Anti-Semitism Unit 1. Important Definitions Genocide: attempt to eliminate an entire group of people Genocide: attempt to eliminate an entire group of

Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism

Unit 1Unit 1

Important DefinitionsImportant Definitions

Genocide:Genocide: attempt to eliminate an attempt to eliminate an entire group of peopleentire group of people Usually orchestrated by governmentUsually orchestrated by government

The HolocaustThe Holocaust: Murder of : Murder of approximately 6 million Jews (and approximately 6 million Jews (and approx. 6 million others) by Nazis approx. 6 million others) by Nazis during World War IIduring World War II

Important DefinitionsImportant Definitions

Anti-Semitism:Anti-Semitism: prejudice against or hatred prejudice against or hatred of Jewsof Jews Term was coined in late-1800’s Term was coined in late-1800’s Anti-Semitism has been common throughout Anti-Semitism has been common throughout

historyhistory PogromPogrom: attacks against the Jewish : attacks against the Jewish

communitycommunity StereotypeStereotype: assumption that all members of : assumption that all members of

a group all share a certain characteristica group all share a certain characteristic Oversimplification of facts about a certain group Oversimplification of facts about a certain group

of peopleof people Often the result of ignoranceOften the result of ignorance

JudaismJudaism

World’s oldest monotheistic faithWorld’s oldest monotheistic faith Belief in one GodBelief in one God

Torah= holy scripture for JewsTorah= holy scripture for Jews Saturday= Sabbath Saturday= Sabbath Synagogue= Jewish house of worshipSynagogue= Jewish house of worship Judaism influenced the development of Judaism influenced the development of

Christianity and IslamChristianity and Islam


Jews have long been subject to Jews have long been subject to discriminationdiscrimination

Christians were taught that Jews were Christians were taught that Jews were responsible for the death of Christresponsible for the death of Christ

Other Other stereotypesstereotypes and misconceptions and misconceptions about Jews developed throughout the about Jews developed throughout the Middle AgesMiddle Ages


Ignorance fueled distrust and dislike of Ignorance fueled distrust and dislike of JewsJews

Common Stereotypes:Common Stereotypes: Greed: Jews practiced Greed: Jews practiced usuryusury, which , which

earned them a reputation for being earned them a reputation for being greedygreedy

Lazy: Jews were forbidden from owning Lazy: Jews were forbidden from owning land and joining guilds, which led to the land and joining guilds, which led to the misconception that they were too lazy to misconception that they were too lazy to farm or perform physical laborfarm or perform physical labor


Common Stereotypes:Common Stereotypes: Cowards: Jews were restricted in terms Cowards: Jews were restricted in terms

of military service, which led others to of military service, which led others to believe that they were too cowardly to believe that they were too cowardly to go to wargo to war

Disloyal: placing loyalty to their culture Disloyal: placing loyalty to their culture above loyalty caused others in the above loyalty caused others in the country distrust themcountry distrust them

Jews in European HistoryJews in European History

Restrictions placed on Jews turned them Restrictions placed on Jews turned them into outsidersinto outsiders

Often became the scapegoat for Often became the scapegoat for catastrophic eventscatastrophic events Black DeathBlack Death

Stories of Blood Libel also emerged in the Stories of Blood Libel also emerged in the Middle AgesMiddle Ages Belief that Jews used the blood of Christian Belief that Jews used the blood of Christian

children for ritualschildren for rituals


Jewish economic life:Jewish economic life: Forbidden work in many professionsForbidden work in many professions Heavily taxedHeavily taxed Were allowed to work in business and Were allowed to work in business and

commercecommerce Bankers, merchantsBankers, merchants

Also focused on academics and specialized Also focused on academics and specialized professionsprofessions

Law, medicine, sciences, etc.Law, medicine, sciences, etc. Often invested in portable items and skills they Often invested in portable items and skills they

could take with themcould take with them Easy to move if expelled from countryEasy to move if expelled from country


Distrust of Jews common in Christian Distrust of Jews common in Christian EuropeEurope

