Introduction
Even though the term anti-Semitism was first popularized in 1879 through the works of Wilhelm Marr a German journalist, its very existence is traceable much further in history. Wilhelm Marr describes anti-Semitism simply as “hostility or hatred towards Jews” (Young p. 36). Throughout the Middle Ages, and in the wider Europe, the majority of the Jewish people was forced to live in confined neighborhoods (ghettos) and was denied citizenship. This was consequent of the Jews upholding their beliefs in religion (Judaism) as opposed to what was their captors’ expectation. In an effort to get more Jews to drop their religion, more accusations were levied upon the Jews. They ranged from the “murder of children, child abduction, and the use of their victims’ blood for libation” (Young p. 86). With the rise of Christianity in much of Europe, anti-Semitism continued to spread with vilification of Judaism in an effort to increase the number of converts. The religion was simply made to seem tainted and its followers were treated as lesser humans.
Definition of Anti-Semitism
According to the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia, anti-Semitism is “a perception expressed as hatred of Jews. Physical and rhetorical demonstrations of anti-Semitism addressed towards a race or Jewish individuals, towards the Jewish community, their religion or religious institutions and facilities and/or to their property” (Young p. 32). The modern use of the term “anti-Semitism” refers to the sum total of discriminatory statements, resentments, actions, trends and attitudes, irrespective of the social or racist motivation acting as the driving force. With respect to the German’s dictatorship ideology, anti-Semitism is seen as a social phenomenon serving as an epitome for creating prejudices and an instrument for constructing political enemy stereotype (Cheyette p. 115). The above definitions comprehensively broaden the spectrum on the earlier limited references made to anti-Semitism only as expressed hostility and hatred. The two definitions encompass a host of characteristics, attitudes and qualities of prejudice.
The Rise of Anti-Semitism in Europe
The existence of religion and the practice of Christianity in the Roman Empire are seen to date back to the 3rd and 4th centuries. The very existence of different religions and various beliefs is expected to give rise to different understanding. The different beliefs among the Jews and the Christians created a rift where hatred for the Jews started to brew. A misunderstanding of the religious beliefs practiced by the Jews created the need for a clear distinction and separation between the Christians and the Jews. The Jews who were the minority and sparsely distributed were forced to play an outsider role – both socially and economically – way back in the medieval communities. The Jews were omitted from goods exchange; they did not have a significant influence in production and economic activities.
In the ancient Babylonia empires of Rome and Greece, Jews originating from the ancient Judea kingdom were persecuted and criticized for upholding their social customs and religious beliefs contrary to adopting those of their conquerors. The persecution pushed the Jews away from major activities on the society relegating them to the economic activities that Christians would not undertake. Such activities include; economic activities entailing dealing with money and pawnbroker business. In the early Christian teaching doctrine, dealing with money was prohibited to Christians since interest charging activities – an activity of dealing money was considered to be as “usury practice” (Aschheim and Steven E. p 47).
However, in order for the Jews to undertake these activities, they sought protection from the ruling elite – the kings and princess – by paying heavy levies. With the Jews playing an outsider role in the social and economic arena in the medieval ages, they were ever so recognized as subjects to the state. In the middle ages, the need to afford the Jews a legal status gave rise to the definition of the Jews as servants of the state. This meant that the Jews are obligated to pay taxes in return enjoying minimal protection from persecution. The cash-rich Jews considered the hefty payments and bought protection from territorial lords as well as permission to settle permanently.
19th and 20th Century Anti-Semitism in Europe
In the 19th century, during the French revolution, the implicit emancipation of the Jews began and spread to the rest of European countries. In early onset of Jewish emancipation, there was a general belief among the European countries that owing to their small numbers the Jews would dissolve and assimilate within the Christian society....
Works Sited
Aschheim, and Steven E. Culture and Catastrophe: German and Jewish Confrontations with National Socialism and Other Crises. New York:: New York UP, 1996. Print.
Bauer, Yehuda., and Keren. Nili. A History of the Holocaust. New York:: Franklin Watts,, 2001. Print.
Bessel, and Richard. Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany: Comparisons and Contrasts. Cambridge England; . New York:: Cambridge, 1996. Print.
Cheyette, B. Between "Race" and Culture: Representations of "the Jew" in English and American Literature. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford UP, 1996. Print.
Katz, and Steven. T. The Holocaust in Historical Context. Jaffe Holocaust Collection. New York: : Oxford UP, 1994. Print.
Kritzman, L.D., and P.L.D. Kritzman. Auschwitz and After: Race, Culture, and "the Jewish Question" in France. New York: Routledge, 1995. Print.
Laqueur, Walter. The Terrible Secret: Suppression of the Truth About Hitler's "Final Solution." Boston: Little, Brown, 1980. Print.
Ozsva?th, Z. In the Footsteps of Orpheus: The Life and Times of Miklo?S Radno?Ti. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2000. Print.
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