The Eternal Jew (1937)

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The Eternal Jew (1937)
The Eternal Jew (1940)
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Antisemitism The Longest Hatred
The basic meaning of the word antisemitism is
dislike of Jews. Beyond this initial
assertion, however, we are faced with a variety
of difficulties. One of these is that the word
is used to apply to a whole variety of attitudes
to Jews, from vague feelings of unease to
outright murder, and the whole spectrum of
feelings and actions that fall between those two
extremes. . . . Antisemitism is a relatively
recent word, coined in the late nineteenth
century to denote to idea of the Jews as a race,
and has come to stand for a millenia-old
phenomenonhatred of Jews. . . . 68 The
Holocaust Antisemitism (2003)

• Big Picture Questions
• How why did antisemitism originate?
• How why did it change over time in differing
  historical circumstances/contexts?
• What effects did it have the Jewish populations
  of Europe?
• In what ways is modern antisemitism different
  from earlier forms?

1. Pagan antisemitism
2. Christian antisemitism
3. Medieval early modern antisemitism
4. Modern secular or scientific antisemitism (19th
   century )

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Antisemitism Greco-Roman Antiquity
Flavius Josephus (1st century A.D., Jewish
historian) Against Apion Book II But besides
this, Apion objects to us thus "If the Jews
(says he) be citizens of Alexandria, why do they
not worship the same gods with the Alexandrians?
Moreover, Apion would lay a blot upon us, because
we do not erect images for our emperors as if
those emperors did not know this before, or stood
in need of Apion as their defender
Apion hath the impudence to pretend that" the
Jews placed an ass's head in their holy place"
and he affirms that this was discovered when
Antiochus Epiphanes spoiled our temple, and found
that ass's head there made of gold, and worth a
great deal of money. . . . Apion ought to have
had a regard to these facts, unless he had
himself had either an ass's heart or a dog's
impudence of such a dog I mean as they worship
for he had no other external reason for the lies
he tells of us. As for us Jews, we ascribe no
honor or power to asses
Apion hath done whatever his extravagant love
of lying hath dictated to him? . . . How is it
possible that all the Jews should get together to
these sacrifices, and the entrails of one man
should be sufficient for so many thousands to
taste of them, as Apion pretends?
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Antisemitism Beginnings of Christianity
The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) Pauls
Letters
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for
the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I
can testify about them that they are zealous for
God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
Since they did not know the righteousness that
comes from God and sought to establish their own,
they did not submit to God's righteousness. Romans
101-3
I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are
ready to kill me, because you have no room for my
word. I am telling you what I have seen in the
Father's presence, and you do what you have heard
from your father." "Abraham is our father," they
answered. John 837-39
 "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked
Pilate.       But they shouted all the louder,
"Crucify him!" When Pilate saw that he was
getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was
starting, he took water and washed his hands in
front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's
blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"
All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us
and on our children!" Then he released Barabbas
to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him
over to be crucified. Matthew 27 23-27
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Antisemitism Growth Spread of Christianity

• Common beliefs about Jews expressed by Church
  Fathers
• Judaism was degenerate at the time of Jesus
• Jews were Christ killers
• Jewish diaspora was Gods punishment
• Israel had been rejected by God
• Jews were demonized