Many nations even expel the JewsMany nations even expel the Jews 1290: England1290: England 1306: France1306: France 1492: Spain1492: Spain 1497: Portugal1497: Portugal


Following the expulsion, many Jews Following the expulsion, many Jews moved into Eastern Europemoved into Eastern Europe Less complex government= less Less complex government= less

restrictions restrictions Formed communities Formed communities

known as known as Shtetle Shtetle


The Enlightenment provided Jews with The Enlightenment provided Jews with new opportunitiesnew opportunities Nations allowed Jews back into their Nations allowed Jews back into their

countriescountries Some even granted new rights and freedomsSome even granted new rights and freedoms

1781: Austria abolished extra taxes on Jews1781: Austria abolished extra taxes on Jews 1782: Austria allows Jewish children to attend 1782: Austria allows Jewish children to attend

school with Christian childrenschool with Christian children 1787: Austria allowed Jews to join the military1787: Austria allowed Jews to join the military


Napoleonic Code:Napoleonic Code: Jews given more rights and freedom in Jews given more rights and freedom in

Napoleon’s empireNapoleon’s empire Equal access to all aspects of economy and Equal access to all aspects of economy and

professionsprofessions Equal rightsEqual rights Integrated Jews in to the rest of the societyIntegrated Jews in to the rest of the society


The rise of Nationalism in the late-1800’s The rise of Nationalism in the late-1800’s caused Anti-Semitism to become caused Anti-Semitism to become popular once again.popular once again.

NationalismNationalism

NationalismNationalism: intense pride and : intense pride and devotion to one’s country OR group devotion to one’s country OR group of peopleof people Became popular in the late-1800’sBecame popular in the late-1800’s Fueled by ImperialismFueled by Imperialism Ethnic and cultural differences begin to Ethnic and cultural differences begin to

cause conflictcause conflict

Nationalism and Anti-Nationalism and Anti-SemitismSemitism

Jews begin to be seen as an ethnic Jews begin to be seen as an ethnic and/or racial group, not just a religious and/or racial group, not just a religious groupgroup

Discrimination against Jews begins againDiscrimination against Jews begins again Jews blamed for economic problemsJews blamed for economic problems Anti-Semitic political parties become popularAnti-Semitic political parties become popular Politicians make their careers through Anti-Politicians make their careers through Anti-

SemitismSemitism Karl Luger- role model for HitlerKarl Luger- role model for Hitler

Anti-Semitism in RussiaAnti-Semitism in Russia

Pogroms become common in Russia and Pogroms become common in Russia and Eastern EuropeEastern Europe 1880’s- police stand by as Jewish property is 1880’s- police stand by as Jewish property is

looted and destroyedlooted and destroyed Tens of thousands killedTens of thousands killed

Russian government restricts Jews from Russian government restricts Jews from schools and professional occupationsschools and professional occupations

Jews forced to leave Moscow in 1891-1892Jews forced to leave Moscow in 1891-1892

Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

Social Darwinism:Social Darwinism: practice of practice of applying Darwin’s theories to societyapplying Darwin’s theories to society Survival of the fittestSurvival of the fittest Some human groups more “fit” than Some human groups more “fit” than

othersothers Used to explain the mistreatment or Used to explain the mistreatment or

subjugation of certain groupssubjugation of certain groups

Jews in EuropeJews in Europe

As violence increased, many Jews fled As violence increased, many Jews fled EuropeEurope

Thousands came to the U.S.Thousands came to the U.S. 1880: there were 85,000 Jews in NYC alone1880: there were 85,000 Jews in NYC alone

Others attempt to flee to PalestineOthers attempt to flee to Palestine Movement known as Movement known as ZionismZionism develops develops Zionism taught that Jews needed their own Zionism taught that Jews needed their own

state and should create a nation around state and should create a nation around JerusalemJerusalem


By the early 1900’s, Anti-Semitism By the early 1900’s, Anti-Semitism was part of the culture of many was part of the culture of many European nationsEuropean nations

Documents

Anti-Semitism Unit 1. Important Definitions Genocide: attempt to eliminate an entire group of people Genocide: attempt to eliminate an entire group of