Jews: A History of Jews: A History of PersecutionPersecution

Jews in Antiquity Jews in Antiquity

Judaism as a religion began in the areas of Judaism as a religion began in the areas of modern day Palestine and Jerusalem more than modern day Palestine and Jerusalem more than a thousand years before the coming of a thousand years before the coming of ChristianityChristianity

As documented in the Old Testament (Christan As documented in the Old Testament (Christan Bible) and/or Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), Judaism Bible) and/or Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), Judaism was marked by the fact that its followers rejected was marked by the fact that its followers rejected the many gods of Egyptian, Indian, Greek, and the many gods of Egyptian, Indian, Greek, and Roman cultures, and preached Monotheism.Roman cultures, and preached Monotheism.

The first texts of the Old Testament were The first texts of the Old Testament were finalized by around 400 B.C.finalized by around 400 B.C.

Early PersecutionEarly Persecution

Because of their rejection of Polytheism Because of their rejection of Polytheism and their strict adherence to religious law, and their strict adherence to religious law, Jews were ridiculed and persecuted by Jews were ridiculed and persecuted by nearly every dominant culture in the area. nearly every dominant culture in the area.

In spite of this ridicule, The Kingdoms of In spite of this ridicule, The Kingdoms of Israel and Judea during the pre-Christian Israel and Judea during the pre-Christian era in what is now modern day Palestine era in what is now modern day Palestine established the Jewish people as a strong established the Jewish people as a strong and proud ethno-religious group. and proud ethno-religious group.

The DiasporaThe Diaspora

The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. begins the Diaspora (dispersion) of Jews in 70 A.D. begins the Diaspora (dispersion) of Jews throughout the Middle East and Europe. 136 A.D. throughout the Middle East and Europe. 136 A.D. the Romans conquer Judeathe Romans conquer Judea

Instead of assimilating completely and converting to Instead of assimilating completely and converting to the dominant religions, Jews maintained their the dominant religions, Jews maintained their religion and observance of laws as a “Pariah” people religion and observance of laws as a “Pariah” people amongst host communities. amongst host communities.

Jews also practiced voluntary segregation, as well Jews also practiced voluntary segregation, as well as being subject to compulsory segregation. as being subject to compulsory segregation.

Jewish Deicide: “Christ-Killers”Jewish Deicide: “Christ-Killers” Even though Jesus himself was a Jew, he Even though Jesus himself was a Jew, he

preached a new covenant (promise) between preached a new covenant (promise) between God and his people. Those who accepted this God and his people. Those who accepted this new covenant became “Christians” and thus new covenant became “Christians” and thus rejected Judaism as being “out of touch”rejected Judaism as being “out of touch”

Jesus was crucified by the Romans at the Jesus was crucified by the Romans at the request of Jewish community leaders. This led request of Jewish community leaders. This led to the stereo-type of Jews as a group being to the stereo-type of Jews as a group being responsible for the death of God. responsible for the death of God.

The Gospel of John in the New Testament is The Gospel of John in the New Testament is decidedly anti-Jewish, portraying them as decidedly anti-Jewish, portraying them as enemies of Jesus. enemies of Jesus.

Jews in Early Christendom and Jews in Early Christendom and The Middle AgesThe Middle Ages

In the 4In the 4thth century A.D., Constantine, the first century A.D., Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of the Roman Empire reduces Christian Emperor of the Roman Empire reduces the rights of Jews. the rights of Jews.

Thousands of Jews are killed or forced to Thousands of Jews are killed or forced to convert to Christianity during the time of the convert to Christianity during the time of the Crusades (1096-1193). The purpose of the Crusades (1096-1193). The purpose of the Crusades was to reclaim the Holy Land from Crusades was to reclaim the Holy Land from Islamic Kingdoms in the Middle East, and Jews, Islamic Kingdoms in the Middle East, and Jews, being non-Christian, become associated with the being non-Christian, become associated with the enemies of Christian Crusaders. enemies of Christian Crusaders.

