1. The History of Anti-Semitism:
Prejudice Against the Jews 1
Holocaust Literature 2007
10/4/15

2. Introduction
Anti-Semitism (prejudice against the Jews) goes back to ancient times.
The seeds of misunderstanding can be traced to the position of the Jews as a minority religious group.
Often, in ancient times, when government officials felt their authority was threatened, they found a convenient scapegoat in the Jews.
Belief in one God (monotheism) and refusal to accept the dominant religion set the Jews apart from others. 2
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3. Christians Targets of Persecution
Romans conquered Jerusalem 63 BC.
Jews able to practice religion freely- at first
About 30 AD, the first targets of Roman persecution were Christians; once Christianity took hold and spread, Judaism became the target, particularly after the Great Jewish Revolt against Rome in the first century A.D. 3
Holocaust Literature 2007
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4. Christianity Becomes State Religion
Christians wanting to convert all “nonbelievers.” They became angry with Jews who were happy with their religion.
Power of state made Jews outcasts when they refused to renounce their faith- they were denied citizenship and rights. By the end of the 4th century, Jews were labeled as “Christ- killers.” 4
Holocaust Literature 2007
10/4/15

5. Religious Minorities Harshly Treated in Middle Ages (500AD-1450)
All religious non-conformists treated harshly during the Middle Ages.
“Heresy,” holding an opinion contrary to church doctrine, was a crime punishable by death.
Jews were seen as a threat to established religion. They were a conspicuous, non-conforming group and easily attacked.
Sometimes the church aided the persecutions and other times the church protected the Jews. 5
Holocaust Literature 2007
10/4/15

6. New Laws Set Jews Apart
The Justinian Code, complied by scholars for the Emperor Justinian (A.D ), excluded Jews from all public places, prohibited Jews from giving evidence in lawsuits in which Christians took part, and forbade the reading of the Bible in Hebrew.
Marriage between Christians and Jews was forbidden; Christians could not convert to Judaism.
In 1215, the Fourth Lateran Council stamped the Jews as a people apart with its decree that Jews were to wear special clothes and markings to distinguish them from Christians.
It was up to individual states to impose the new decrees. Some rulers did, and some did not.
The Council of Basel ( ) established the concept of physical separation in cities with ghettos. It decreed that Jews were to live in separate quarters, isolated from Christians except for reasons of business. Jews were not allowed to go to universities and were required to attend Christian church sermons. 6
Holocaust Literature 2007
10/4/15

7. The Crusades
Began in 1096 and resulted in the increased persecution of Jews
Crusaders left Europe for the Holy Land
Anger originally focused on Muslims controlling Palestine, but some anger was redirected toward European Jewish communities.
Massacres of Jews occurred in many cities en route to Jerusalem.
In one seven-month period from January to July in 1096, approximately one-fourth to one-third of the Jewish population on Germany and France (around 12, 000 people) were killed.
Many Jews in Western Europe left for safety of Eastern Europe. 7
Holocaust Literature 2007
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8. Many Occupations Closed to Jews
Jews could not become farmers because they were forbidden to own land.
Christians believed lending money and charging interest was a sin (usury), so Jews were able to take on that profession. It provided Jews with portable wealth if expelled.
Roles of middlemen (money-lenders) expanded and they bridged the gap between the wealthy and the poor.
Tax collecting- unpopular job- was given to the Jews, causing deep hostility among the poor. 8
Holocaust Literature 2007
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9. Black Death Leads to Scapegoating
Black Death or Bubonic Plague led to intense religious scapegoating in Western Europe between
The epidemic killed one-third of Europe’s population (25 million people).
Many believed the plague a punishment from God for their sins.
Others thought the plague the work of demons. This group chose those in their community who were already unpopular- the Jews.
Because Jews generally practiced better hygiene and rodent control, they suffered less from the plague.
Rumors spread that the plague was caused by Jews who had poisoned their wells and food.
The worst massacre of Jews in Europe (before Hitler) occurred during this time. Tens of thousands of Jews were killed by their terrified neighbors.
Jews were also believed to murder Christians, especially children, and to use their blood during religious ceremonies.
Jews were said to desecrate churches and be disloyal to rulers. All reasons for persecution. 9
Holocaust Literature 2007
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10. Expelled from Western Europe
By the end of the Middle Ages, fear and superstition had created a deep rift between Christians and Jews.
Europeans began to think of themselves as belonging to a nation; Jews became outsiders.
They were expelled from England in 1290; from France in and 1394; from parts of Germany in the 14th and 15th centuries.
They were not legally allowed back into England until the mid 1600s and in France until the French Revolution (1792) 10
Holocaust Literature 2007
10/4/15