DOCUMENT IB

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"Jewish Life in Europe"

Same of the oldest Jewish

communities in Europe were in
Greece: they had been in existence for more than two thousand years, since ie flourishing
of Ancient Greece, at a time
when there was still a Jewish
Temple in Jerusalem. In the late
nineteenth century, and during
the inter-war years, the Jews of
Salonika played a central part
in the ufe of the port, as dockworkers and stevedores as well
as merchants.
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Jews had lived in Italy for
more than two thousand years.
They had been an integral part
of the life of the Romn
Empire, at a time when the
Temple was destroyed by Rome
and the city of Jerusalem
reduced to rubble. Jews had
spread with the Romans to
every comer of the Romn
world, benefting from the law
and order, relative tolerance and
social peace of Romn rule.
Jews were to be found living in scattered communities
throughout the Romn

provinces that later became

France, Hungary and
Roumania. Indeed, large
Jewish communities existed in
every European country many
hundreds of years before the
founding of the national States
of which they were later to be
a part.
The Jews of Germany had
already been living continuously in dififerent parts of Germany
for more than 1,500 years when
the Germn Empire was established in 1870.
The contribution of Jewish
life to the new Germany was
appreciated. Bismarck, the
architect of Germn unity, had
been present at the opening of
the ranienburger Strasse synagogue in Berlin in 1866. It was a
triumphal moment for him, as
Prussian troops were even then
on their way back to Berlin, having defeated the Austrian army
and paved the way for a united
Germany. Berlin Jews welcomed
this unification, and were as
patriotic as any Gerraans in

their national fervour. Their

service in the Prussian army in
the war against France in 1812
had led to an edict that gave
them equalit}'^ within the
Prussian domains.
Jews fought as national
patriots in all the armies of the
First World War. They were to
be found in the opposing
trenches on both the western
and eastem fronts. Jewish soldiers died on the battlefield
fighting in the ranks of the
Entente armies (Britain, France,
Italy and Russia) and as a part
of the forces of the Central
Powers (Germany, AustriaHungary and Turkey). In each
of these armies, Jews won the
highest awards for bravery. In
the Germn army, 12,000
Jewish soldiers were killed in
action on the battlefelds. |
Jewish life, with its own
inner religious and cultural
experience and links, was also
intertwined with the life of
the nations among whom the
Jews lived.

Martin Glbert, Nevcr Again: A History of the Holocaust (New York: Universe Publisliing, 2000), 10. Reprinted by permission.

QUESTION
Give three examples of how Jewish life was also intertwined with the life of the nations among whom
the Jews lived.

Stereotyping and Prejudice

"Who Is a Jew?"
As early as 1919, Adolf Hiter defned Jews as "a racial and not a religious group." His judgment was
wrong and deadly.
Not all Jews practice Judaism, but any person can become Jewish through rehgious conversin.
Traditionally, anyone whose mother is Jewish has been identified as Jewish, but that condition is not
necessary for Jewish identity, either. Presently, many Jews are citizens of the modern state of Israel, but
a majority of the world's Jews do not fit that description. Who is a Jew? It's a complex question.
Jews trace their origins to the biblical patriarch Abraham, who lived almost 4000 years ago.
Judaism, a distinctively monotheistic religin, is rooted in the exodus of the ancient Hebrew people
from Egyptian slavery and in experiences they shared under Moses' leadership at Mount Sinai. The
early Jews' ritual laws and ethical rules distinguished them from other groups.
Eventually occupying the Mediterranean coastal land of Canaan, the Jews established the kingdom
of Israel. Unable to sustain the unity and autonomy it enjoyed from about 1000 to 922 b.c.e., the
kingdom was split by intemal divisions, besieged, and occupied by a variety of conquerors. In 70 c e . ,
the Romans ruthlessly put down a sustained Jewish rebellion. Most of the surviving Jews were dispersed to various parts of the Romn Empire. Exiled Jews have lived in European lands for more than
2000 years.
Whether their ouooks are secular or religious, their homes in Israel, Europe, the United States, or
anywhere else in the world, Jews are not a race but a people unifed by memory and history, culture,
tradition, and religious observances that are widely, if not identically, shared.
Hogan, David and David Aretha, eds., The Holocaust Chwnkle: A History in Words and Pictures. (Lincolnwood, I L : Publications International, 2000), 60.
Reprinted by permission.

