AntiSemitism (incomplete) Flashcards
What are some of the results of anti-Semitism?
Prejudice, discrimination and even attacks that lead to the death of Jews
During Henry VIII (8ths) reign, were Jews considered citizens in the areas where he was in power? Was that similar in other parts of Europe?
Yes, Jews were considered citizens. In other areas of the world however, Jews were not considered citizens.
How did the interaction of Jews and Non-Jews change with citizenship?
Jews were still not accepted by the population and Jews and non-Jews did not interact. There was still a lot of anti-Semitism.
What was the cause of much of the Medieval anti-Semitic views in Europe?
Religious Christian beliefs stated that everyone should be Christian developed fears of anyone who wasn’t. There was a desire of the Catholic Church to maintain control over the area and one religion would give them increased power.
(so Political and Religious)
What big event were Jews blamed for by Medieval Christians?
Murder of Jesus
Was blaming the Jews for the Murder warranted? If so explain.
It was not warranted. The only source of death of Jesus is from the Gospels, which were written 70-100 years after Jesus lived.
Who was in charge during the time of Jesus?
The Romans
After destruction of the temple, what was was the population fearful of?
The Romans hurting them
What are some ways Jews were negatively depicted/falsely accused of?
- Accomplices of “The Devil”
- Plotting to kill babies for religious ceremonies
- Sneaking into churches to desecrate holy ritual objects
Blood Libel
- what is it?
- why were these ideas created?
Old false allegations that Jews were responsible for murdering Christians (especially children). They were created as reasons to attacks Jews.
Why were the Jews the moneylenders?
Christian philosophy and rules often made it impossible to lend money because they could not charge interest. Jews could and therefore became the “bankers” of their time.
How did the anti-Semitism in Europe negatively affect the Jewish moneylenders?
People and countries did not want to pay money back. If they were to just foster more anti-Semitism, it would become more difficult to collect the money.
What happened when the Jewish moneylenders could not collect their money?
The Jewish community as a whole would suffer financially. Since the Jewish Communities had little interaction with the outside world, they depended on the profits made by people who could interact (moneylenders) to keep their economy within the community strong.
How did the church use its political power against the Jews?
The Catholic Church had crusades. They forced conversion, restricted activity and even expelled Jews from countries.
What were the consequences of not converting to Catholicism during the crusades?
Persecution, imprisonment, expulsion from countries, and even death
What countries were highly impacted by the crusades?
Spain, Portugal, Italy
What made someone Jewish pre-WWII? How did that impact the crusades?
The Catholics considered Jews followers of Judaism so if they converted them to Christianity, they would no longer be Jewish in the eyes of the Catholics.
How were Jews identified even before WWII? (What rules made that possible?)
Since you can’t always tell someone is Jewish by looks alone, Jews were forced to wear distinctive clothing.
During Modern European Anti-Semitism, how were Jews identified and was that similar or different from the times of the Crusades?
Jews in Modern Europe were now thought of as Jewish racially so, unlike the times of the Crusades where they felt Jews could be converted and no longer be Jewish. Being Jewish was considered permanent.
How did the interpretation of “who was Jewish” effect the thoughts of Jews at the time.
Non-Jews felt Jews were fundamentally (Racially) different from them and so were therefore dangerous.
What did/do Anti-Semitic people claim as the sources of their views? Why?
Influenced by a variety of “scientific, cultural, and economic” false and created ideas to make these ideas seem semi-intellectually based and not based on hatred and fear (which is what they are based on)
“Protocols of the Elders of Zion”
MAJOR “PROOF” OF THE LEVEL OF ANTISEMITISM FOUND IN EUROPE. Published as an anti-Semitic hoax. They wanted to be able to show evidence of a big claim that Jews were plotting to take over the world. It claimed it was from a secret meeting of Jews.
When was the term Anti-Semitism invented?
1879
Why was the term Anti- Semitism invented?
To make the hatred of Jews sound more “scientific”
How many of the western European jews were familiar and comfortable with western ways and scientific/philosophical thought prior to the rule of Henry VIII (8th)? Did they mix with other populations much?
Very few were comfortable with western ways and they lived together isolated.
How did Henry VIII (8th) change that? When?
