Jews in the Modern World

2008-10-30T22:58:00.000-07:00

Sachar: "The Evolution of Jewish Radicalism: Tsarist Russia," pp. 284-309

What role did Jews play in the development of Russian radicalism and socialism?

-Jews played a huge part in early Russian radicalism-->made up 20 percent of the People's Will Faction

-After assassination of Alexander II, Jews were distrusted and left the populist cause

-Marx's approach was more appealing to young Jewish, underclass because it offered a "blueprint" of a classless society and rejected anti-Semitism

-Jews were leaders of the Russian Social Democratic Movement

-Jewish communities produced Marxist "study groups"

Describe the Jewish Bund and its role in Russian socialism.

-General Jewish Worker's Union

-origins go back to traditions of Jewish self-help in the Pale-->aid to needy families, credit society

-young Jews preached Marxist ideology here to working class Jews, the working class Jews embraced it, and the number of Marxist followers grew immensely

-mostly "the Bund that stood at the forefront in launching demonstrations and strikes against the government's antisemetic legislation" (294).

-well- organized party

What happened tot he Jews in Russia in the wake of the Revolution of 1905?

-Aftermath of Nicholas II's October Manifesto, launched six hundred pogroms to strike out against the Pale and acculturated Jewish communities in the Russian interior.

-990 Jews died

What was the case of Mendel Beilis and what did it reveal about the situation of Jews in Russia before WWI?

-when a boy (Andrei Yustchinski) was found murdered outside of Beilis' factory, he was arrested even though the one who arranged the murder was Andrei's friend's (Zhenya) mother Vera Cheberiak (part of the Cheberiak gang)

-Beilis was ultimately found not guilty after spending several years in prison

-because of a former Catholic Priest testified that the murder was an example of a "Jewish ritual murder" people of Russia were outraged

-"By 1913, the acquittal of Mendel Bielis had occurred too late to persuade event he most optimistic among them that Nicholas II's corrupt and dysfunctional regime would ever be liberalized. Only a force majeure would effect their salvation, and few Jews, or Russians, could have anticipated a transformation of that magnitude" (309).

Mendes-Flohr

What were the socialist and territorialist proposals of Simon Dubnow and the Bund to solve Jewish problems in eastern Europe?

-Dubnow proposed that through the growth of spiritual nationhood, Jews would be able to remain politically and territorially apart of their respective states, while still enjoying cultural autonomy

-Dubnow--->Society for Full and Equal Rights of the Jewish People in Russia (association of non-socialist Jews)

The Bund

-Equal civil and political rights for Jews

-rights may be obtained by the fall of tsarrist regime

-the term "nationality" applies to Jewish people

-National cultural autonomy

-no more division of language

Reading Questions for Wednesday, Sept. 24th

2008-09-25T22:24:00.000-07:00

Sachar

1a. Economic changes of Western European Jewry in the Early Modern Period?

-more job opportunities (wider vocational leeway)-->instead of just peddling and moneylending, Jews dealt in areas such as cattle, textiles, timber, silks, satins, gold, silver, and precious gems

-rulers began to realize the talents that the Jews possessed

1b. How did these changes alter the lives of the Jews? What is a Court Jew?

-reward: could live outside the Ghetto and travel between cities without paying "Jew taxes"

-growing Jewish middle class

-Court Jew: intercessors between local Jewry and the ruler (also dealt with munitions, mercenary soldiers), they resembled high official status, they were exempt from jurisdiction of Jewish and Gentile courts-->accountable for actions only in Royal Court

Katz

2. How do these changes prepare the way for the entrance of Western European Jews into general society?

-religion tolerance

-idea of moral self-sufficiency of the state

-best interest of the state (economic, etc...)

Mendes-Flohr

3a. Why was Spinoza excommunicated by the Spanish-Portuguese community of Amsterdam?

