Apostasy in Judaism
Apostasy in Judaism is the rejection of Judaism and possible conversion to another religion by a Jew. The term "apostasy" is derived from , meaning "rebellious" (.) Equivalent expressions for apostate in Hebrew that are used by rabbinical scholars include "mumar" (, literally "one who is changed" [out of his faith]), "poshea Yisrael" (, literally, "transgressor of Israel"), and "kofer" (, literally "denier"). Similar terms are "meshumad" (, lit. "destroyed one"), and "min" () or "Epikoros" (), which denote heresy and the negation of God and Judaism, implying atheism. Classes of apostates and relevance. A "mumar" is someone who does not observe a certain mitzvah  or who doesn't observe any mitzvot at all. Rabbinic categories differentiate between a "mumar ledavar echad" (מומר לדבר אחד) who doesn't observe a certain mitzvah, and a "mumar lekhol hatorah kulah" (מומר לכל התורה כולה) who doesn't observe any of the Torah. Likewise they differentiate between a "mumar l'teyavon" (מומר לתיאבון) who transgresses mitzvah(s) wantonly due to craving ("teyavon") or convenience, versus a "mumar l'hakh`is" (מומר להכעיס) meaning one who transgresses out of spite, who defies the mitzvah willfully. Some halakhic aspects of this status include: a "mumar" is treated as a gentile in regard to commerce ; it is forbidden to cause him to stumble into doing something forbidden; regarding matrimony, ritual purity, and inheritance (with some exceptions) he is an Israelite; the sages prescribed no mourning for a "mumar". However today another category, "tinok shenishba" ("captured infant"), a Jew who sins inadvertently as a result of having been raised without an appreciation for the thought and practices of Judaism, is widely applied and should be considered. Examples. In the Bible. The first recorded reference to apostasy from Judaism is in , which states: In the Talmud. In the Talmud, Elisha ben Abuyah (referred to as "Acher", the  Other One) is singled out as an apostate by the rabbis. Medieval Spain. In Medieval Spain, a systematic conversion of Jews to Christianity took place, largely under threats and force. The apostasy of these "conversos" provoked the indignation of some Jews in Spain and it was made illegal to call a converso by the epithet "tornadizo" (renegade). Several inquisitors of the Spanish Inquisition, such as Tomás de Torquemada and Francisco de Quiñones the Bishop of Coria, are thought to be descendants of apostate Jews. Known apostates who made their mark in history by attempting to convert other Jews in the  14th and 15th centuries include Juan de Valladolid and Astruc Remoch. Some Spanish Jews, however, remained crypto-Jews despite being compelled to convert to Christianity (see "Anusim"). They are also called "Marranos". Sabbatai Zevi and Jacob Frank. In 1648 Sabbatai Zevi claimed to be the Jewish Messiah. His Jewish followers were known as Sabbateans. Zevi converted to Islam in 1666. Afterwards, some of his followers willingly converted but continued to practise Sabbatean rituals. These people became known as the Dönmeh. In the 1750s Jacob Frank claimed he was the reincarnation of Zevi and attracted many followers in Poland, known as  Frankists. In 1759, with Frank's encouragement, more than 500 Frankists were baptized as Catholics. Frank himself was also baptized, with the King of Poland as his godfather.