He freed the Jews during the Haskalah Emancipation
Once Jews became involved in western culture, what happened (in terms of education and contribution to society)?
They studied secular subjects and soon contributed to western culture in unprecedented numbers.
Why might the Jews have had the intellectual/educational impact they had so soon?
The study of Torah and reading had prepared them well for academics
What were the thoughts about Jews leaving the jewish communities?
There was a fear within the Jewish community about people leaving for the western world and the community would not thrive as much then
What was the response to the fears of the Jewish communities?
They made reforms/changes to the practice of Judaism to appeal to the community
How was Judaism reformed? (4 examples)
Judaism was changed in the following ways:
- Language used for services
- Names of services/temples etc
- Music used during services
- Siddur and prayers
What was the temple/movement called that made the changes to the practice of Judaism?
Reform movement
When was the first reform temple opened and where?
Seesen, Germany 1810
Was the changes in eastern Europe for the Jews similar to the changes seen in western Europe? Why?
No, they were very different. Henry VIII (8th) was not able to have much influence over the region and the other countries did not like the Jewish population.
Shtetl
Small market towns within central and eastern Europe with large Jewish populations established before the Holocaust.
What were the religious practices in the shtetl?
Most were very religious
What was valued highest in the shtetls?
Judaism, the jewish community, study and knowledge of Jewish texts by men
Describe romance and community and how they interacted in the shtetl
Marriages were arranged, they were arranged to benefit the community, Judaism and the family
What was the profession of the jewish in shtetl and what was not?
They were not farmers. They were merchants, peddlers, and artisans
What were some of the results of living in shtetls for Jews? (2 examples)
- Hasidic movement
2. Haskalah emerges
Hasidic movement
Very religious Jewish movement
Describe “Pale of Settlement”
Boundaries of designated areas where Jews were allowed and also defining areas where Jews were not allowed. This essentially dictated where jews could and could not live within the Russian Empire. Jews had to have permission to leave.
Who created “Pale of Settlement” and where were they from?
Catherine the Great of Russia
When does Alexander I begins his reign and how does he treat the Jews during that time? Why?
In 1801, he is quite liberal and is nice to the jews and gave more freedom to them but the country doesn’t support this and he fears he will lose power so he becomes more conservative.
When does Nicholas I begin his reign? Was he considered kind or brutal? What did he value?
In 1825 he reigns as a brutal czar. He believed in the Russian military and the orthodox church. He wanted people to become more Russian.
Was drafting Jews in Russia common in 1825?
No. Nicholas I drafted Jews for the first time. They would serve 25 years.
Why were cartoonists schools created and did they work?
They were established to try to convert kids at a young age. It limited rights because of assimilation. They did not work.
When did Alexander II begin his reign?
In 1855 he began his liberal reign.
How was Alexander II different from his predecessors in treatment of the Jews?
- He got rid of cartoonist schools
- Allowed Jews to leave “Pale of Settlement”
- Favored wealthy, educated, skilled Jews
Why did Alexander II leave office?
He was assassinated.1
Who was responsible for the end to Alexander II’s reign and what was the result?
His assassination was the end to liberal reforms. Three men from the “people’s will” group carried out bombings which led to his death.
Who was blamed for Alexander II’s assassination?
One of the three men who carried out the bombings by the “Peoples Will” group was Jewish so the Jews were blamed. It was really the “People’s Will” group p that was responsible.
When did Alexander III come to power and what did he want to do in the beginning?
He came to power in 1881. He was a brutal czar. He wanted to avenge his father’s assassination and believing the jews were responsible, he developed many anti Jewish pogroms.
What did Alexander III do during the first 3 years of his reign to achieve his goals?
He established over 100 pogroms in 3 years.
What was Alexander III’s 1/3-1/3-1/3 plan?
1/3 will convert
1/3 will leave
1/3 will die
It was a plan to get rid of all the Jews
Quotas
Restrictive laws that determined where Jews could live, own property, etc
Was the next Russian ruler, Nicholas II a more tolerant czar? When did he reign?
No. In 1894 Nicholas II began his even more brutal reign
Kishnev Pogroms
Anti Jewish riots where police didn’t protect Jews