-because he practiced and taught heresies

-because he was accused of being an atheist

3b. How does Spinoza explain his beliefs to Albert Burgh

-church is based on superstition

-church has secrets

-church is deceiving and lucrative

-the only reason people are devoted to the church is because they are afraid of Hell

Contrast Between Katz and Sachar

2008-09-15T12:03:00.000-07:00

These articles were both extremely different from one another. In Katz’s article, he chose to explain the similarities between all modern Jews and their communities. Sachar, on the other hand, explained the differences between modern Jewish communities. Katz approached his article from a broad sociological perspective while Sachar approached his article from a specific, factual standpoint.

In Sachar’s article, he discusses the fact that the Jews in the Judengasse had to operate on the idea of community autonomy. They were forced to govern themselves and operate their schools, public services, hospitals, streets, and trade. The Jews were also responsible for handling legal disputes within the community, which required them to have laws, courts, and judiciary officials. The government that the Jews created for themselves was also referred to as a kehillah.

In Katz’s article, he discusses the differences between modern and traditional societies. He says that government is essentially when ruling authorities create laws and those who are lower in the hierarchy obey these laws. He goes on to say that traditional societies are smaller and therefore, the relationship between the leader and those below him is more personal and direct. Government in modern society is based on the idea of the decentralization of power.

On the religious side of things, Sachar discusses the fact that once the Jews were “reoriented” into the East, they were able to develop their religious and cultural traditions more easily than in Germany. In Katz’s article, he discusses the fact that every traditional Jewish community accepted passed-down Jewish tradition. However, each individual society had its own specific traditions.

These articles interpret traditional Jewish life in very different ways, but it is almost as if they aid in the understanding of one another.

2008-09-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

Morris M. Faierstein, “Safed Kabbalah and the Sephardic Heritage,” in Zohar, pp. 196-208.

*some help from Professor Lesses' study guide*

1. What can explain the rise of a new kind of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) in Safed in historical terms? What events was it responding to (e.g., the expulsion from Spain), and how did it come to terms with them?

-exile

-the idea that God is in exile with the Jews and it is their responsibility to change things by performing Jewish rituals

-some believed that it was the sins of the Jewish people that caused the exile

2. What are the most important aspects of Safed Kabbalah?

-ascetic behavior (ie: proper sexual behavior)

-contemplative exercises (ie: mystical knowledge)

-ritual innovation (ie: vigils)

-creation

3. How does it view the redemption of the Jewish people?

-redemption will only occur if those who need to be redeemed work hard for it

-mystical devotion during prayer

-fulfilling commandments

-asceticism

-ethical deeds

-rite for Rachel-lamenting of one's sins

4. What new rituals did Safed Kabbalah create?

-2 types of Tikkun

-night vigils on the festivals of Shavnot, Passover, and Hoshonah RObah

-daily night vigil-relates to exile and redemtion of Shejhinah

The Origins of Sephardic Jewry in the Medieval and Arab World

2008-09-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

Questions to consider when reading Mark Cohen, “The Origins of Sephardic Jewry in the Medieval Arab World.” Take notes on these questions, bring them to class on September 3, and post the answers to your blog as well.

Who are the Sephardim and where do they come from?

-Jews of Spain or Spanish descent

-Jews of Christiandomà the descend from the Jews who were expelled from Spain in 1492

-Recently used to describe Israeli Jews who emigrated from Muslim-Arab Lands

-Medieval Spanish Jews believed Sephardad meant Spain

-Place in the Ancient Jewish Diaspora

In this article, Cohen is making a rather subtle argument about the relative situation of Jews under Muslim and Christian rule in the Middle Ages, and is arguing against two views that he considers incorrect. On the one hand, he is arguing against the “lachrymose conception” of Jewish history found among 19^th century Jewish historians, who saw Jewish history as merely a trail of tears. On the other hand, he is arguing against a romanticized vision of Jewish history in Muslim Spain fostered by those same historians. How does Cohen argue that Jewish history under Muslim rule should be seen in a more balanced, realistic light?

-“Myth of the interfaith utopia” overlooks periodic hardship and persecution

-He explains that life for the Jews under Muslim rule was not utopia but it was more tolerant that life under Christian rule

According to Cohen, why was Jewish life under Muslim rule generally easier than under Christian rule?

