ABSTRACT:
The second volume of the study looks into the evidence for a Jewish presence, or for transient Jews, in Kievan Rus' and non-Lettovian post-invasion Rus' till the very early 16c. This is done on Slavonic evidence and such Hebraic evidence as has been translated into modern European languages. The study focuses on the evidence -- or non-evidence -- of Jewish-Christian contacts in Medieval Russia, and, notwithstanding the thriving Jewish community at pre-13c Kiev, it finds very little to support the florishing view that there was a particularly marked opposition between the two religions on East Slav soil before the 16c. The first part of the volume contains a survey in time and space of the Jews of medieval Russia; the second part looks into the evidence for contacts and potential aggression in economic activity, learning, alleged or possible conversions, and alleged or possible assaults/pogroms/expulsions.
