Lesson 2 Lecture Notes

Jewish Life in Europe Setting the Stage

The Diaspora - Part I  Definition - Term used to describe the scattering of Jews throughout the world beginning with the Babylonian Exile in 586 BCE and destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. This term is still used to describe those Jews who do not live in the modern state of Israel.

The Diaspora – Part II

Christianization of Europe  First allegiance was to the Catholic Church  Jews seen as Outsiders and Christ Killers  Crusades ( ) Goal: retake Jerusalem Kill Jews along the way Leads to greater persecution  Inquisition Court of the Catholic Church Purpose: Find and convict heretics Spanish Inquisition – most famous

Persecution Shapes Jewish Life: Where Jews Live I  Jews expelled from many countries Jews expelled from many countries France – 1182 & 1322 England – 1290 Spain – 1492  Travel Restrictions Couldn’t always enter a city Special taxes

Persecution Shapes Jewish Life: Where Jews Live II  Ghetto: An area of a city, usually enclosed by walls where Jews were required to live. Walls made it impossible for the area to grow even if the population grew, making the ghetto a cramped and difficult place to live. The word probably comes from the Italian giotto, or gun factory, because the first ghetto was built by a gun factory in Italy around Physically separated populations at night and Christian holidays Double Taxation – Community & King Violence

Persecution Shapes Jewish Life: How Jews Dress  Badges  Hats

Persecution Shapes Jewish Life: Jobs  Restricted Couldn’t Join Guilds  No Training  No Jobs Couldn’t Own Land  Available Merchants Money Lenders  Not allowed to Christians  Not productive

Persecution Shapes Jewish Life: Separate from Christians  Don’t know or understand each other  Leads to Libels Blood Libel Poisoning of the Wells – 1347

Jewish Exceptions  Court Jews Provide financing to kings and emperors Gained wealth and privileges Represented the Jewish community Hidden dangers Mayor Mordechai Maisel

Jewish Daily Life  Autonomy Jews were one of several groups in feudal system  Community Leaders Had own leaders – religious and civic  Own Laws Based on the Talmud  Education & Social Services Yeshivot Tzedakah  Own Language Yiddish

A Question to Consider: What is the impact of “modern nations” on Jews in the Diaspora?  “Modern Nations” Late 18 th century sees the development of new forms of government based on the individual’s direct relationship with the governing body and representation in government. People begin taking pride in being part of a particular nation.  Examining this question throughout semester.

For Next Week:  Read pages  Special attention to documents #1, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 18.  Think about: What is emancipation? How do Jews feel about emancipation? Do you think this will be good for the Jews or bad for the Jews? Why?