Jews have been stereotyped in Jews have been stereotyped in literature and used as literature and used as

scapegoats throughout history.scapegoats throughout history.► Fagin, the greedy, twisted Jew in Fagin, the greedy, twisted Jew in

Dicken’s “Oliver Twist”.Dicken’s “Oliver Twist”.

Shylock from The Merchant of Venice Shylock from The Merchant of Venice After The Trial, the vengeful, money lender runs After The Trial, the vengeful, money lender runs

away from a group of sneering children. away from a group of sneering children.

("The Merchant of Venice."("The Merchant of Venice."by William Shakespeare 1600.)  by William Shakespeare 1600.) 

British Oswald Mosley and the British Oswald Mosley and the fascist Blackshirts.fascist Blackshirts.

► Who do they remind you of?Who do they remind you of?

► In 1932, Oswald Mosley (a In 1932, Oswald Mosley (a politician) started the British Union politician) started the British Union of of Fascists. They were a group of . They were a group of people who were people who were anti-Semitic, and and who made all sorts of wild claims who made all sorts of wild claims about the Jews trying to take over about the Jews trying to take over the world. the world.

► His followers dressed in black His followers dressed in black uniforms, like the fascists in Italy uniforms, like the fascists in Italy led by Mussolini (and like those led by Mussolini (and like those later led by Hitler in Germany). later led by Hitler in Germany). They would hold demonstrations in They would hold demonstrations in which they encourage what we which they encourage what we would now call would now call racial hatred – – blaming the Jews for the rise in blaming the Jews for the rise in unemployment, accusing them of unemployment, accusing them of being dirty and spreading disease, being dirty and spreading disease, and claiming that they should go and claiming that they should go back to the countries they came back to the countries they came from. from.

► On 4th October 1936 Mosley On 4th October 1936 Mosley and hisand his Blackshirts planned to planned to march through the Jewish areas march through the Jewish areas of the East End. of the East End.

► Some of the leaders of the Some of the leaders of the communists and supporters of communists and supporters of the Labour Party felt that it was the Labour Party felt that it was immoral to demonstrate against immoral to demonstrate against fascism in Spain, but to allow it in Spain, but to allow it in London. in London.

► So the communist So the communist demonstration was cancelled as demonstration was cancelled as everyone tried to stop Mosley’s everyone tried to stop Mosley’s march. march.

This commemorative red plaque is above 3-5 Dock St, just off Cable Street, London.

► A lorry was overturned, and a A lorry was overturned, and a barricade built using all sorts of barricade built using all sorts of items including furniture. People – items including furniture. People – everyone from shop keepers, everyone from shop keepers, householders, and Dockers who householders, and Dockers who joined the barricades -threw joined the barricades -threw objects at the police including objects at the police including eggs, rotten fruit and the contents eggs, rotten fruit and the contents of chamber pots. of chamber pots.

► Despite repeated attempts to Despite repeated attempts to clear the road, eventually the clear the road, eventually the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Philip Game, ordered Mosley to Sir Philip Game, ordered Mosley to abandon the march, and 3000 abandon the march, and 3000 Blackshirts had to turn round and Blackshirts had to turn round and march back into the deserted City march back into the deserted City of London. of London.

Yehudi MenhuinYehudi Menhuin (Yehudi is Hebrew for (Yehudi is Hebrew for

Jew.) When his parents Jew.) When his parents applied for an applied for an apartment to rent, they apartment to rent, they were told that no Jews were told that no Jews were tolerated there. were tolerated there. The Landlady did not The Landlady did not realise that they were realise that they were Jews. Yehudi’s mother Jews. Yehudi’s mother wanted to give her son wanted to give her son a name to be proud of a name to be proud of at his birth, so she at his birth, so she called him Yehudi.called him Yehudi.

Listen to Yehudi playing:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV0IcFyXUWs

Some facts about JewsSome facts about Jews► Before the Holocaust, Europe was the center of the Before the Holocaust, Europe was the center of the

world‘s Jewish population, with relatively large world‘s Jewish population, with relatively large populations also spread throughout North America, populations also spread throughout North America, North Africa, and the Middle East, with 16.6 million Jews. North Africa, and the Middle East, with 16.6 million Jews.

► 6 million were put to death in the Holocaust. (Holocaust 6 million were put to death in the Holocaust. (Holocaust means burnt offering so it is offensive to Jews. They call means burnt offering so it is offensive to Jews. They call it Shoah- Calamity.)it Shoah- Calamity.)

► Today, the United States and Israel together comprise Today, the United States and Israel together comprise about 75% of the total world‘s Jewish population.about 75% of the total world‘s Jewish population.((5.8million live in USA, 4.9 million live in Israel)5.8million live in USA, 4.9 million live in Israel)

► There are approximately 14 million Jews worldwide.There are approximately 14 million Jews worldwide.

So what does it mean So what does it mean to be Jewish?to be Jewish?

