הקשר המזרחי: גורמים מוסלמיים בפולמוס הנוצרי האנטי-יהודי במאה הי"ב

Discusses anti-Jewish polemics of the 12th century, which were influenced by the rationalistic arguments of Anselm of Canterbury as well as the conflict between Christianity and Islam. Petrus Alfonsi, a Jew who converted to Christianity in 1106, was the first polemicist who attacked Islam, as well as Judaism, for its irrationality. Pierre le Venerable of Cluny, in his arguments against Jews and Muslims, states that both are stubborn (due to their bestial mentality), prefer the physical over the spiritual, and are allies of the devil. After the decision for a second Crusade in 1146, he called for physical attacks on Jews; although they were protected by the Church, they posed a threat from within, no less than the Muslims. Bernard of Clairvaux, announcing the Crusade in 1146, warned against attacking Jews who he said would eventually be witnesses of the redemption and convert to Christianity. He also said that the violent Muslims should be destroyed, while the greedy Jews should be humiliated, but not killed.