Aron Mendes Chumaceiro (1810-1882)

De laatste opperrabbijn van curaçao

Samenvatting

From the period of the official recognition of the emancipation of Dutch Jews in 1796, scholarly discourse reveals a rich number of diverse personalities within the Dutch Jewish intellectual and religious educational landscape. Among these figures were several proponents of Dutch-Jewish integration who fortified their convictions with their own perspectives and philosophies. Aron Mendes Chumaceiro (1810-1882), a Sephardic (chief) rabbi, became a prominent figure within the Western-Sephardic community of Amsterdam during this transformative era. Chumaceiro sought to harmonise antiquated Sephardic traditions and practices with the contemporary norms prevalent in the Netherlands, such as preaching in the Dutch vernacular. This article delves into the ideological framework articulated by Chumaceiro within both social and religious contexts.