Call for Papers, 9th International Congress on the Jewish Legacy of Zamora, Spain

Isaac Campanton (1360-1463), his works, his time, and his disciples

 Campanton was considered the Gaon of the 9^th era of the Sephardic Rabbanin, which is counted since the Academia from Pumdebita moved to Cordoba around 948 c.e. This zamoran sage was the most important figure among the Iberian ones from the late 14^th century to the mid 15^th one. He learned with his father, Jacob, and wrote, as far as we know today, only book – The methodology of Talmud. He is also known because of his disciples, among them Isaac Aboab II, Isaac de León, Yosef Hayyún, Simón Memi, Jacob Habid, Shem Tob ben Shem Tob, Samuel Valensi, and Abraham Saba; some of them were the head of several Jewish communities in Spain at the moment of the expulsion.

Depiction of a Jewish sage, 14th century in Spain,
National Library Collection

The teachings of Campanton fled Iberia with his disciples, and with them it became one of the center pieces of the pedagogical and ethical practices in the Sephardic diaspora, from Oporto to Safed and from Fez to Amsterdam. Sages like Levi Habid, Jacob Berah and Samuel Medina applied Campanton’s methodology to their own schools in Jerusalem, Safed and Salonica, among other places. Still, in 1748, Campanton is mentioned as one of the most important Spanish Torah teaching references in the commentary to Proverbs by the Gavison family from Seville.   

Proposals are encouraged, but not limited to, on the following topics:

• Role of The Methodology of the Talmud in Jewish education post 1492 period
• Legacy of Campanton’s disciples
• Who were the Campanton? Where did they come from? Where did they go after 1492, if they left? If they stayed, which last name they adopted?
• Rebirth of the Jewish community in Spain in the mid 15^th century, myth or reality?
• Identity debates: are Jews the conservos judaizers prosecuted by the inquisition?
• Jewish migrations from Spain previous to 1492

Proposals submissions to centrocampanton@gmail.com until June 21. Due to the current public health situation, congress will take place in an online format. Proposal will be read as they arrived, and they can receive comments for their improvement if needed in order to be accepted.