Why were the Jews the source of true wealth in Spain? I know I heard the Spanish looting of South America of gold created such a disparity in wealth that it was the demise of Spain being a super power. But I never learned what role the Jews played?
That is the root of it, yet at the obvious mundane levels the Jews in Spain provided intellectual energy and mercantile connections and savvy that allowed Spain to use its material wealth efficiently and wisely. At a less obvious level the inherent modesty, the sense of perspective and understanding of others Jews are gifted with and trained to develop acted like oil and coolant in a machine -- without such lubrication and temperance Spain's hubris built on the easy and massive gold wealth overwhelmed Spain and was a curse.