► Is it a race? Is it a race? ► A religion? A religion? ► A culture?A culture?► Clearly, there is a Clearly, there is a religionreligion

called Judaism but more than called Judaism but more than half of all Jews in half of all Jews in Israel today today call themselves "secular," call themselves "secular," and don't believe in and don't believe in God or or any of the religious beliefs of any of the religious beliefs of Judaism. Half of all Jews in the Judaism. Half of all Jews in the United States don't belong to United States don't belong to any any synagogue. They may . They may practice some of the rituals of practice some of the rituals of Judaism and celebrate some Judaism and celebrate some of the of the holidays, but they , but they don't think of these actions don't think of these actions as religious activities. as religious activities.

► RaceRace is a genetic distinction, and is a genetic distinction, and refers to people with shared ancestry refers to people with shared ancestry and shared genetic traits. So clearly, and shared genetic traits. So clearly, Judeism is Judeism is not a race.not a race.

► There are certainly cultural traits and There are certainly cultural traits and behaviors that are shared by many behaviors that are shared by many Jews, so is it a Jews, so is it a culture? culture? Although food Although food (eg. bagels), dreidels, Yiddish (eg. bagels), dreidels, Yiddish language and Hannukah are language and Hannukah are associated with Jews in USA, in Arab associated with Jews in USA, in Arab countries they are more likely to eat countries they are more likely to eat bourekas made of phyllo pastry and bourekas made of phyllo pastry and wouldn’t have a clue what a dreidel is!wouldn’t have a clue what a dreidel is!

► Jews are often falsely Jews are often falsely accused of being accused of being disloyal to their own disloyal to their own country in favor of their country in favor of their loyalty to the Jewish loyalty to the Jewish "nation," of being more "nation," of being more loyal to loyal to Israel than to than to their home country. their home country.

Are Jews a nation?

►The Jewish people are more of a The Jewish people are more of a familyfamily. Like a family, they don't . Like a family, they don't always agree with each other but always agree with each other but when members of their "family" when members of their "family" suffer or are persecuted, they all suffer or are persecuted, they all feel their pain. feel their pain.

History of the Jews -2000 -500 History of the Jews -2000 -500 BCBC

► God promises Abraham will be father God promises Abraham will be father of a great nation. Circumcision is of a great nation. Circumcision is introduced as a sign of this covenantintroduced as a sign of this covenant

► Exodus – Moses leads the Jews out of Exodus – Moses leads the Jews out of slavery in Egypt. (1200 BC). The slavery in Egypt. (1200 BC). The Passover commemorates this event Passover commemorates this event and is still celebrated today.and is still celebrated today.

► The Torah is given to Moses at Mt The Torah is given to Moses at Mt SinaiSinai

► God promises David’s throne will be God promises David’s throne will be eternal –the foundation of belief in eternal –the foundation of belief in the Messiahthe Messiah

► 11stst temple built in Jerusalem (900BC) temple built in Jerusalem (900BC) –a place of atonement and the praise –a place of atonement and the praise of Israel’s Godof Israel’s God

► After a long period of disobedience, After a long period of disobedience, Israel is invaded by Babylonians and Israel is invaded by Babylonians and destroyed (586BC)destroyed (586BC)

► 22ndnd Temple built 512BC Temple built 512BC► Sadducees – aristocrats and Sadducees – aristocrats and

high priests. Essenes – holy high priests. Essenes – holy men. Zealots –patriots who men. Zealots –patriots who fight the Romans and fight the Romans and followers of Yeshua (false followers of Yeshua (false Messiah)Messiah)

► 22ndnd temple destroyed by the temple destroyed by the Romans AD70Romans AD70

► Pharisees rise to prominence Pharisees rise to prominence and govern the Jewsand govern the Jews

► AD200 Rabbinic teachings AD200 Rabbinic teachings collected and compiled in collected and compiled in the Mishnah the Mishnah

What are these people doing?What are these people doing?Where are they?Where are they?

What is the What is the point of praying?point of praying?

What is a Metzuzah?What is a Metzuzah?

What are tefillin?What are tefillin?

Jerusalem's Temple Mount & Western Wailing Wall, all that is left of Herod's magnificent Temple 

Some research for you…Some research for you…

► What is the name of the Jewish What is the name of the Jewish sacred booksacred book??► Name some of the Jewish festivals and Name some of the Jewish festivals and

celebrations. What happens on celebrations. What happens on ShabbatShabbat??► What historical events are behind the rituals What historical events are behind the rituals

and traditions?and traditions?► What is What is Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mizvah?Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mizvah?► What does the What does the ShemaShema mean to Jews? mean to Jews?► How does the behaviour of a How does the behaviour of a modern reform modern reform

JewJew compare with that of an compare with that of an Orthodox JewOrthodox Jew??► How are Jewish beliefs similar or different to How are Jewish beliefs similar or different to

other religions?other religions?

► 66thth largest ‘religion’ largest ‘religion’ worldwideworldwide

► Found in 134 countriesFound in 134 countries► Jews were involved in Jews were involved in

establishing Warner establishing Warner Bros, MGM, Bros, MGM, TwentiethCentury FoxTwentiethCentury Fox

► Famous Jews: Woody Famous Jews: Woody Allen, Sigmund Freud, Allen, Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein, Henry Albert Einstein, Henry KissingerKissinger

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Albert Einstein

Judeism