Keep this historical information in mind as you examine the documents illustrating anti-Semitism
throughout history.

Stereotyping and Prejudice

Anti-Semitism During the Crusades

This account is from Albert of Aix, an eyewitness of the First Crusade, in 1096.

There assembled . . . a large and innumerable host of Christians from diverse kingdoms
and lands; namely, from the realms of France, England, Flanders and Lorraine
They
rose in a spirit of cruelty against the Jewish people scattered throughout these cities and
slaughtered them without mercy, especially in the Kingdom of Lorraine, asserting it to be
the beginning of their expedition and their duty against the enemies of the Christian faith.
This slaughter of Jews was done frst by citizens of Cologne. These suddenly fell upon a
small band of Jews and severely wounded and killed many; they destroyed the houses
and synagogues of the Jews and divided among themselves a very large amount of money.
When the Jews saw this cruelty, about two hundred in the silence of the night began light
" by boat to Neuss. The pilgrims and crusaders discovered them, and after taking away all
their possessions, inflicted on them similar slaughter, leaving not even one alive.
www.fordham/.edu/htlsaU/source/i096jews.html

What motivated the Crusaders to attack Jewish settlements in Europe?

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Stereotyping and Prejudice

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DOCUMENT 2B
Lateran Council, 1215: Canon 68
In some provinces a difference in dress distinguishes the Jews . . . from the Christians, but in certain
others such confusin has grown up that they cannot be distinguished by any difference. Thus it happens at times that through error Christians have relations with the women of Jews . . . and Jews . . .
with Christian women. Therefore, that they may not, under pretext of error of this sort, excuse themselves in the future for the excesses of such prohibited intercourse, we decree that such Jews . . . of
both sexes in every Christian province and at all times shall be marked off in the eyes of the public
from other peoples through the character of their dress.
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Moreover, during the last three days before Easter and especially on Good Friday, they shall not go
forth in public at all, for the reason that some of them on these very days, as we hear, do not blush to
go forth better dressed and are not afi-aid to mock the Christians who maintain the memory of the
most holy Passion by wearing signs of mourning.
www.foidhara/.edu/halsall/source/lal4-c68.htnil

QUESTION
\Vhy did the church feel a need to identify Jews? Once they were identified, what possible consequences lay ahead?
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Stereotyping and Prejudice

DOCUMENT 3
Woodblock Print: The Buming of Jews During the Black Death

This engraving from the Nuremberg Chronides, published in 1493, depicts the buming of Jews during the Black Death (an epidemic o Bubonic plague). In the late 1300s and early 1400s, the Black
Death was responsible for the death of approximateiy one-third of Europe's population.
Linda Jacobs Altman, Holocaust: Forever Outsiders: Jews and History Frotn Aiicietit Times to Aujiust 7935 (Woodbridge, C T : Blackbirch Press, 1998), 25.
Reprinted by permission. " *

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QUESTION

What does this woodblock print suggest about the relationship between Jews and the Black Death?

Stereotyping and Prejudice

DOCUMENT 4
Excerpts from Martin Luther's Concerning the Jews and Their Lies
Martin Luther was the founder of the Lutheran Church, which was the first Protestant sect in Europe.
He wrote Concerning the Jews and Their Lies in 1542.
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"First, their synagogues or churches should be set on fre . . .

Secondly, their homes should likewise be broken down and destroyed. They ought to be put
ULnder one roof or in a stable, like Gypsies, in order that they may realize that they are not
masters in our land, as they boast, but miserable captives . . .
Thirdly, they should be deprived of their prayer books and Talmuds in which such idolatry,
lies, cursing, and blasphemy are wrought.
S
Fourthly, their rabbis must be forbidden under threat of death to teach any more . . .
Fifthly, pas.sport and traveling privileges should be absolutely forbidden the Jews.
Sixthly, they ought to be stopped from usury. All their cash and valuables of silver and gold
ought to be taken from them and put aside for safekeeping. For this reason, as said before,
everything that they possess they stole and robbed hrom us through their usury, tbr they have
i_ no other means of support...
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Seventhly, let the young and strong Jews and Jewesses be given the flail, the ax, the hoe, the
spade, the distaff, and spindle ..."
www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/luther-jews.html

VOCABLARY
Talmud
Blasphemy
Usury
Distaff
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QUESTIONS
1. WTiat is Martin Luther's attitude toward Jews?
2. How did he think that they should be treated?
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Stereotyping and Prejudice