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When the Muslims conquered al-Andalus, the Jews' star began to shine in the country's sky. They supposedly concluded a secret agreement with the Muslims and helped them occupy most of the Gothic cities. In 711 CE the greater part of the Iberian Peninsula fell into Muslim hands, and the Jews were rewarded with important positions in the state and given privileged financial posts.

When the Jews saw the Goths beginning to regain strength in their region and the Muslims beginning to decline, they hastened to provide the Goths with further assistance. With their help the Goths recovered a large number of cities that had been under Muslim rule. In 1492 the remaining portion of al-Andalus fell into Gothic hands under Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. Restoring Jews to financial and administrative posts provoked a hostile movement against them. A decree was then issued in 1492 expelling from the country those Jews who did not enter Christianity. A large number consequently left, and the wealthy sent their money abroad to invest it, while most of the poorer among them entered Christianity. Despite professing Christianity, however, they allegedly continued to observe their legislation, customs and traditions everywhere. They made every Jewish daughter into a new Esther who entered each family and diminished the intensity of hatred toward the Jews. Even the royal family