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Bordeaux during the Spanish Inquisition is only somewhat safe for Jews if they are not willing to pretend to be Christians. But if they are willing to pretend to be Christians, then Jews can live in peace. Bordeaux would be a good place for Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition if their only choices are staying in Spain or going to Bordeaux.

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What were the Jewish practices in Bordeaux?

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What were the Jewish practices in Bordeaux?

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Jews in Bordeaux followed Sephardic traditions. In the 1700s, they were able to go to synagogue, but likely did not practice many different traditions because they had to pretend to be Christian.

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As long as they continued pretending to be Christians, Jews in Bordeaux were treated well. There was suspicion about the crypto-Jews not really being Christian, but because the people in charge chose to ignore it, the Jews likely had a good life as long as they were careful to continue pretending being Christian.

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Jews in Bordeaux were merchants, scholars, doctors, and lawyers.

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In the 18th century, a communal organization called the Sedaca was established. It took care of poor people, Sephardic communities, and travellers.

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What was the quality of life for Jews in Bordeaux?

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What was the quality of life for Jews in Bordeaux?

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As long as they were careful to not show that they were Jews, they were safe and did not have to pay taxes as foreigners. Also, in 1604 and 1612, a law was made that made it illegal to "speak ill of or do evil to the Portuguese merchants;" the Portuguese merchants were what the Jews from Spain and Portugal were called at the time in Bordeaux.

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Jews have lived in Bordeaux since at least the 6th century, but many came to Bordeaux to escape the Spanish Inquisition.

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What were the non-Jew leaders' policies?

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What were the non-Jew leaders' policies?

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When crypto-Jews came to Bordeaux to escape the Inquisition, it was illegal to be Jewish in France, so they had to continue pretending to be Christian. Many of the non-Jews who lived in the town suspected that the crypto-Jews were not actually Christian, but the authorities of the town chose not to arrest them.