Poverty and Welfare Among the Portuguese Jews in Early Modern Amsterdam

Download or read book Poverty and Welfare Among the Portuguese Jews in Early Modern Amsterdam written by Tirtsah Levie Bernfeld and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 590 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Early modern Amsterdam was a prosperous city renowned for its relative tolerance, and many people hoping for a better future, away from persecution, wars, and economic malaise, chose to make a new life there. Conversos and Jews from many countries were among them, attracted by the reputed wealth and benevolence of the Portuguese Jews who had settled there. Behind the facade of prosperity, however, poverty was a serious problem. It preoccupied the leadership of the Portuguese Jewish community and influenced its policy on admitting newcomers. This book looks at poverty and welfare from the perspective of both benefactors and recipients.