Origen of Alexandria (185-ca. 254 AD) We may thus
assert in utter confidence that the Jews will not
return to their earlier situation, for they have
committed the most abominable of crimes, in
forming this conspiracy against the saviour of
the human race.
Constantine, Council of Nicaea (325 AD) It
appeared an unworthy thing that in the
celebration of this most holy feast i.e.,
Easter we should follow the practice of the
Jews, who have impiously defiled their hands with
enormous sin, and are, therefore, deservedly
afflicted with blindness of soul Let us then
have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish
crowd for we have received out Saviour a
different way.
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Antisemitism Growth Spread of Christianity
Gregory of Nyssa (ca. 335- after 394 AD) The
Jews were murderers of the Lord, assassins of
the prophets, rebels and detesters of God . . .
Companions of the devil, race of vipers,
informers . . . darkeners of the mind, pharisaic
leaven, Sanhedrin of demons, accursed,
detested, lapidators, enemies of all that is
beautiful.
John Chrysostom (347-407) First Homily Against
the Jews
Jews are dogs, stiff-necked, gluttonous,
drunkards. They are beasts unfit for work fit
for killing, for slaughter. There is no
difference between the theatre and the
synagogueThe synagogue is a dwelling of demonsa
place of idolatry Is it not strange that those
who worship the Crucified keep common festival
with those who crucified him? With those who
shouted Crucify him, Crucify him and His blood
be upon us and upon our children? All Jews are
demons and all are guilty.
Code of Theodosius II (438) Indeed we believe it
sinful that the enemies of the heavenly majesty
of the Roman Laws should become the executors of
our lawsand that theyshould have the power to
judge or decide as they wish against Christians,
yes, frequently even over bishops of our holy
religion themselves, and thus, as it were, insult
our faith.
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Antisemitism The Middle Ages

• Common Beliefs about Jews by the Late Middle
  Ages
• stubbornness
• wanderers
• diabolical magical powers
• carnality
• blood libel ritual child murder
• host desecration
• global conspiracy
• well poisoning
• parasites

The First Crusade (1095-1099) ? the infidels
within We depart to wage war against the enemies
of God, while here in our very midst dwell the
murderers of our Redeemer pogrom in Rouen,
France pogroms in Mainz, Worms, Trier
The Black Death (1347-1351) ? poisoning the
wells Canon Heinrich Truchess And, thus,
within one year as I have said, all the Jews
between Cologne and Austria were burnt. And in
Austria they await the same fate for they are
accursed of God
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Judensau
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Antisemitism The Middle Ages
The Fourth Lateran Council (1215) Canon 67 The
more the Christians are restrained from the
practice of usury, the more are they oppressed in
this matter by the treachery of the Jews, so that
in a short time they exhaust the resources of the
Christians. Wishing, therefore, in this matter to
protect the Christians against cruel oppression
by the Jews, we ordain in this decree that if in
the future under any pretext Jews extort from
Christians oppressive and immoderate interest,
the partnership of the Christians shall be denied
them till they have made suitable satisfaction
for their excesses.
Canon 68 In some provinces a difference in dress
distinguishes the Jews or Saracens from the
Christians, but in certain others such a
confusion has grown up that they cannot be
distinguished by any difference. Thus it happens
at times that through error Christians have
relations with the women of Jews or Saracens, and
Jews and Saracens with Christian women.
Therefore, that they may not, under pretext of
error of this sort, excuse themselves in the
future for the excesses of such prohibited
intercourse, we decree that such Jews and
Saracens of both sexes in every Christian
province and at all times shall be marked off in
the eyes of the public from other peoples through
the character of their dress.
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Antisemitism Luther Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther, The Jews Their Lies (1543) I had
made up my mind to write no more either about the
Jews or against them. But since I learned that
these miserable and accursed people do not cease
to lure to themselves even us, that is, the
Christians, I have published this little book, so
that I might be found among those who opposed
such poisonous activities of the Jews who warned
the Christians to be on their guard against them.
I would not have believed that a Christian could
be duped by the Jews into taking their exile
and wretchedness upon himself. However, the devil
is the god of the world, and wherever God's word
is absent he has an easy task, not only with the
weak but also with the strong. May God help us.
Amen.
What shall we Christians do with this rejected
and condemned people, the Jews? Since they live
among us, we dare not tolerate their conduct, now
that we are aware of their lying and reviling and
blaspheming. If we do, we become sharers in their
lies, cursing and blasphemy. Thus we cannot
extinguish the unquenchable fire of divine wrath,
of which the prophets speak, nor can we convert
the Jews. With prayer and the fear of God we must
practice a sharp mercy to see whether we might
save at least a few from the glowing flames. We
dare not avenge ourselves. Vengeance a thousand
times worse than we could wish them already has
them by the throat. I shall give you my sincere
advice