A Brief History of Europe’s Jews

Hebrews are a Semitic (non-European)People

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

http://wikipedia.qwika.com/en2pt/Image:Ghetto_bridge.JPG

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.

J’Accuse!

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.

Dreyfus, the Traitor!

Dreyfus Affair

• In 1905, Dreyfus was finally given a new trial and exonerated

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.”