History of Anti-Semitism

History of Anti-Semitism CHC2D

Anti-Semitism • Prejudice, hatred and discrimination against Jews • Many ways of expressing hatred and rage against Jews through violence and words • Jews are targeted as an individual and as a group • Jews consider being Jewish an ethnic group (race) and a religion • Term was created in 1879 by German journalist Wilhelm Marr • Anti = against • Semite = Jewish people

THINK. PAIR. SHARE. • Do you think that the Holocaust was a result of: • A) extremist Nazis? • OR • B) years of resentment towards Jews (anti-semitism)? • Why do you say so?

Origins • This form of prejudice and discrimination towards the Jews is known as “scape-goating” • Scape-goating : the practice of singling out another group as the reasons for failure in a particular situation • Done to place blame on another group when something is not right/gone wrong • Eg. American cotton economy • Scape-goating deals with power! • Who has power, and the reinforcement of powelessness on another group • Anti-semitism has always existed, but...the Holocaust is its most extreme example

Myths • Myths and false ideas were spread about the Jews • 1) E.g. Blood Libel MYTH that Jews used the blood of Christian children for ritual purpose • These myths gave ammunition for others to persecute the Jews • 2) E.g. People believed that Jews were responsible for the “Black Death” (1348-1354) • A plague spread by rats and killed 1/3 of Europe’s population • Jews were the easy target to blame = more violence and expulsions

Biblical Times • Jews have been under persecution for over 2000 years (going back to Biblical times) • In the Old Testament (Bible), there have been many records of persecution towards the Jews • Eg. Being casted as slaves in Egypt • Eg. Individuals were placed in jail • Eg. Individuals were sought after to be hung due to their refusal of worshipping the “King” of the time • Jews were passionate and faithful to their belief: • Refused to worship other gods and idols • Stubborn and resented the rulers of the time • Did not follow kingdom’s values and beliefs (much different to theirs) • They were thought to be a threat to the ruler and the ruling class (deviant)

Biblical Times • However, there was a split among religious beliefs • With the belief over Jesus Christ and his purpose, a new form of religion was formed (Christianity) • Christians believed that Jesus was the Saviour of the world, where Jews believed that he was a prophet • This caused divide between the two religions • Animosity (resentment occurred) • Christians believed that their Saviour was killed at the hands of the Jews (Scape-goating) • The Jews did not believe that Jesus was their saviour and didn’t protest against his crucifixion • Later, Christianity became the main religion throughout Europe, Jews are still not converting – they stay true to their beliefs

Christianity and Judaism Catholic leaders taught its congregation that the Jews were at fault, making the hatred more wide spread. Examples of anti-semitism by Christians in historical times: Destruction of their temples Forcing Migration Forms of punishment for their past wrongdoings and any future wrongdoings that they were going to commit Reason for anti-semitism was that Jews were not accepting Christianity as their faith (when? Year) Jews were a threat…

Medieval Period • With the dominant religion being Christianity, Jews often found themselves isolated as outsiders • Banned from owning land • Forced into “ghettos” • Could not earn money in the normal ways of the time • Forced into money-lending and tax collecting by rulers = UNPOPULAR amongst society (more hate) • 1215 – Jews were forced to wear a badge or hat that marked them as different • Resulted in Jews being identified which allowed for attacks to be easier • Pogroms were a “popular” act of Anti-semitism • “Hate crime”

Expulsion of Jews • Jews were expelled from their countries: • 1290 – England • 1306 – France • 1492 – Spain

Change of life?! • JEWS GIVEN RIGHTS – 19th century • Due to the rise of science and technology, previous held beliefs were being challenged • Asking questions and challenging ideas (which the Jews had done before) became normal in this period • Jews were able to live a “normal” life • However, people held on to their beliefs of blame towards the Jews • E.g. Just like today with racism • Resentment towards Jews who became successful was growing • Wilhelm Marr (creator) still believed that Jews were unworthy of being a part of European society – believed in Aryan race

Hitler & Anti-Semitism • Hitler believed in pure-Aryan race • He believed that Jews were the “reason” for Germany’s problems • Jews at this time owned private banks, worked in the stock exchange, and ran nation’s newspapers • This is due to the removal of banishments against the Jews formally but still were present informally in the minds of citizens and rulers • This allowed for Hitler to easily place the blame on the Jewish (easy target) • Hitler’s Solution? = banish/remove Jews from society

Revival of Anti-Semitism • Certain aspects of anti-semitism were brought back: • Jews were marked • Forced to live in ghettos (isolation of one race) • Unable to work and associate with “Germans”

THINK. PAIR. SHARE. • Do you think that the Holocaust was a result of: • A) extremist Nazis? • OR • B) years of resentment towards Jews (anti-semitism)? • Why do you think so?

Citations: Prejudice and Anti-semitism. (2011, January 1). . Retrieved May 21, 2014, from http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/anti-semitism/prejudice-and-anti-semitism/#.U315OChzTbw United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “The Holocaust.” Holocaust Encyclopedia. http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005143. Accessed on [May 21, 2014].

History of Anti-Semitism