Abstract:

In 1712 the 'ma'amad' of the Spanish-Portuguese community of Amsterdam excommunicated three of its members on charges of Karaism: David Mendes Henriquez (also known as David Almanza) and the brothers Aaron and Isaac Dias da Fonseca. In Amsterdam, as well as elsewhere in Western Europe, Sephardic Jews were impressed by the ideal image of Karaism as it was projected in the Christian Hebraist literature beginning in the mid-17th century. The views of Richard Simon enjoyed particular currency. Some neo-Karaites turned away from Judaism and espoused Calvinist Christianity.

Website