plead before a Christian judge, whether religious or civil, except in cases where the taxes and imposts due to the ruler were in litigation, or where special permission was obtained from the dayyan, or chief judge of the Aljama. A Jew who arrested another Jew with the aid of a Christian was to be apprehended by the dayyan; for a second offense of the same nature, he was to be branded on the forehead and expelled; while the third offense was made punishable by death. This ability to impose a capital punishment in indicative of how wide was the Jewish community's autonomy. Derived words From aljama are derived: Aljamado, adjective and noun, the inhabitant of an aljama. Aljamía, the Spanish vernacular used by the Jews or Moors, but more especially the Spanish or Mozarabic language written with Hebrew characters by the Jews, and with Arabic letters by the Moors Aljamiado (adjective and noun), one who speaks or knows the Aljamia. Similar unrelated words Spanish Alhama and Portuguese Alfama derive from Arabic hammam, "baths". Arabic Ra’s al-Galut meaning exilarch. References Sources William Milwitzky Aljama, in the Jewish Encyclopedia. That article, in turn references: Francisco Fernandes y Gonzales, in Boletín de la Real Academia de la Historia, vii. 156 et seq.; F. Fita, "Acta de Toma de Posesión de Una Aljama Israelita", in Ilustración Católica, Nov. 21, 1880. Diccionario de la Real Academia Española. aljama. There is a homonymy with a different etymology meaning "mosque". aljamía. Christianity and Judaism Islam in Spain Jewish Spanish history Jewish self-rule