The Hebrew Language of the Disputation of Barcelona. A Reappraisal

Résumé

The Disputation of Barcelona, which took place on 20 and 24 July 1263, between Mošeh ben Naḥman and the Dominican friar Pau Christià, has been extensively studied by researchers. In recent years, scholars have scrutinized the Vikkuaḥ Ha-Ramban, a Hebrew account of the debate commonly attributed to Naḥmanides, to compare it with the Latin reports and determine its historical significance. This paper aims to assess the Vikkuaḥ as a piece of polemical literature, by analyzing its textual tradition, language, style, and literary elements, to ascertain whether Naḥmanides was its author. Through careful examination, I hope to determine whether the Vikkuaḥ is an accurate historical account, a work of fiction, or an original piece of literature crafted by Naḥmanides to educate his fellow Jews about the new missionary techniques of the Dominican order.