Transcript Slide 1

Judaism in the Middle Ages
Readings:
Massacre of the Jews of Mainz
A Decree by Pope Innocent III
The Libel of Ritual Murder
Jewish Learning
For each of the readings complete the following information:
TOPIC:
1.
Who created the text?
2.
What signals help you identify the text as a primary or secondary source?
3.
Was the writer present?
4.
Does the writer have a particular point of view?
5.
How do we know that the writer has a point of view?
6.
Is the writer qualified?
If so, what is it?
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When readings and analysis are done answer
the following questions as a group.
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What were the apparent motives of those who
attacked the Jews at Cologne and elsewhere at the
time of the First Crusade?
What harassments and abuses were Jews likely to
suffer in medieval society?
What was the attitude of the papacy toward Jews?
Why were Christians prone to believe the absurd
myth that Jews committed ritual murder?
Discuss the roles of scholarship, education and charity
in Jewish medieval culture.