-more security

-less tension

-open adoption of Arab culture

-Muslims spent virtually no time trying to convert the Jews

-less confrontational

-no propheticide

-cultural and political integration of Jews

-Muslims viewed non-Muslims as “protected people”

What was the legal status of Jews living under Muslim rule?

-not unique

-all not-Muslims (dhimmis) paid an annual tax in exchange for protection by the state of Islam

What were the differences in the economic roles of Jews in Muslim and Christian lands in the Middle Ages?

MUSLIM:

-No occupational discrimination

-Jews participated in society

-Jews active in commerce

-Jews worked skilled and unskilled occupations

CHRISTIAN:

-Jews=economic outsiders

-given jobs like merchant/moneyholder

What led to the downfall of Jews in Christian Spain?

-anti-Jewish pogroms

-anti-Jewish legislation

Where did the Spanish Jews go after the expulsion? Why did the Ottomans welcome them in?

- Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Muslim Ottoman Empire (Turkey, Anatolia, the Balkans)

-Ottomans welcomed the Jews in because they shared an enemy (the Habsburg Empireàincluded Catholic Spain)

Edict of Expulsion from Spain

2008-09-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

What does the account of the Italian Jew tell us about the last days of Spanish Jewry?

This account tells us that the Spanish Jews were not only expelled from Spain, but they were to begin packing up during one of the highest holy days of the year, which shows enormous disrespect for the religion of the expelled. The treatment of the Jews in the last days of Spanish Jewry was extremely unfair and cruel. They had a once Jewish, Christian heretic forced on them to be their leader. When the Jewish people tried to arrange a deal in order for them to stay in the country, the Queen had the audacity to say that it was God’s will to expel the Jews—that the King was just following God’s direction. When the Jews saw that the King was not going to buy into this agreement and that he was going to go against them instead, the Jewish people gave up hope and were forced to sell everything at a ridiculously low cost. Not only that, but they weren’t even allowed to bring any silver or gold out of the country, even the money that they had gotten for their homes and other material items. The Jews had no choice but to exchange their money for clothing and other things.

What was the precipitating event that led to the order of expulsion?

The precipitating event that led to the order of expulsion was when the Jews tried to get the Marranos to stick with the Jewish religion, and because of this, they were incapable of becoming good Christians.

Who were the leaders of the Jews at that time and what did they do in response to the order? For example, what were the contrasting responses of Don Abraham Seneor and Don Isaac Abravanel?

While Don Abraham Seneor and Don Isaac Abravanel both pushed for the arrangement to keep the Jews in Spain, their responses were both very different. Don Isaac Abravanel did not turn his back on his people. He joined them in the expulsion and was an equal. Don Abraham Seneor was a heretic and so he sold out his own blood by converting, just to stay in Spain and gain power.

Where did the refugees go? How were they treated in Portugal, in Morocco, in Genoa, in Naples, and in Turkey? How did their fellow Jews deal with them?

One hundred and twenty five thousand fled to Portugal and within a very short time, they became slaves. The King of Portugal also banished seven hundred children to the isle of St. Thomas where they all died. Many of them also fled to Northern Africa where fellow North African Jews treated them very well and helped them a great deal. When Genoa got word of the expulsion, ships went to Spain to take the Jews away. They were treated terribly on the ship and in Genoa. Jews were robbed, Jewish babies were taken away from their mothers, and some Jews were even given to pirates. In Naples, the Jews were treated very kindly by the King and by local Jewish people who both helped them with money and food as best as they could. The local Jews actually sent the Spanish Jews around Italy to collect money. Sadly, because there were so many Spanish Jews, all of the help from the Marranos, the King, the local Jews, and the Dominican monks was not enough and a plague spread. Many exiled Spanish Jews went to Turkey. On the ship to Turkey, many of them were drowned but once they arrived in Turkey they were treated almost like kings. The King of Turkey gave them food, money, land, and estates on an island. Some of the other places that the Spaniards fled to include: the March, Romagna, Ferrera, Rome, and Patrimonium.