Reasons for Anti-Reasons for Anti-SemitismSemitism

The Persecution of JewsThe Persecution of Jews

Germans Perpetuate StereotypesGermans Perpetuate Stereotypes

Nazi propaganda Nazi propaganda aimed to reinforce aimed to reinforce a negative a negative stereotype of stereotype of Jewish people.Jewish people.

Look at this Polish Look at this Polish cartoon.  cartoon. 

StereotypingStereotyping What stereotype of Jewish people is What stereotype of Jewish people is

reinforced here? reinforced here? Why does the cartoonist make the Polish Why does the cartoonist make the Polish

family look so thin?family look so thin? The purpose of this stereotyping was to The purpose of this stereotyping was to

stop people from seeing Jews as stop people from seeing Jews as normal normal human beingshuman beings.  The purpose was to stop .  The purpose was to stop people seeing Jews as people seeing Jews as individualsindividuals.  Instead, .  Instead, Jews came to be seen as a certain  ‘Jews came to be seen as a certain  ‘type’type’.  . 

Hitler’s ViewHitler’s View ReadRead the quote below.  the quote below.  It is from a letter by Adolf Hitler in 1919.  It is from a letter by Adolf Hitler in 1919. 

This was 14 years before he came to power (1933).  This was 14 years before he came to power (1933).  20 years before he invaded Poland which started the 20 years before he invaded Poland which started the Second World War (1939).  Second World War (1939).  23 years before the ‘Final Solution’ to kill all Jews was 23 years before the ‘Final Solution’ to kill all Jews was begun (1942).begun (1942).

““The fact is that Judaism is a matter of race not religion…The fact is that Judaism is a matter of race not religion…reasonable anti-semitism…must lead to a systematic and reasonable anti-semitism…must lead to a systematic and lawful campaign for the removal of those privileges which lawful campaign for the removal of those privileges which the Jew enjoys, unlike other foreigners in our midst who are the Jew enjoys, unlike other foreigners in our midst who are subject to the law applying to aliens.  The final aim of such subject to the law applying to aliens.  The final aim of such anti-semitism must be unquestionably the removal of the anti-semitism must be unquestionably the removal of the Jews” Jews” 

Other Reasons for German Other Reasons for German PersecutionPersecution

Jews were not considered humanJews were not considered human Jews were outcasts, condemned by GodJews were outcasts, condemned by God The plan to exterminate the Jews was The plan to exterminate the Jews was

allowed to develop because no one allowed to develop because no one interferedinterfered

Christian countries did not open their Christian countries did not open their borders to Jewsborders to Jews– Permanent Intergovernmental Department Permanent Intergovernmental Department

formed (to allow Jewish children into countries) formed (to allow Jewish children into countries) – not successful– not successful

Failed Attempts to Save Jewish Failed Attempts to Save Jewish LivesLives

Germany would allow Jews to leave if they Germany would allow Jews to leave if they had visas from other countries or had visas from other countries or certificates to go to Palestine – did not certificates to go to Palestine – did not happenhappen

Sweden agreed to take children if the Sweden agreed to take children if the British governemnt would give them British governemnt would give them certificates for Palestine – did not happencertificates for Palestine – did not happen

Red Cross tried to evacuate 70,000 Red Cross tried to evacuate 70,000 children – rejected by officials in Iranchildren – rejected by officials in Iran

Germans Attempt to Annihilate Germans Attempt to Annihilate JewsJews

Mass gravesMass graves Medical ExperimentsMedical Experiments Concentration camps – worked to Concentration camps – worked to

deathdeath Gas chambersGas chambers

Result of Germany’s efforts and the Result of Germany’s efforts and the world’s indifference – six million Jews world’s indifference – six million Jews were murderedwere murdered

What is the origin if anti-Semitism? What is the origin if anti-Semitism? Biblical References to Jews in the Biblical References to Jews in the

GospelsGospels

Matthew – states Jews had nothing to Matthew – states Jews had nothing to do with Christ’s crucifixion; the Chief do with Christ’s crucifixion; the Chief Priests and Pharisees sought to Priests and Pharisees sought to destroy Christ because he was destroy Christ because he was becoming too powerful and popular. becoming too powerful and popular. The Jewish people (two-three million) The Jewish people (two-three million) had nothing to do with this)had nothing to do with this)

More Biblical TeachingsMore Biblical Teachings Mark- states that the Jewish people Mark- states that the Jewish people

would have expressed violent would have expressed violent disapproval of the crucifixion. The disapproval of the crucifixion. The Chief Priests and Pharisees feared Chief Priests and Pharisees feared Christ.Christ.

Luke – tells the same story.Luke – tells the same story.

Jews are Blamed for Killing ChristJews are Blamed for Killing Christ

JohnJohn– In the Fourth Gospel – wrote as one outside of In the Fourth Gospel – wrote as one outside of

the Jewish world who was hostile to it.the Jewish world who was hostile to it.– Uses the phrase Jews when he is referring to Uses the phrase Jews when he is referring to

the High Priests. the High Priests. – By repeated use of “Jews,” puts in minds of his By repeated use of “Jews,” puts in minds of his

readers that the Jews were all guilty; whereas readers that the Jews were all guilty; whereas the others tried to refute in advance the the others tried to refute in advance the allegations that people might be brought allegations that people might be brought against the Jews. against the Jews.

Blaming of Jews ContinuesBlaming of Jews Continues Czarina Elizabeth in Russia would not allow Czarina Elizabeth in Russia would not allow

Jews into the country because they were Jews into the country because they were ‘enemies of Christ.”‘enemies of Christ.”

St. John Chysostom stated that the Jews St. John Chysostom stated that the Jews were not ignorant about what happened to were not ignorant about what happened to Christ but erred with full knowledge- wrote Christ but erred with full knowledge- wrote violent homilies against the Jews that violent homilies against the Jews that influenced people for yearsinfluenced people for years

In the Middle Ages, people were taught the In the Middle Ages, people were taught the Jews were all guilty and that they acted Jews were all guilty and that they acted with “deliberate malice.”with “deliberate malice.”

Condemnation of the JewsCondemnation of the Jews Strengthened the prejudice against Strengthened the prejudice against

the Jews through the Dark Ages, the Jews through the Dark Ages, mediaeval Christendom, the whole of mediaeval Christendom, the whole of Western Europe leading up to the Western Europe leading up to the Holocaust and beyond.Holocaust and beyond.