The Power of Myth

Historical Maps

Map of Jewish expulsions and resettlement areas in Europe 1100 to 1500

Pogroms, Map of pogroms and antisemitic acts of violence in Russia and the Pale from

Estimated Jewish population of Europe in 1939.

Images in Church 70 CE – Middle Ages

The Great Revolt: Destruction of the Second Temple

Arch of Titus in Rome. This detail depicts the destruction of the second Beit HaMikdash (Temple) in 70 Common Era (C.E.).

Stained Glass Windows: Church and Synagogue (Ecclesia and Synagoga) in the Elisabeth Church in Marburg, Germany

Images from the Crusades Circa 1000 CE

Antisemitic pamphlet with illustration of ritual murder of a Christian boy by a Jew.

Middle Ages The Plague

The Black Plague

The Bubonic Plague 25 million people died in just under five years between 1347 and Estimated population of Europe from 1000 to 1352: million million million million million million

The Myth of Jews Poisoning Wells Image: Illustration of a Jew poisoning the Christian water supply by dropping some potion into the well.

Middle Ages Money Lending

Medieval iconography is filled with images of Jews engaged in financial activities and often implies that Jews are draining resources from the Christian community. Image: Medieval Jewish merchants.

Middle Ages Ritualism

Myth of the Blood Libel

18 th Century to Early 19 th Century

Late19 th /Early 20 th Century

Dreyfuss Affair, 1894

Postcard, 1905

Protocols of the Elders of Zion

Germany 1930s

“Education”

In Children’s Books

Game: “Jew Out”