BK+Notes+pg.+20-27

The History of Jews in Europe
__Timeline__: COMMON THEME: The Jews faced oppression and persecution throughout their history. - Jews continued to be the scapegoat of russian people and Orthodox Church - Because of the continuous oppression, many Eastern European Jews fled to the US and a smaller number fled to Palestine. - Russian author working for the Russian secret police wrote "Protocols of Learned Elders of Zion" because of the popular fear and suspicion of the Jews. > Led to hatred of Jews in Eastern and Western world. > Used by enemies of Israelis in the Arab-Israeli conflict. > Still widely available today in the Arab countries.
 * Suffered uninterrupted oppression and persecution, the climax being Hitler's genocide also called the Holocaust
 * Largely based on irrational/ill-informed religious prejudice. This has lead to most evaluations of Jewish history to concentrate of the religious and ideological characteristics of anti-Semitism and Jewish responses to it. This distorts our view of Jewish history.
 * More recent interpretations of Jewish history has stressed socioeconomic elements, and has restored dignity and pride to the Jews.
 * Throughout the oppression, Jews maintained their ethnic, religious, and linguistic characteristics because they have been an ethnic minority.
 * 1) Jews migrated from Palestine forming merchant classes around Mediterranean Basin.
 * 2) Roman Empire Jews played important role in economy and doing so preserved ethnic identity.
 * 3) After Christianization of Roman Empire Jews were gradually deprived of rights and jobs.
 * 4) In the Middle Ages Jews were money lenders
 * 5) Many were expelled from countries and so lived in specified areas called ghettos.
 * 6) Jews left for the Ottoman Empire/Eastern Europe where they were initially welcomed
 * 7) By the end of the 1800's Jews had assimilated into Western culture thanks to Enlightenment
 * 8) Eastern Europe forced jews to "pale of settlement" where they lived in shtetls in Poland.
 * **Auto-emancipation: argued that Jews would never be accepted as equals until they had their own nation. **

Theodore Herzl and the Emergence of Political Zionism
Theodore Herzl Dreyfus Affair: Zionism -associated with Karl Marx -wrote two works outlining his ideas for a Jewish return to Palestine -they were not seriously considered because many Jews were settled in European countries -turning point for Zionism -assembly of 204 delegates from around the globe defined the objectives of Zionism -Defined the objective of Zionism: "to create for the Jewish people a home in Palestine secured by public law". -it resolved to promote settlement of Palestine with Jewish, strengthen Jewish national conscience and get support from necessary governments. It was very vague and open ended. -left open a specific location -following the first Zionist Congress the World Zionist Organization was formed. It had specific instruments and structure to carry out its goals. -Jewish National Fund was established in 1901 so purchasing land was possible. -Palestine Land Development Company was made in 1908. -Herzl was unable to gain support of European Political leaders -Some of Herzl's goals were not agreed upon. For example, some other Zionist leaders did not agree like Asher Ginsberg. Ginsberg recognized Arab presence in Palestine.
 * Became symbol of Zionism though had few new or original ideas
 * Life became legendary
 * What made him successful was his ability to bring ideas that existed in the Jewish community to the attention of the world.
 * Turned solution to Jewish plight into major world politics
 * Alfred Dreyfus was a Jewish officer in the French general staff
 * Was sentenced of treason and sent to spend a life's sentence on Devil's Island
 * Herzl was one of many who believed he was framed
 * French officer confessed and Dreyfus's sentence was removed
 * The trial unleashed mounds of anti-semitism in France and became a symbol of Jewish inequality and anti-Semitism.
 * The only solution was for the Jews to have a nation-state of their own.
 * Moses Hess
 * First Zionist Congress (1897)
 * Herzl and Zionism


 * The First Zionists Arrive in Palestine

The emancipation of the Jews in Western Europe led to violent anti-antisemitism in France and Germany from the 1840s and on. Ultimately, the goal of this antisemitism can be seen as a way to prove the Aryan race is superior to the Jews. The solution to this problem was seen as a Jewish homeland. This homeland would also preserve Jewish tradition. Modern Zionism was the combination of secular and religious Zionism to create a political ideology and ultimately to be used as an organizational tool to set up foundations in the Eretz Yisrael region. July 7, 1882 marked the beginning of the first small movement at Jaffa. Would mark the beginning of the wave of Jewish immigrants to Palestine.

By 1903, 20 villages had been founded, 90,000 acres purchased, and 10,000 Jews had settled there. Hebrew was being spoken and taught in schools. However, what would become a major problem, in 1904 almost all done in the area was done by Arabs who were treated very badly by the Jews there.

Important People

Baron Edmond de Rothschild: A French philanthropist who helped out greatly in the establishment of Jews into Palestine. He ultimately thought of Jewish settlement as an investment. A few of his actions include subsidizing families and establishing schools as well.


 * Social and Zionist Jews in Palestine:

The second wave of Jewish immigration began in 1904. Russian Jewish pioneers, influenced by socialist ideas introduced a new spirit for enterprise. However, a large majority of post 1904 immigrants left due to an inhospitable climate and conditions. By 1914, there was still some growth seen as by that time there were 40 Jewish establishments with a total of 100,000 acres. Although there appeared to be a growing appeal and strength in Zionism, a very small percentage of Jews immigrated. The reason for this was because immigration ultimately wasn't seen as a solution to Jewish problems in Europe. Also, conditions in Europe and the U.S. improved with enlightenment.

Bickerton, Ian J, and Carla L Klausner. //A Concise History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict//. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2005.