Oliver Cromwell Financed By The Jews

The claim that Oliver Cromwell’s Protectorate was financed by Jewish individuals is a complex and often debated historical topic. While it’s an oversimplification to say Cromwell was financed by Jews, there’s certainly evidence of interactions and support from individuals of Jewish background and those sympathetic to their cause, contributing to the eventual readmission of Jews to England after centuries of expulsion.

For over 350 years, dating back to 1290, Jews had been officially banished from England. Cromwell, seeking to strengthen England’s economy and potentially influenced by religious toleration views prevalent among some Puritan factions, considered lifting the ban. He saw the potential benefits of allowing Jewish merchants, known for their international trade networks, back into the country.

Figures like Menasseh ben Israel, a prominent rabbi and diplomat from Amsterdam, played a crucial role in advocating for readmission. He petitioned Cromwell, arguing that allowing Jews to live and practice freely in England was not only just but also economically advantageous. He presented his case in his treatise, “Hope of Israel,” further connecting Jewish resettlement with theological interpretations of the end times.

It’s true that some wealthy merchants of Jewish descent, primarily Sephardic Jews from Amsterdam and other parts of Europe, offered financial support to the Commonwealth. These individuals, operating in the shadows due to the existing ban, had pre-existing trade relationships with English merchants and saw the potential benefits of formalized Jewish presence in England. While no direct, documented “financing” of Cromwell’s government can be conclusively proven, their financial activities and indirect contributions to the English economy certainly played a role in shaping the environment for readmission.

The Whitehall Conference of 1655, convened by Cromwell to discuss the Jewish question, ultimately failed to produce a formal declaration of readmission due to significant opposition from religious and commercial sectors. However, Cromwell, exercising his own authority, effectively allowed Jews to return and practice their faith privately. This decision, while not universally popular, paved the way for the gradual re-establishment of Jewish life in England.

In conclusion, while it’s inaccurate to portray Cromwell as being directly “financed” by Jewish individuals, their economic activities, coupled with the advocacy of figures like Menasseh ben Israel and Cromwell’s own pragmatic and religiously influenced views, played a significant role in the events leading to the de facto readmission of Jews to England during his Protectorate.