Yakov Ellenbogen

My dissertation explores the intersection of disability and other forms of social identity in Jewish communities in medieval Central and Northwestern Europe (Ashkenaz). Adopting the approach of modern disability studies, I consider disability as a constructed social phenomenon in part, and examine how it interacted with other aspects of social identity in medieval Jewish society. Jews' socioeconomic background, gender, and even religious affiliations impacted their experience with various physical and mental disabilities. By gathering a diverse range of historical sources,
including Hebrew legal commentaries, responsa, exempla, and professional literature, as well as Latin and vernacular medical literature, municipal documents, and chronicles, I consider the complex tapestry of beliefs and practices that surrounded disability in this period, and position
disability in Jewish society in conversation with Christian views of disability. And by situating disability in a broader social context, I interrogate the relationship of disability and marginalization in medieval Jewish culture. While acknowledging discriminatory attitudes and practices towards people with disabilities, my work reveals some social dynamics which could lead to inclusion as well, often because of other mitigating forms of social identity.