1. The Jews of Europe

2. The Jews of Europe
What can we say about the “big picture” of medieval Judaism?
How can we compare and contrast it with Christianity and Islam?

3. Medieval Judaism Where Did They Go? Sadducees Essenes Messianic Jews
Pharisees*

4. Medieval Judaism The Jewish Diaspora
“Dispersion” after Jewish War, Bar Kochba Revolt
Ashkenazim
Yiddish
Sephardim

5. Medieval Judaism The Tanakh Contents Written in Hebrew, Aramaic
Torah (Law)
Nevi’im (Prophets)
Ketuvim (Writings)
Written in Hebrew, Aramaic

6. Medieval Judaism Rabbinic Literature The Mishnah The Talmud
Traditions compiled ca. AD 200
Clarifies, systematizes Torah
The Talmud
Elaboration of, commentary on Mishnah
Contains “Oral Torah”
The Talmud

7. Medieval Judaism The Synagogue Jewish meeting place
Services of readings, prayer
No distinct architectural type
Few medieval synagogues extant
Old-New Synagogue, Prague (ca. 1270)

8. Medieval Judaism Holy Days and Times Shabbat Biblical holidays
Passover
Shavu’ot
Rosh ha-Shannah
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
Rabbinical holidays
Purim
Hanukkah

9. Medieval Judaism
Junior’s, New York City

10. Medieval Judaism Rashi (ca. 1040-1105) Based in Troyes, France
Likely the rabbi there, founded yeshiva (1070)
Wrote biblical, talmudic commentaries
Influential for Jews – and Christians!

11. Medieval Judaism Moses Maimonides (1135-1204) From Cordoba  Cairo
Physician, philosopher
Guide of the Perplexed ( )
Covers spectrum of philosophical problems
Concluded religion and philosophy are harmonious

12. Medieval Judaism Kabbalah Jewish mystical tradition
Goals: mystical awareness, devoutness
Themes
Need to reinterpret creation account
Devotion to Scriptures
Salvation of humanity, through Davidic Messiah
Book of Splendor (ca. 1290)
Tree of Life

13. Medieval Judaism Judah the Hasid (ca. 1149-1217) Based in Regensburg
Legends, miracles!
Valued devotion, piety over study
Practiced, taught humility

14. Medieval Judaism
Questions?

15. Jews and Christians
Early Medieval Trends in Jewish-Christian Relations
Theological anti-Semitism
Anti-Jewish legislation often not implemented during Early Middle Ages
Jews integrated into every aspect of European life

16. Jews and Christians Jews in the Kingdom of the Franks
Judaism the only non-Christian religion permitted
Jewish law recognized within Frankish law
Jews welcomed at court, esteemed
Rabbinic schools
Abul Abaz’s arrival in Aachen

17. Jews and Christians High Medieval Trends Crusades
Toleration  marginalization  persecution
Papacy called for toleration, with restrictions and limitations

18. Jews and Christians Accusations against Jews “Blood libel”
Ritual murder
Host desecration
Well poisoning
Murder of Simon of Trent (1475)

19. Jews and Christians

20. Jews and Christians The Jews and Money Lending
Rising mercantile class  Jews driven out of commercial trade
Forced into money lending, practiced usury
Moneylending Jews likened to Judas

21. Jews and Christians
Judensau woodcut (ca. 1475)

22. Jews and Christians The Fate of the Talmud
To Christians, impious and blasphemous
Censored
Subject of trial in France (1240)
Periodic waves of seizures, burnings

23. Jews and Christians Violence against Jews The York Massacre (1190)
Mob attacked Jews
Jews committed mass suicide in York Castle
Debt documents destroyed
Strasbourg Massacre (1349)
Believed well poisoning caused Black Death
900+ Jews burned
Christian mob before York Castle (1190)

24. Jews and Christians Expulsions of Jews
Expelled from Constantinople (10th cent.)  participation in silk trade curtailed
Expelled from England (1290)  homes, capital confiscated
Expelled from France (1306) after several ritual murder, host desecration trials

25. Jews and Christians
Questions?

26. The Jews of Europe
What can we say about the “big picture” of medieval Judaism?
How can we compare and contrast it with Christianity and Islam?