Reasons for AntiSemitism The Persecution of Jews
Germans Perpetuate Stereotypes Nazi propaganda aimed to reinforce a negative stereotype of Jewish people. Look at this Polish cartoon.
Stereotyping What stereotype of Jewish people is reinforced here? Why does the cartoonist make the Polish family look so thin? The purpose of this stereotyping was to stop people from seeing Jews as normal human beings. The purpose was to stop people seeing Jews as individuals. Instead, Jews came to be seen as a certain ‘type’.
Hitler’s View
Read the quote below. It is from a letter by Adolf Hitler in 1919. This was 14 years before he came to power (1933). 20 years before he invaded Poland which started the Second World War (1939). 23 years before the ‘Final Solution’ to kill all Jews was begun (1942). “The fact is that Judaism is a matter of race not religion… reasonable anti-semitism…must lead to a systematic and lawful campaign for the removal of those privileges which the Jew enjoys, unlike other foreigners in our midst who are subject to the law applying to aliens. The final aim of such anti-semitism must be unquestionably the removal of the Jews”
Other Reasons for German Persecution Jews were not considered human Jews were outcasts, condemned by God The plan to exterminate the Jews was allowed to develop because no one interfered Christian countries did not open their borders to Jews
– Permanent Intergovernmental Department formed (to allow Jewish children into countries) – not successful
Failed Attempts to Save Jewish Lives Germany would allow Jews to leave if they had visas from other countries or certificates to go to Palestine – did not happen Sweden agreed to take children if the British governemnt would give them certificates for Palestine – did not happen Red Cross tried to evacuate 70,000 children – rejected by officials in Iran
Germans Attempt to Annihilate Jews Mass
graves Medical Experiments Concentration camps – worked to death Gas chambers Result
of Germany’s efforts and the world’s indifference – six million Jews were murdered
What is the origin if anti-Semitism? Biblical References to Jews in the Gospels Matthew
– states Jews had nothing to do with Christ’s crucifixion; the Chief Priests and Pharisees sought to destroy Christ because he was becoming too powerful and popular. The Jewish people (two-three million) had nothing to do with this)
More Biblical Teachings Mark-
states that the Jewish people would have expressed violent disapproval of the crucifixion. The Chief Priests and Pharisees feared Christ.
Luke
– tells the same story.
Jews are Blamed for Killing Christ
John – In the Fourth Gospel – wrote as one outside of the Jewish world who was hostile to it. – Uses the phrase Jews when he is referring to the High Priests. – By repeated use of “Jews,” puts in minds of his readers that the Jews were all guilty; whereas the others tried to refute in advance the allegations that people might be brought against the Jews.
Blaming of Jews Continues Czarina Elizabeth in Russia would not allow Jews into the country because they were ‘enemies of Christ.” St. John Chysostom stated that the Jews were not ignorant about what happened to Christ but erred with full knowledge- wrote violent homilies against the Jews that influenced people for years In the Middle Ages, people were taught the Jews were all guilty and that they acted with “deliberate malice.”
Condemnation of the Jews ď ľ Strengthened
the prejudice against the Jews through the Dark Ages, mediaeval Christendom, the whole of Western Europe leading up to the Holocaust and beyond.