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Anti-Semitism in Europe

Anti-Semitism in Europe. Why the Jews?. Four Stages Pagan Era ca. 2000 B.C. – ca. A.D. 50 Early Christianity ca. A.D. 100-500 Middle Ages ca. A.D. 500-1500 18 th -19 th Centuries A.D. 1700-1900. Pagan Era ca. 2000 B.C. – ca. A.D. 50 Jews introduce monotheism into

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Anti-Semitism in Europe

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  1. Anti-Semitism in Europe

  2. Why the Jews? Four Stages Pagan Era ca. 2000 B.C. – ca. A.D. 50 Early Christianity ca. A.D. 100-500 Middle Ages ca. A.D. 500-1500 18th-19th Centuries A.D. 1700-1900

  3. Pagan Era ca. 2000 B.C. – ca. A.D. 50 Jews introduce monotheism into a polytheistic world Claim to be God’s Chosen People stirs resentment (others make the same claim) Jews become defined as the “Other,” a peculiar people

  4. Early Christianity ca. A.D. 100-500 • Jesus a “trouble maker” for Roman and Jewish leaders • Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27: 23-25) Jews as “Christ-killers) • Christians as God’s new Chosen People Replacement theology

  5. Early Christianity ca. A.D. 100-500 • “God’s plan” for history (St. Augustine, A.D. 410) • Jews’ conversion to Christianity a signal of Christ’s second coming • Augustine says history develops in 7 stages: Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Babylonian Captivity, Jesus. The 7th will be Christ’s return. • Christ’s return signaled by conversion of the Jews, so don’t persecute them: they are part of the plan • Jews assigned role of being obstacles to the final perfection

  6. Middle Ages A.D. 500-1500 • Christianity defines and shapes new European world Three estates: Those who pray Those who fight Those who work A French bishop says God divided his people—explains inequalities • Jews excluded by law from mainstream society • Cannot own land or participate in “honorable professions” • Said to be in league with the devil and the powers of evil Jesus’ argument with Jewish leaders, John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. “ This verse was used and wildly twisted.

  7. Middle Ages A.D. 500-1500 • Church decrees that lending money at interest (usury) is a mortal sin (A.D. 1187) Church, as largest land owner, is the wealthiest entity. The church lends money at interest. Reformers like St. Francis of Assisi argue that this is not the function of the church. They win and usury is declared a sin: a Christian usurer cannot be saved. Problem: They still need moneylenders. So they look for a group that won’t be saved anyway (according to the Church), and they decide to let them be useful. Jews are allowed to lend money to Christians Jews become resented as money-lenders—but most banks are still in Christian hands. Further, “fake Jews” crop up.

  8. Middle Ages A.D. 500-1500 • Persecution of Jews worsens after A.D. 1000 • Jews slaughtered in the First Crusade (A.D. 1096) • Religious fervor at fever pitch • On knight, Emico, decided in 1096 that the Holy Land is too far and targets “infidels” in Europe: the Jews. Kills about 12000 Jews in towns along the Rhine river • This is NOT official Church stance. Some Jews are hidden in bishops’ palaces and are saved

  9. Middle Ages A.D. 500-1500 • Persecution of Jews worsens after A.D. 1000 • Charged with ritual murder of Christian boys • In 1144 in Norwich, a Christian boy is murdered. The killer is not found. A group of Jews on the edge of town are rumored to be guilty. • The rumor is that Jews “need” the blood of Christian children for their Passover bread • This is the beginning of the “blood libel” applied to Jews

  10. Middle Ages A.D. 500-1500 • Persecution of Jews worsens after A.D. 1000 • Charged with host desecration, well poisoning, etc. • Jews killed Jesus, so now they are out to kill him again in the Eucharist • Art depicts Jews stabbing Communion wafers • Blamed for spread of bubonic plague (late 1300s) • 1/3 of population of Europe dies of the Black Death • Intense religious scapegoating • Jews practice better hygiene and rodent control, so they suffered less from the plague • Jews are accused of spreading the plague by poisoning wells

  11. Middle Ages A.D. 500-1500 • Persecution of Jews worsens after A.D. 1000 • Jews are required to wear the Star of David, to stay inside during Lent, and to abide by other restrictions • A Christian who sees a Jew might be tempted to beat him up and sin during Lent, so Jews should stay in • Jews are slaughtered by the thousands across Europe in pogroms and mob attacks, and through public torture, burnings, and execution • Passion plays transmit hatred of Jews • Most people can’t read, so myths and prejudices are passed through passion plays. Pontius Pilate becomes a hero and Jews are the bad guys

  12. Middle Ages A.D. 500-1500 • Expulsion of Jews From Western Europe 1290: England 1306: France 1300s – 1400s: German states 1492: Spain 1400s – 1500s: Italian states Jews move in waves to Eastern Europe (so when Hitler was in power much later, 1% of Germany’s population was Jewish—but 10% of Poland’s was Jewish)

  13. Middle Ages A.D. 500-1500 • Creation of Jewish ghettoes in European cities • Ghettoes are surrounded by high walls with gates guarded by Christian sentries • Jews are allowed out by day for business dealings with Christian communities • Jews must be back in ghettoes by curfew • At night, and on Christian holidays, gates were locked • Jews are segregated and develop a life separate from the larger community

  14. Middle Ages A.D. 500-1500 • Protestant Reformation and the Jews • Martin Luther, On the Jews and Their Lies (1543) • Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk • As a young man, he writes a pamphlet favorable to Jews: he can see why they don’t convert, as the Church is so corrupt • When he begins the Reformation, he invites Jews to convert, but they don’t. • As an older man, he writes a new pamphlet, reviling Jews. He wants synagogues burned, sacred texts burned, and rabbis silenced. He suggests putting Jews in labor camps to learn to work and learn to convert.

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