CHRISTIAN ANTI-JUDAISM

The early church – defining the boundaries between Christianity and Judaism

The church fathers have their say

Jewish status in medieval society by law and custom

Ecclesia and Synagoga

Legends, Myths and Pogroms – blood libel, host desecration, well poisoning

Expulsions from Western Europe

Luther

Shakespeare’s England

Bury St

Edmund’s

Cross

Judaism and the Followers of the Way

-Crucifixion – Matthew’s narrative- martyrdom of Stephen- Acts 15 – the First Council of the Church-Conversion of Gentiles-Roman Law -Jewish revolts against Rome

Deicide Blessings of Israel…

The Church is the new Israel

All Jews are guilty of deicide

John Chrysostom(344-407AD) Adversus Judaeos

"The Jews are the odious assassins of Christ and for killing God there is no expiation possible, no indulgence or pardon. Christians may never cease vengeance..."

“the Synagogue is a brothel, a den of scoundrels."

Bible verses used to justify anti-Judaism

The whole crowd answered, “Let the responsibility for his death fall on us and on our children.”

John 8:31-59; 9:22; 12:42; 16:2.Matthew 27:15-26.1 Thessalonians 2:14-16.John 8:44Lamentations 5:16-17

Augustine

Jews are witnesses – to be protected (Commentary on Psalms)

Pope Gregory the Great – Sicut Judaeis non

Sicut Juedaies non – reissued regularly

1201 – Pope Innocent III legalized forced conversions – rioting becomes a holy activity…

"Der Juden Zeichen / Welches Sie ihren Kleidern zu tragen schuldig" ("The Jewish badge of guilt which

is their tragedy to wear").

St Thomas Aquinas

"It would be licit to hold Jews, because of their crimes [of failing to embrace Christianity] in perpetual servitude, and therefore the princes may regard the possessions of Jews as belonging to the State.”

[De Regimine Judaeorum]

Jewish Moneylenders

Ecclesia and Synagoga

Marfil de Metz

ca 850 AD

The Crusades…kill the infidel at home and abroad…

In 1095 Pope Urban II called the First Crusade

Massacres of Jews in 1096

Norwich 1144 Post 1066 Jews migrate to England

Norwich second largest city in

England – 5000-15000 people

Jews – 200

Jewish professions: moneylenders, apothecaries, wine merchants, cheese and fishmongers, butchers and physicians.

Norwich 1144 AD

William of Norwich

"in the ancient writings of his Fathers it was written that the Jews, without the shedding of human blood, could neither obtain their freedom, nor could they ever return to their fatherland. Hence it was laid down by them in ancient times that every year they must sacrifice a Christian in some part of the world" - Thomas of Monmouth

Blood Libel

English Anti-Judaic incidents

King Richard the Lionheart – Third Crusade

Jews attacked at his coronation 1189

Massacres in London and York in 1190

Kings Richard and John – Jews must wear badges, anti-Jewish laws promulgated

1255 – Little St Hugh of Lincoln

1290 – Jews expelled from England, property confiscated to the crown.

1655 – Oliver Cromwell invites Jews to return to England

Desecration of the Host

Note the knives being used to pierce the wafers – the body of Christ

Desecration of the Host

Jews attackedTorturedBeheadedDriven out

Christians in prayer

Blood libel

Nuremburg Jews burned alive1493

The Black Death

Expulsions from Europe

Martin Luther– On the Jews and Their Lies

In brief, dear princes and lords, those of you who have Jews under your rule-- if my counsel does not please you, find better advice, so that you and we all can be rid of the unbearable, devilish burden of the Jews, lest we become guilty sharers before God in the lies, blasphemy, the defamation, and the curses which the mad Jews indulge in so freely and wantonly against the person of our Lord Jesus Christ …Do not grant them protection, safe-conduct, or communion with us. . . .

On the Jews and their Lies

1543

...but then eject them forever from this country. For, as we have heard, God's anger with them is so intense that gentle mercy will only tend to make them worse and worse, while sharp mercy will reform them but little. Therefore, in any case, away with them!

UsuryOn the Jews and their Lies, Martin Luther

Moreover, they are nothing but thieves and robbers who daily eat no morsel and wear no thread of clothing which they have not stolen and pilfered from us by means of their accursed usury.

 ...that everyone would gladly be rid of them.

Martin Luther, 1543

But for us Christians they stand as a terrifying example of God's wrath.

...they remain our daily murderers and bloodthirsty foes in their hearts. Their prayers and curses furnish evidence of that, as do the many stories which relate their torturing of children and all sorts of crimes for which they have often been burned at the stake or banished.

Merchant of Venice Stereotypical Jew

Usury

Blood libel

Old and New Laws – “the quality of mercy…”