El memorial de Manasés en Israel a Cronwell solicitando la autorización legal para la vuelta oficial de los judíos a Inglaterra Memorial of Manasseh Ben Irael to Cronwell requewsting legal authorisation for the official return of the return of jews to England

Abstract

In 1290 Edward I expelled the Jews from England. Almost four centuries later, in 1655, Menasseh ben Israel sent to Oliver Cronwell, the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland his Humble Addresses in behalf of the Jewish Nation. It was a long missive asking for the abrogation of the English laws against the Jews and the permission to return to England. The text is divided into four parts: an introduction of the general content after the appeal to Cronwell’s benevolence; the exposition of the reasons why he travelled to England; the arguments on which he based his petition; and the brief mention of a last reason, the nobility of the Jews. It is a work written by a learned person, aware of the international politics in those days. The Lord Protector and the Council of State convened a gathering of prominent merchants, clergymen and lawyers for the purpose of debating on the subject: the Whitehall Conference (4-18 December 1655). Although it failed to reach a definitive conclusion as to whether Jewish readmission should be carried out, it clarified that the Jewish resettlement in England was legally permisible. On my knowledge, Menasseh ben Israel’s text had not been translated into any language and lacked notes. Therefore, I am very pleased to offer its annotated translation into Spanish.