Transcript The Jews of Europe

The Jews of Europe
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?

Medieval Judaism
• Where Did They Go?
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Sadducees
Essenes
Messianic Jews
Pharisees*
Medieval Judaism
• The Jewish Diaspora
– “Dispersion” after
Jewish War, Bar
Kochba Revolt
– Ashkenazim
– Sephardim
Medieval Judaism
• The Tanakh
– Contents
• Torah (Law)
• Nevi’im (Prophets)
• Ketuvim (Writings)
– Written in Hebrew,
Aramaic
Medieval Judaism
• Rabbinic Literature
– The Mishnah
• Traditions compiled ca.
AD 200
• Clarifies, systematizes
Torah
– The Talmud
The Talmud
• Elaboration of,
commentary on
Mishnah
• Contains “Oral Torah”
Medieval Judaism
• The Synagogue
– Jewish meeting place
– Services of readings,
prayer
– Few medieval
synagogues extant
Old-New Synagogue, Prague (ca. 1270)
Medieval Judaism
• Holy Days and Times
– Shabbat
– Biblical holidays
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Passover
Shavu’ot
Rosh ha-Shannah
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
– Rabbinical holidays
• Purim
• Hanukkah
Medieval Judaism
Junior’s, New York City
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!
Medieval Judaism
• Moses Maimonides
(1135-1204)
– From Cordoba  Cairo
– Physician, philosopher
– Guide of the Perplexed
(1185-1190)
• Covers spectrum of
philosophical problems
• Conclusion: religion and
philosophy are
harmonious
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
Medieval Judaism
• Judah the Hasid
(ca. 1149-1217)
– Based in Regensburg
– Legends, miracles!
– Valued devotion, piety
over study
– Practiced, taught
humility
Medieval Judaism
• Questions?
Jews and Christians
• Early Medieval Trends in Jewish-Christian
Relations
– Theological anti-Semitism
– Anti-Jewish legislation often not implemented
– Jews integrated into every aspect of
European life
Jews and Christians
• Jews in the Kingdom of
the Franks
– Judaism the only nonChristian religion
permitted
– Jewish law recognized
within Frankish law
– Jews welcomed at court,
esteemed
– Rabbinic schools
Abul Abaz’s arrival in Aachen
Jews and Christians
• High Medieval Trends
– Crusades
– Toleration  marginalization  persecution
– Papacy called for toleration, with restrictions
and limitations
Jews and Christians
• Accusations against
Jews
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Murder of Simon of Trent (1475)
“Blood libel”
Ritual murder
Host desecration
Well poisoning
Jews and Christians
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
Jews and Christians
Judensau woodcut (ca. 1475)
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
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)
Christian mob before York Castle (1190)
• Believed well poisoning
caused Black Death
• 900+ Jews burned
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
Jews and Christians
• Questions?
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?
