Emilio Castelar and The Jews: A Reevaluation

Abstract

The distinguished Spanish orator Emilio Castelar y Ripoll (1832-1899) was long considered by the Spanish public and researchers as an enthusiastic philosemite and champion of the Jewish cause in Europe. The article proves that this impression is somehow inaccurate, and that Emilio Castelar’s thinking underwent a radical change from traditional Spanish Catholic anti-Semitism expressed in his early writings from the sixth and seventh decades of the nineteenth century, to pro Jewish exalted philosemitism expressed in his later writings from the last decades of the century. The article analyzes Emilio Castelars’ various writings about the Jews and offers several possible explanations to his change of mind.