Al-Andalus Chair: “Great Jewish figures of Al-Andalus: The sage Hasday Ibn Shaprut”

Coinciding with the usual celebration of Sefarad Month in September each year, the Three Cultures Foundation is organising a lecture as part of the series “Great Jewish Figures of Al-Andalus”. The initiative aims to raise awareness and highlight the contribution of these figures to the history and culture of Spain and the rest of Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as their contribution to the intellectual, cultural and scientific heritage of humanity.

On this occasion, the conference, entitled “The sage Hasday Ibn Shaprut and his paradigmatic relationship with Muslims, Christians and Jews”, will be dedicated to Hasday Ibn Shaprut (Jaén c. 915-970 or 975), the first Jewish figure of outstanding importance in the history of Al-Andalus.

Hasday Ibn Shaprut, originally from Jaén and based in Córdoba, was a physician, linguist and diplomat in the service of the Umayyad Caliphate. He stood out as ambassador to Abd al-Rahman III, physician to al-Hakam II and translator of scientific works such as De materia médica. He also promoted Jewish jurisprudence and history in his community. He is a symbol of Jewish prosperity in Al-Andalus and of religious coexistence during the Caliphate. 

The session will be led by Rafael Cámara Expósito, president of the IUVENTA Association of Jaén, curator of the 1200th Anniversary of the Capital of Jaén and former president of the Sephardic Federation of Associations of Southern Spain.