1. Introduction to Merchant of Venice

2. Racism
Racism: means to discriminate someone because of their race, beliefs, values, etc.

7. Prejudice
Prejudice: an opinion formed before hand especially an unfavourable or based on inadequate facts.

9. Judaism 101
Holy Book:
The Torah
Place of Worship:
The Synagogue

10. Religious Symbols: Religious Holidays:
The Star of David Hanukkah

11. Jewish Dietary Laws
The word “Kosher” means “fit” or “proper”. For Jewish people Kashrut refers to the practice of eating only Kosher food.

12. Meat
According to the Torah, only the meat of animals with split hooves can be eaten. Such animals include sheep, goat, lamb and cattle. Animals that are not included are the pig, camel, and hare.

13. Milk and Dairy Products
Milk must not be stored, prepared along side of or eaten with meat. After eating meat, many Jews wait several hours before eating dairy products.

14. Kitchen Rules
Any utensils used to prepare, serve, eat or clean dishes after eating meat cannot be used with milk and vice versa. If a utensil is used with non-kosher food while it is hot, it cannot be used with Kosher food

15. Settings: Venice

16. Jews in Early England
11th century England – Jews not considered citizens and barred from many professions (artisan guilds and owning land)
Christians were forbidden from lending money with interest, and many Jews made a living as usurers
However, they had to also be their own dept collectors which led to resentment.

17. Jews in Early England
12th century Crusades brought about anti-Semitism
Magna Carter of 1215 (constitutional law) put restrictions on Jewish usury
1275 Jews in England were forbidden to lend money and had to wear badges of identification
1290 Jews were expelled from England
With Jews being expelled from England many myths began grow. For example, hey had ritual murders such as “Easter Murders” and Passover murders

18. Jews in Shakespeare’s England
Religious upheaval in England led to religious intolerance
Jews returning to England in the 16th century
Marranos or Conversos Spanish Jews converted to Christianity
1593 (a few years before The Merchant of Venice) Queen Elizabeth I’s physician, Roderigo Lopez, was accused of trying to poison her
Led to a rise of anti-Semitism

19. Jewish Stereotype
Money hungry
Greedy
Villainous
Murderous (ritual)

20. Setting of Merchant of Venice
Renaissance Venice, Italy

21. Setting of Merchant of Venice
Large Jewish population in Venice
In Venetian authorities forced Jews to live in segregated ghettos
They were hated by the Christian community although its members went to the Jewish money lenders when they needed to