Middles Ages Cont. Middles Ages Cont.

Jews blamed for numerous ills of Jews blamed for numerous ills of society during this period and society during this period and accused of not only the accused of not only the purposeful spread of the Bubonic purposeful spread of the Bubonic Plague across Europe, but for Plague across Europe, but for the ritual murder of Christian the ritual murder of Christian children. children.

““Such hatred is often to be found in the imagery Such hatred is often to be found in the imagery and paintings of Christian churches and and paintings of Christian churches and Cathedrals, with the Jew depicted as the Symbol Cathedrals, with the Jew depicted as the Symbol of evil and the synagogue as a decrepit old of evil and the synagogue as a decrepit old woman wearing a lop-sided crown, her eyes woman wearing a lop-sided crown, her eyes blindfolded, her scepter cracked, bearing broken blindfolded, her scepter cracked, bearing broken tables of Law, sitting astride a pig, and portrayed tables of Law, sitting astride a pig, and portrayed with other equally denigrating features” (with other equally denigrating features” (The The Jews and EuropeJews and Europe))

The MoneylendersThe Moneylenders In 1179 A.D. Christians are forbidden to lend In 1179 A.D. Christians are forbidden to lend

money and charge interest. Since Jews were money and charge interest. Since Jews were often forbidden so many other professions, this often forbidden so many other professions, this begins a tradition of Jews as moneylenders and begins a tradition of Jews as moneylenders and bankers. bankers.

This is the beginning of the portrayal of Jews as This is the beginning of the portrayal of Jews as “Shylocks” or greedy loan-sharks. (Shylock is “Shylocks” or greedy loan-sharks. (Shylock is the name of the title character in William the name of the title character in William Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice; a ; a complicated portrayal, Shylock is characterized complicated portrayal, Shylock is characterized by Shakespeare as both greedy and as a victim by Shakespeare as both greedy and as a victim in the context of the play). in the context of the play).

Shakespeare Humanistic Portrayal Shakespeare Humanistic Portrayal ““Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs,

dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, heal'd by the same means, warm'd and same diseases, heal'd by the same means, warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? cool'd by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me, I will example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.” instruction.”

--Shylock, from --Shylock, from The Merchant of Venice,The Merchant of Venice, by William by William ShakespeareShakespeare

Pogroms in Russia, 19-20Pogroms in Russia, 19-20thth century century

Between 1881-Between 1881-1884, over 20 Anti-1884, over 20 Anti-Jewish events Jewish events occurred in the occurred in the Russian EmpireRussian Empire

From The New York Times, From The New York Times, Easter 1903Easter 1903

““There was a well laid-out plan for the There was a well laid-out plan for the general massacre of Jews on the day general massacre of Jews on the day following the Orthodox Easter. The mob following the Orthodox Easter. The mob was led by priests, and the general cry, ‘Kill was led by priests, and the general cry, ‘Kill the Jews,’ was taken up all over the city. the Jews,’ was taken up all over the city. The Jews were taken wholly unaware and The Jews were taken wholly unaware and were slaughtered like sheep.” Approx 50 were slaughtered like sheep.” Approx 50 Jews killed that day. Jews killed that day.

1905 Pogrom in Odessa (Ukraine) left 2,500 Jews dead.1905 Pogrom in Odessa (Ukraine) left 2,500 Jews dead.

The HolocaustThe Holocaust

Under the rule of Nazi Under the rule of Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler, Germany and Adolf Hitler, over 6 million Jews are over 6 million Jews are slaughtered throughout slaughtered throughout Europe.Europe.

Jews are blamed for Jews are blamed for Germany’s failing Germany’s failing economy after WWI, and economy after WWI, and become the main become the main scapegoat for all of scapegoat for all of Germany’s social and Germany’s social and economic problems. economic problems.

Why so much hate?Why so much hate?

In general, Jews are In general, Jews are the victims of the victims of xenophobia, the xenophobia, the undue and irrational undue and irrational contempt for and fear contempt for and fear of strangersof strangers

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