The Holocaust and the Jews: An Introduction to Night

1. The Holocaust and the Jews: An Introduction to Night

2. Finding a Homeland • Romans destroy Jerusalem in AD 66 and name the area Palestine. • The destruction is not motivated by hate, but simply by war.

3. Jews in Europe • Jewish people are invited to live in European Countries like Germany and France. • They are given autonomy (the can rule themselves. • These countries hoped that Jews would revitalize the economy because of their: • Crafts • Long distance trade with other parts of Europe/Muslim countries • Money lending • Their inability to hold land

4. Usury • Usury=lending money with interest • Some Christians believe Jews are using usury to suck the Christian world dry of money • In reality, Jews are one of the only groups of people who can lend money because the Catholic Church has determined that it is a sin.

5. Accusations • 1215—council decides that Jews cannot appear in public during the week of Easter and that they must wear distinctive markings. • Many countries began temporarily expelling them and incurring their date (taking their money). • Ghettos • Barrio Santa Cruz in Spain

6. During the Enlightenment (1800s) • Emancipation • Legal Equality within Western Europe • Included as citizens, but not as a separate nations • Jews needed to give up Yiddish, move to cities, and acquire businesses/professions

7. Effects of Emancipation • Jews by and large maintained religion only • The Jewish religion is one of study, so Jews began to prosper in urban professions • Ex. Imperial Germany (mid 1800s): Jews made up less than 1% of the population Jews owned 23% of the banks

8. Jews in Russia • Most Jews lived in Russia/eastern Europe at this time • Pogroms 1881-1905, post WWI and pre WWII

9. Post WWI Germany • After WWI, the Germany economy was in ruins. • There were many political parties which fell under the following categories: communists, social democrats, and fascists.

10. The Nazi Party • One fascist party, known as the Nazi party, advocated private ownership of industry, outlawed democracy, and gave control of the military to the army and the wealthy. • They also began to restrict the activities of certain groups of people, including Jews.

11. Adolf Hitler • Decorated war veteran of WWI. • He rose quickly in the Nazi party. • He was a strong advocate of Pan-Germanism and anti-semetism (despite his heritage). • He saw Jews as a target because of their economic success during hard times.

12. Hitler’s Targets • The Holocaust targeted Jews as well as • The Holocaust caused the deaths of 11-14 million people, including approx. 6 million Jews. • The Holocaust also targeted Romani/Sinti (commonly know as gypsies), Soviet prisoners of war, Polish and Soviet civilians, homosexuals, people with disabilities, Jehovah’s Witnesses and other political and religious opponents.

13. Elie Wiesel • Romanian born Holocaust survivor • He has written 57 books, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a prisoner of Nazi concentration camps. • In 1986 he won the Nobel Peace Peace Prize for his work.