim, they decided according to them that an anathema should be imposed on him and that he be set apart from the nation of Israel, according to the following declaration by Jérem: By the verdict of the angels, and the judgment of the saints, we impose jérem, expel, execrate and curse Baruch of Spinoza, with the consent of this Holy community, before the Sacred Books of the Law with its six hundred and thirteen precepts that are written in them, with the jérem with which Josué imposed Yerijó, with the curse with which Elisha cursed the young people and with all the execrations written in the Law. Cursed be it by day and cursed by night; cursed at bedtime and cursed when getting up; damn it when it comes out and damn it when it comes back. That A[donái] does not forgive him. May the wrath and anger of A[donái] be unleashed against this man and throw upon him all the curses written in the Book of this Law. A[donái] will erase his name under the heavens and expel him from all the tribes of Israel abandoning it to the Evil One with all the curses of the firmament written in the Book of this Law. You, who are faithful to A[donái] your D[io]s, live today in peace. We warn that no one can communicate with him orally or in writing, that no one pays him any favors, that no one remains with him under the same roof or less than four yards away, that no one reads any text produced or written by him. In order to record all that has happened, the Lords of Maamad ordered, with all seven votes, that this case be recorded in this book, with the signature of all: Joseph de los Rios, J. Slomo Abrabanel, Ishac Belmonte, Jaacob Barzilay, Abraam Pereyra, Abraham Pharar, Abraham Nunes Henriques, Saul Levy Mortera, Ischac Abuab, Binjamin Mussaphia, Semuel Salom, Dor Efraim Bueno, Immanuel Israel Dias, Izak Bueno, David Osorio, Abraham Telles
Title: Ban of Baruch Spinoza, Amsterdam, 27 July 1656, 6 Av 5416
Credit: cautebaruchspinoza.blogspot.com
Author: Unknown author
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No