By examining the Latin inscription of Rabbi Iacob of Mérida (Lusitania, Spain) on the basis of historical and philological arguments we can establish its dating to the early eighth century, after the Arab invasion. This would confirm the survival of sages who had a leading role in the religious life of Jewish or formerly converted Jewish communities able to clandestinely maintain and preserve their ancestral beliefs. Rebbi Iacob, the son of the rebbi Senior is mentioned in the inscription; it is possible that both were “masters of the Law.” It is likely that they chose to practice their teachings orally due to the ban on the production and reading of all kinds of Jewish written works in the Visigothic kingdom.

根据历史和语言学的论据，通过检查梅里达（西班牙卢西塔尼亚）拉比雅各布的拉丁文铭文，我们可以确定其年代可追溯到公元 8 世纪初，即阿拉伯入侵之后。这将证实在犹太人或以前皈依的犹太社区的宗教生活中发挥主导作用的圣人的生存，能够秘密地维护和保存他们的祖先信仰。碑文中提到了雷比高级的儿子雷比· 雅各布（Rebbi Iacob）；有可能两人都是“法律大师”。由于西哥特王国禁止制作和阅读各种犹太书面作品，他们很可能选择口头实践他们的教义。