Solomon ben Reuben Bonfed was a rabbi who lived in late 14th and early 15th century Spain. In his day, many conversos (Jews who converted to Christianity) actively and often quite aggressively sought to convert their former brethren to their new faith. To do this, some of these apostates from Judaism employed their knowledge of Hebrew and the Jewish scriptures in order to prove various Christian dogmas. To prove something to unbelievers, especially to Jews, to convince them to accept Jesus and associated beliefs, has always been one of the fundamental tasks of Christians and it continues to this very day. One such convert was Astruc Remoch of Fraga, who took on the name Francisco Dias-Carni upon his conversion. Francisco, in his new identity, would write feverishly to Jews of Spain in defense of the Trinity, hoping to persuade them to leave Judaism, embrace Jesus and convert to Christianity as he did. Most of the Jews who received his letters didn’t dare to answer him in a manner which may have been interpreted by the Church authorities as an attack on Christianity, an offense often punished by death. One Jew and poet, however, by name of Rabbi Solomon ben Reuben Bonfed, was a bit bolder in his reply to Francisco, in a form of rhyming prose (the full contents of which I will post on the blog later). Here’s one poignant, if sarcastic, excerpt:
You pervert and misinterpret biblical verses in order to establish the trinity. If you had a quaternity [DM: that is a god who is four-in-one] you would be able to prove it, too, from the Old Testament just as strikingly and convincingly. (Solomon ben Reuben Bonfed, satirical poet)
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