Houston Jewish Herald-Voice

The Jews are descendants of nomadic tribes of the Middle East. In the 13th century BC by towns and villages in the area of present Israel. Jewish kingdoms and states are centered around Jerusalem, the site of the Temple. Judaism, the religion that developed in this period, requires ethical behavior, individual responsibility, tolerance and social justice.

Jews believe in a God prohibits the practice of human sacrifice and common worship. Many of the teachings of Judaism in Christianity and Islam and the influence of other religions and cultures. Judaism does not encourage conversions, but has always accepted converts from other religions. In the diaspora, the two thousand years of Jewish life in the dispersion, Judaism spread in many different trends: the mystical movements such as Kabbalah movements seeking hidden meanings and mysteries in Biblical texts, such as Hasidism Pietist who have simple faith and “intensity of religious experience fellowship, and rationalist schools of theology of the Scriptures that explain the logic of reason and history. diaspora communities to provide the framework of Jewish life: synagogues, schools, public baths and kosher food. The communities are often isolated, have little or no contact with groups in other countries. But Jews continue to use the same biblical texts and prayers and observe religious laws thereof. When the Jews were granted equal rights and begin to live outside the Jewish community, Judaism lost its unifying force. development of modern religious movements, leaving the common foundations of traditional Judaism. In countries where there are no legal or social barriers exist, begin to assimilate the Jews, and many embrace the secular identity. After the Holocaust, the idea of a common history and destiny, once again the strength gains among Jews. The Jews of the Diaspora and Israel

The first Jewish community outside Israel, is set during the Babylonian exile (700 BC). Jews also established in the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt. After the Jewish revolt against Roman occupation (AD 66-135), Jews are prohibited from living in Jerusalem and Judea. Under Byzantine rule (324-640 AD), Christianity was introduced in Israel and many anti-Jewish laws are enacted. In the sixth century, Jews became a minority in their own land. After the Arab conquest, the Jewish population shrinks even more. At the time of the first Crusades (11th century), only a few thousand Jews remain in Israel.

Jews for many centuries the only form of ethnic and religious minorities in countries that settled in separate communities living in the general population according to special laws and restrictions. They use the Hebrew language or dialect combined with Hebrew language of the country: between Ashkenasim Yiddish, Jews who settled in Germany; Laden among the Sephardim, Jews who emigrated to Spain, and Judeo-Arabic among Jews of North Africa. Despite their forced separation, the Diaspora Jewish communities to adopt many customs surrounding cultures. Integration is not Jews in the community through marriage is a common practice. Many also convert to Christianity or Islam. As a result, the Jews of the diaspora are often members of two cultures (Jews and Arabs, for example) and even resemble externally to the surrounding population. The Jewish communities in Muslim countries, Spain and Portugal, to grow culturally and economically, despite some restrictions. Jews in Christian Europe were subject to oppression, persecution and expulsion sporadic alternating with periods of relative peace and prosperity. Ashkenasim Sephardi and develop different customs and religious practices for centuries. With emancipation, the granting of equal rights, and reducing the role of religion, the Jews begin to integrate fully in society who have lived for hundreds of years. For many, Judaism became a secular national identity. In the 19th century, Zionism, Jewish national movement, proposes a return to Israel and the restoration of a Jewish state. In 1948 this new state is based. Millions of Jews to emigrate to Israel, but most of the Jewish population is still living in the diaspora.

The First Crusade

During the first 700 years of Christianity, Jewish communities in Europe are rarely placed in direct physical danger. But the situation changed when, in 1095, Pope Urban called for a crusade to liberate Jerusalem from the hands of Muslims. On his way to Jerusalem, the crusaders leave a trail of death and destruction upon the Jewish communities along the Rhine and Danube. “Why,” as he exclaimed: “Why should we attack the infidels in the Holy Land, and let the unbelievers among us unmolested? On May 25, 1096, 800 Jews were murdered in Worms, Germany while many others choose suicide. In Regensburg, the Jews are thrown into the Danube to be “baptized.” In Mainz, Cologne, Prague and many other cities, thousands of Jews were murdered and looted their properties. For the next hundred years new cross accompanied by looting and massacres among the Jewish population. With the Crusades, the Jewish state as second-class citizens blocked by church dogma and the laws of the State in all of Christian Europe. A period of oppression and uncertainty stems ending only in the 18th century.

Anti-Jewish Myths

IN THE MIDDLE AGES, faith in miracles and legends is common. Two myths with an anti-Jewish character to appear throughout Europe: Jews desecrated the host and the Jews commit ritual murder. Both myths survive in the 20st century. Other popular belief during the Middle Ages, Jews have grown and the code edges – the attributes of the devil. After the Church in 1215, establishes the doctrine that the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ is contained in the host and wine consecrated, the stories begin to emerge Jews to steal, alter or burn the host, in order to kill Jesus once again. Miracles are an elementary part of this myth: the crippled host began to bleed – the teaching and demonstrating the truth of the Christian faith. According to the blood libel, “Jews are killing Christian children to satisfy their need for a supposed” Christian blood “on the elaboration of bread for Easter or other religious rites. While greater authority of the Church and opposed often stories, the myth lives on popular belief, supported and encouraged by the local clergy that launch profitable pilgrimages to places of suspicious deaths. The allegations of the blood are the most influential legends and cruel belief in the arsenal of anti- Jewish, perpetuating the myth of the evil and inhuman of the Jews and to incite the Christian population of blood revenge. The allegations of ritual murder is superficial in the 20th century in Russia and the dissemination of propaganda by the Nazis .

