Don Yitzchak Abarbanel and the Spanish Expulsion: A Moral Choice That Shaped Jewish History

Don Yitzchak Abarbanel was a statesman, philosopher, biblical commentator, and above all, a Jew who refused to stand aside in a moment of terrible trial.

The Decree of Expulsion

In 1492, the harshest decree imaginable was imposed upon the Jews of Spain: the Edict of Expulsion. The Catholic monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile signed an order requiring all Jews to leave the kingdom within three months or convert to Christianity. Behind this move stood Tomás de Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor, who viewed Judaism as a constant threat to the purity of the Christian faith.

Abarbanel’s Stand

Don Yitzchak Abarbanel was no ordinary man. He served as treasurer under Ferdinand and Isabella and enjoyed their trust. He was admired not only among Spanish Jewry but also at the royal court itself. Yet when rumors of the impending decree reached him, he did not cling to his personal status. Instead, he placed the full weight of his influence on behalf of his people.

According to historical accounts, Abarbanel requested an urgent audience with the king. In an impassioned appeal, he spoke not only in terms of economic logic, since the Jews of Spain were pillars of the economy, science, and medicine, but also in the name of fairness and justice. He offered the crown an enormous sum, thirty thousand gold ducats, a ransom that could have secured clemency for the entire Jewish people. At the time, this was a staggering amount, comparable to the annual revenues of the kingdom.

Fanaticism Triumphs Over Reason

According to a well known tradition, at the very moment when the king and queen seemed inclined to relent, Torquemada burst into the room, holding a large cross. He threw it at their feet and cried out, “Just as Judas Iscariot sold our Lord for thirty pieces of silver, so shall you do as well.” His words achieved their aim. Fanaticism overcame reason, and the decision was sealed. The expulsion went into effect.

Choosing Exile Over Betrayal

After his efforts failed, Abarbanel did not choose conversion or a life of secret Judaism. He rose, gathered his family and possessions, and went into exile together with his people. This act, by one of the most powerful financial ministers in Europe, who relinquished his position for the sake of his nation, turned him into a model figure. Not only a scholar, but loyal, devoted, and noble in spirit.

Faith and Leadership in Exile

Abarbanel did not cease his struggle after the expulsion. In exile, first in Naples and later in Venice, he continued to write, to interpret the Bible, and to encourage Jews not to sink into despair. He believed that the expulsion from Spain was merely a stage drawing redemption closer. He urged the Jews not to lose heart, but to strengthen their commitment to Judaism, for redemption was near.

A Tale of Two Choices

Don Yitzchak Abarbanel is often cited as an example of the high status Jews attained in Spain before the expulsion, but have you heard of Abraham Senior Coronel?

Abraham Senior Coronel was among the most prominent Jews in Spain prior to the expulsion. He served as the king’s chief tax collector in Castile and, like Abarbanel, held the position of treasurer under King Ferdinand. Some even say he played a role in arranging the marriage between Ferdinand and Isabella. When the decree of expulsion loomed, Coronel, together with Abarbanel, attempted to prevent it. He too offered a vast ransom to avert the decree.

Yet when the day of expulsion arrived, Coronel’s family did not appear at the harbor to leave Spain. Instead, Abraham Senior Coronel chose to convert to Christianity.

The Judgment of History

These two figures, Don Isaac Abarbanel and Abraham Senior Coronel, embody the fate of Spanish Jewry. One transformed himself into a giant of spirit, continuing to transmit the wisdom of Spanish Jewry to this very day. The other, at the same crossroads of decision, failed the test of history and was erased from the book of Jewish memory.

Their story is also a reminder for our own generation. Two people may appear almost identical, yet a single decisive choice can determine who will belong to the ongoing story of Jewish history and who will vanish from it.