History of Anti-Semitism
 Cultural differences
made the Jews
standout
 Only monotheistic
religion
 Refusal to accept
dominant religion
 Labeled by the
Romans as
“stubborn,”
“clannish,” and
“hostile”
History of Anti-Semitism
 As Roman pressure on the Jews mounted, some urged
rebellion—while others (like Jesus) suggested a
reforming of ways
 30 CE –Jesus is killed, disciples separated themselves
from Judaism
 Christian-anti-Judaism grows as Christians are made up
of more gentiles (non-Jews) than former Jews
 70 CE– Jewish Diaspora (forced exile) from Jerusalem
after failed revolt against Rome
History of Anti-Semitism
 325 CE - Christianity becomes official religion of the
Roman Empire. Jews negatively portrayed.
 Refused to convert to Christianity despite insistence of
Church
 5th-7th Centuries - Violence escalates
 “contamination” laws
 Could not hold public office
 Or show themselves during Holy Week
 Justinian Code 527-625
 Forbade reading of Torah in Hebrew
History of Anti-Semitism
 Middle Ages - Jews less than human,
killed in the Crusades, demonized,
blamed for Black Death
 Renaissance/Reformation - Jews
had to wear badges or cones on
head, in Italy and Germany they
were separated into ghettos
 Council of Basel (1431-43)
established ghettos, required to
attend Christian services
 Spanish Inquisition (1478-1765),
1492 expulsion from Spain
History of Anti-Semitism
 Blood libel—the idea
that Jews used the blood
of Christian children for
the Passover meal
 Used as an excuse to
attack Jewish
communities
History of Anti-Semitism
 Many occupations were closed to Jews
 Not allowed to own land, no farmers
 Trading guilds—not allowed to join
 Money lending (banking)




Was considered a sin by Christians
Given jobs as tax collectors,
Usury—charging interest for loans
Caused deep hatred among peasants
History of Anti-Semitism
 The Protestant
Reformation
 Martin Luther called
Jews “poisonous, bitter
worms”
 Suggested they be
forcibly converted or
expelled from
Germany
First their synagogues or churches
should be set on fire…Secondly,
their homes should likewise be
broken down and destroyed…They
ought to be put under one roof or in
a stable, like gypsies…Thirdly, they
should be deprived of their prayer
books…Fourthly, their rabbis must
be forbidden under threat of death
to teach anymore…
Of Jews and Their Lies,
Martin Luther
History of Anti-Semitism
 Enlightenment (Age of
Reason)
 1700s
 Jews were allowed out of
the ghettos
 1791 Jews got full
citizenship in France
 Although they gained more
rights—had a hard time
joining “outside world,”
spoke Yiddish
 Instead of religion,
“science” and “reason”
found differences between
Jews and non-Jews
History of Anti-Semitism
 French diplomat Joseph
Arthur Gobineau, father of
“modern” racial thought
 Blamed decline of
civilization on interbreeding
of superior and inferior
racial groups
 white race or Aryans,
peoples speaking IndoEuropean languages
Race Replaces Religion
 Word Anti-Semitism first
appeared in 1873 in book
Victory of Judaism over
Germany by Wilhelm
Marr
 Jews ought to be
eliminated because
they were members of
an alien race
Russia and France late 1800s
 Pogroms, massacres of
Jews, ordered by the czar
 Continued into 20th
century
 Dreyfus Affair--France
Dreyfus, the first Jew
appointed to general
staff was accused of
giving info to Germany
 Pointed out level of
anti-Semitism in
France

Number piece of paper #1-15 and for group write your first
reactions to the group. It can be positive or negative—but
be honest! No one but you will see this list.
1.
Politicians
8. Welfare Recipients
2.
Old People
9. Computer Programmers
3.
Teenagers
10. Germans
4.
Harvard University
Students
11. New Yorkers
5.
North Carolina State
University Students
6.
Professional Basketball
Players
7.
Professional Ballet Dancers
12. Southerners
13. Migrant Workers
14. Democrats
15. Republicans
Pick two groups that you felt most strongly about. On the
back of paper draw this chart. For each category, see what
you hear from each—and where you might have gotten
these ideas.
Source
Personal
Experiences/Direct
Contacts
Conversations with
Family
Conversations with
Friends
Television
Books/Magazines
Movies
Group 1
Group 2