Re: Truth about Jewish Expulsions
Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 5:36 pm
Throughout history, especially in Christian Europe, Jews were systematically restricted from many professions and denied political rights due to religious prejudice and social scapegoating.
Jews were not allowed to own land or farm during most of medieval Europe because they were seen as outsiders so they were pushed into urban occupations. To this day, you still see Jews mostly living in urban areas.
Jews were also excluded from craft guilds which controlled skill trades like blacksmithing, carpentry, and masonry. The guilds often had religious components like Christian oaths and saint worship so they barred non-Christians from joining.
Jews were often forbidden from serving in military, public office, or the judiciary because they were assumed to be politically disloyal due to religious differences.
Jews were barred from most universities until the 1800s and even then, they often could not teach, earn degrees, or hold academic positions.
Some areas did allow Jews to practice medicine, especially as physicians to royalty, but they were sometimes banned, especially from treating Christians.
Jews were pushed into other professions in which they become disproportionately represented. The Church banned Christians from charging interest (usury), so Jewish lenders filled the economic niche. Even though they had little choice in the matter, they were later vilified as greedy or exploitative which created lasting antisemitic stereotypes.
Some monarchs used Jews as tax collectors, financiers, or middlemen which made them dependent on royal protection. However it made them easy targets when kings defaulted or political winds changed. They also often became merchants, importers/exporters, or peddlers.
After the 16th century, Jews were forced to live in ghettos which were locked at night and often became overcrowded. They were also forced to wear pointed hats and yellow badges to distinguish them from the Christian populations beginning in 1215.
Jews were often banned from owning homes or real estate.
Many courts did not allow Jewish testimony against Christians to be admissible. This prevented them from being able to legally defend themselves in disputes with non Jews.
They were forbidden from proselytizing and sometimes barred from building new synagogues, or even repairing old ones.
They often required special travel passes or permits to move around.
Jews were also barred from owning horses or weapons in many places.
Motivation Behind the Restrictions
The motivations behind these prohibitions were often religiously based as Christians blamed Jews for not accepting Jesus. They often tried to forcefully convert Jews.
Other times, Jews were scapegoated for financial hardships. Rulers who borrowed money would often expel Jews to avoid repayment.
Jews were not allowed to own land or farm during most of medieval Europe because they were seen as outsiders so they were pushed into urban occupations. To this day, you still see Jews mostly living in urban areas.
Jews were also excluded from craft guilds which controlled skill trades like blacksmithing, carpentry, and masonry. The guilds often had religious components like Christian oaths and saint worship so they barred non-Christians from joining.
Jews were often forbidden from serving in military, public office, or the judiciary because they were assumed to be politically disloyal due to religious differences.
Jews were barred from most universities until the 1800s and even then, they often could not teach, earn degrees, or hold academic positions.
Some areas did allow Jews to practice medicine, especially as physicians to royalty, but they were sometimes banned, especially from treating Christians.
Jews were pushed into other professions in which they become disproportionately represented. The Church banned Christians from charging interest (usury), so Jewish lenders filled the economic niche. Even though they had little choice in the matter, they were later vilified as greedy or exploitative which created lasting antisemitic stereotypes.
Some monarchs used Jews as tax collectors, financiers, or middlemen which made them dependent on royal protection. However it made them easy targets when kings defaulted or political winds changed. They also often became merchants, importers/exporters, or peddlers.
After the 16th century, Jews were forced to live in ghettos which were locked at night and often became overcrowded. They were also forced to wear pointed hats and yellow badges to distinguish them from the Christian populations beginning in 1215.
Jews were often banned from owning homes or real estate.
Many courts did not allow Jewish testimony against Christians to be admissible. This prevented them from being able to legally defend themselves in disputes with non Jews.
They were forbidden from proselytizing and sometimes barred from building new synagogues, or even repairing old ones.
They often required special travel passes or permits to move around.
Jews were also barred from owning horses or weapons in many places.
Motivation Behind the Restrictions
The motivations behind these prohibitions were often religiously based as Christians blamed Jews for not accepting Jesus. They often tried to forcefully convert Jews.
Other times, Jews were scapegoated for financial hardships. Rulers who borrowed money would often expel Jews to avoid repayment.