Patterns of discrimination

In 1215, the pope issues a decree that Jews must wear distinctive marks on their clothing to distinguish more clearly by the Christians. The Church wants to prevent Christians to learn to associate with Jews. These discriminatory clothing brands from place to place: sometimes the Jews must wear a yellow or red for the dress, sometimes a pointed hat, the “Jewish hat.” No brand of clothing is only used to separate Jews from Christians. Increasingly, Jews are forced to live together in isolation in ghettoes enclosed by walls. How ghetto are not authorized to extend, become increasingly broad measure of discrimination crowdedThe in a most fundamental right: Jews do not receive permission to reside permanently in the cities and towns. How is increasingly forced trade, traffic and money lending, the Jews are admitted to the city for limited periods only when the economic development needs of increased trade and credit. They must also pay taxes. When the economic situation changes or dealers have fallen too far in debt, no permits are issued. Often, the Jews are simply expelled. Many communities have to pay taxes to the king or prince, in return for their protection. German states, Jews are considered the property of the emperor who sells the right to tax the local princes and bishops. Often, Jewish communities are caught between the economic interests of local rivals and principles, that “their” Jews.

“Use”

In the second half of the Middle Ages, cities grow and expand trade. Many economic functions of Jews has been achieved in the past are reproduced by other groups. Increasingly, the professions and trades are organized in unions. Since only clan members are allowed to practice these professions, and new members must commit an oath on the Bible, Jews are excluded from participation. In Western and Central Europe, Jews are led by one trade after another. only in the business and the loan of money remains available to them. Many Jewish communities wallow in poverty and only a few continue to thrive. As the Church forbade Christians to lend money and interest, but the need for credit in a growing economy increases, the Jews are often the only ones lending. Interest on loans is high due to the risks and lack of capital. Jews were identified with “usury”, borrowing the money and interest too. Another stereotype of the “Jew” was created as part of the same economic conditions as poor Jewish peddlers of second-hand. These two contradictory images of the Jews, the seller money lender hard and unfair and poor and unreliable, to survive in the 20th century – long after their origins in religious intolerance and economic marginalization, have disappeared. The Jewish community

Communities are at the center of Jewish life in the Diaspora. In the Middle Ages, communities are generally very small, comprising one or two dozen families. In large cities, may include a population of several thousand. Being a stranger to the feudal era, Jews have a wide degree of autonomy in regulating their own affairs. Communities raise taxes to pay for the synagogues and cemeteries, for the employment of the rabbis and teachers, and to feed and house the poor. They are in charge of elders elected by the shareholders also vote on the status of the community. Crimes committed within the community and legal disputes between States are resolved by the rabbinical courts. There is no police force and prisons. Courts punish with fines or prohibition of the writers of the community on a temporary or permanent. To enable members to meet the dietary laws, the community provides for the slaughter of cows, goats, sheep and chickens in the manner prescribed. They also build public baths to allow participants to follow the rules of ritual purification. larger communities to maintain religious academies where they study the Torah and the Talmud and the rabbis are trained. rhymes? within the community and legal disputes between States are resolved by the rabbinical courts. There is no police force and prisons. Courts punish with fines or prohibition of the writers of the community on a temporary or permanent. To enable members to meet the dietary laws, the community provides for the slaughter of cows, goats, sheep and chickens in the manner prescribed. They also build public baths to allow participants to follow the rules of ritual purification. larger communities to maintain religious academies where they study the Torah and the Talmud and the rabbis are trained. Expulsions and the Black Death

After the Crusades, the expulsion of whole communities of Jews become frequent events. In 1290, all Jews were expelled from England – about 16,000 people. Communities in England are still determined only in the 17th century. In 1306, Jews were expelled from France. The expulsions are often preceded by accusations of ritual murder and anti-Jewish riots. Building on these anti-Jewish feelings, the local rulers, magistrates and merchants of the city take the opportunity to get rid of Jewish usurers owe money, or unwelcome competition. Just as Jews were allowed into the city to encourage trade or providing credit, evictions are based primarily economic interests as well. The 14th century is overshadowed by a major disaster: Europe is the plague. Between 1348 and 1350 epidemics, killing millions of people – one third of its population. As the actual causes are unknown, foreigners, travelers and the Jews, the only non-Christian minority in all affected countries are accused of spreading the disease. Many believe that the Jewish communities are taking revenge by poisoning wells decades of hostility against Jews and water supplies. Although the disease is progressing in Spain and Italy from north to England and Poland, about 300 Jewish communities were attacked and burned thousands of Jews to bet or dead. German states are almost all the expelled Jewish communities. With the forced conversion and expulsion of Portugal and Spain in the late 15th century, communities are well developed in the Iberian Peninsula and destroyed the Sephardic Jews exiled renewed. occasional expulsion of Jewish communities in Europe will continue in the 19th century.