A Brief History of Europe’s Jews
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Transcript of A Brief History of Europe’s Jews
A Brief History of Europe’s Jews
Conquered by Romans
• Time period of Jesus
• Jews were expelled from Israel after an anti-Roman uprising
Diaspora
• Jews become minorities in countries all over Europe and Russia
• As non-Christians and minorities, they are often treated poorly
• Kicked out of many countries- Spain (reconquista), England but later allowed back in, France, etc.
Jews developed a culture that has its foundation in their precarious position
• Sometimes Europeans kings would expel them from the country just because they wanted their wealth
• Jews thus focus on a highly portable asset -- education
• Doctors, lawyers, etc.
Prejudice and Scapegoating
• Jews Were Relatively Successful/Wealthy in Many European Nations– Educated – Concentrated in cities – Moneylenders
• Irony of anti-Jewish ‘money-grubbing’ stereotype?
• Persecuted/scapegoated– Killers of Christ – Better off than me… why? – Economic depressions often cause hatred of money-lenders (why?) – In the Middle Ages, during the Black Plague, were massacred for
‘poisoning the wells’ since they seemed to die at a slower rate than other Europeans
• Kosher cleanliness rituals? • Lack of contact with other Europeans?
– Pogroms
Attempts to Stop the Attempts to Stop the PlaguePlaguePograms against the
Jews
“Jew” hat
“Golden Circle” obligatory badge
Ghetto System
• Europeans don’t want the Jews around, and yet… – …according to some biblical interpretations, the Jews
must be present on the Day of Judgment… – they will be given a choice of whether to
convert/repent or burn in hell– So you can’t get rid of them or you ruin the second
coming of Christ– However, you don’t want them around, so…
• Don’t get rid of them, just separate them
Napoleon Releases Many Jews From European Ghettoes
• This was part of his genuinely liberal policy
• Once Napoleon was gone, there was an uneasy tension between Jews and Gentiles in European cities
Do we see how New Nationalism becomes extremely important to this story?
• Social Darwinism– Certain races are superior– Not surprising that the majority group feels they are
that race– ‘We-they’ outlook
• Scapegoats• Use of Jews to whip up Bismarck style
nationalism – If you can become popular starting wars against
foreigners, you can probably do the same by persecuting the Jews
Social Darwinism
• Darwin’s ideas
VS
Survival of the Fittest among animal species
Yay! Boo!
Do we cry for this guy?
Darwin’s Ideas Were New and Earth-shattering in the late 19th Century
• How did Social Darwinists use these ideas?• Darwin’s ideas applied to human society
• Do we cry for the loser? Why? Why not? • Justification
The Dreyfus Affair
* In 1894 a list of French military documents were found in the waste basket of the German Embassy in Paris.
* French counter-intelligence suspected Captain Alfred Dreyfus, he was one of the few Jews on the General Staff.
The Dreyfus Affair
* Dreyfus was tried, convicted of treason despite very little evidence, and sent to Devil’s Island in French Guiana.
* The real culprit was a Major Esterhazy, whose handwriting was the same as that on the bordereau.
– The government tried him and found him not guilty in two days.
The Dreyfus Affair
* A famous author, Emile Zola, published an open letter called J’Accuse!
– He accused the army of a mistrial and cover-up.
– The government prosecuted him for libel.
– Found him guilty sentenced to a year in prison.
The Dreyfus Affair
DreyfusardsAnti-
Dreyfusards
* Public opinion was divided it reflected the divisions in Fr. society.
* The Dreyfusards were anti-clericals, intellectuals, free masons, & socialists.
* For Anti-Dreyfusards, the honor of the army was more important than Dreyfus’ guilt or innocence.
– Were army supporters, monarchists, & Catholics.
The Zionist Movement
Theodore Herzl[1860-1904]
* Was motivated by the Dreyfus trial to write the book, Der Judenstaat, orThe Jewish State in 1896.
* Creates the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland.
* “Father of Modern Zionism.”
* Was motivated by the Dreyfus trial to write the book, Der Judenstaat, orThe Jewish State in 1896.
* Creates the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland.
* “Father of Modern Zionism.”