Membership Quiz Flashcards
torah
first five books of the Hebrew Bible
synagogues
place of Jewish worship
rabbis
Jewish religious leaders
Palestine is present day…
Israel
Jewish history in Palestine
When Jews in Palestine were conquered by Romans, they refused to worship Roman gods. Some Jews suggested rebellion, while others like Jesus suggested reform. His disciples separated from Judaism, resulting in other Christian churches.
Jerusalem
claimed as capitol city and Holy land by Christians and Muslims
What is a stereotype?
widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular person or thing
antisemitism
hostility to or prejudice against Jews
Early Church to 1400
European Catholic hierarchy accused Jews of crucifying Christ. Romans destroyed Jewish temple in Jerusalem 70 AD as punishment. Only minority religion on Catholic continent. Pogroms common.
Early Church to 1400 stereotypes
Jews served devil. caused Black Death, only converted for material gain
Blood Libel
myth that Jews killed Christian children and used their blood for ritual purposes
1300-1800
Jews invited to settle in Europe with restriction on residence (ghettos). Encouraged to perform managerial and commercial tasks, so many practiced usury - lending money - because Christians considered charging interest on loans sinful. Could not own land, serve as military officers, or join Guilds. Could only have state service jobs if they converted.
1300-1800 stereotypes
work with money because they’re greedy, cowards that avoid military service, preferred meaningless study over hard work
1800-1918
European nations established equality in constitutions, so now Jews could live and work among non Jews. Overrepresented in future-oriented jobs like finance, banking, medicine, law. More politically engaged, but antisemitism parties formed. Best time for Jews before downhill.
1800-1918 stereotypes
communists, control of media, blocked Christians from certain fields, converted for material gain
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion
antisemitic publication, fiction documenting Jewish conspiracy to take over the world
World War I
Three trends developed during and immediately after:
- Stab in the back legend
- Bolshevik Revolution and Russia
- Versailles Treaty
Meaning of stab in the back legend
Austria and Germany claimed Jews and communists were internal traitors working with foreign interests
Meaning of Bolshevik Revolution belief
Claimed that Jews were supportive of revolutionary regimes
Meaning of Versailles Treaty conspiracy
Embarrassed and angered Germany. Thought to be manufactured by Jews for their own benefit.
1875-1945
Intellectuals and politicians developed racist perception of Jews and belief in white supremacy. Contact with natives in the Americas, Asia, Africa supported social darwinism.
1875-1945 stereotype
Jews were polluting Aryan blood through intermarriage for world domination
Social Darwinism
Ranking races. Humans are divided into races biologically driven to struggle against each other, and the fittest (Aryans) survive and come out on top.
Samuel Morton
Philadelphia surgeon who hypothesized link between brain size and race to prove white supremacy. Claimed races were fixed, incapable of being changed, intrinsically different.