In fact, there are a number of incidents described in medieval Hebrew prose
and verse martyrological texts in which Jewish WOMEN, faced with conversion
or death, spit on a cross or icon. I have been wondering what all this
spitting is about. If their arms were bound, it was one of the few gestures
of contempt available, perhaps. But perhaps it also had some kind of
cultural significance, as with the spitting during the Aleinu prayer when the
"heretics" were mentioned.
Is there more to be said on spitting?
Cordially, Susan Einbinder
>To continue Esther's and Peter's line, a number of Passion tracts from
>the later middle ages mention that the Jews spat at Jesus "with their
>stinking spittle" (met hoeren stinckenden spijkel). Where does this
>derive from? Many of the tracts quote "Bernardus", but I wouldn't
>want to take that at face value.
>
>With best regards,
>
>Christoph
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>
>
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11/21/96 22:11:38
Susan Einbinder
Hebrew Union College
3101 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati OH 45220
office: 513-221-1875
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