Tracing the Roots and Relevance of Anti-Semitism

  • 101

    The Deicide Charge

    The Jewish deicide charge (“Deicide”, meaning killing of a god) was the belief that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus Christ
    Jews didn’t have the power in Rome to order the death of Jesus
    When Jesus died Christianity was a small sect of Judaism trying to survive like many others so the writers would not likely portray Pontius Pilate as a murderer or blame Romans
  • Period: 101 to 200

    The early split between Christians and Jews,

    Christians were initially one of the groups of Jews in the Roman Empire
    Different beliefs, practices, and theories lead to Christianity slowly separating from Judaism
    Roman authorities began treating the two groups differently, also proving that Christianity and Judaism were two different religions
  • 1000

    Blood Libel

    Anti Semitic accusations that Jews would kill Christian children and use their blood for religious ritual
    This was also another accusation that helped spread sympathy for the Nazi Regime
  • The publication of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion

    The publication of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion
    “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” was a book that was used to spread anti-sematism
    The book was about conspiracy theories regarding Jews.
    Hitler and other Nazis used this book to amplify the hatred towards Jews, despite knowing that the book wasn’t factual
  • Christie Pits Riot

    Christie Pits Riot
    Nazi sympathizers displayed an anti-semitic sign during a baseball game in Toronto that showed a blanket with a large swastika on it.
    This event is significant as it marks a truly historic moment in Canada where Jewish people were targeted due to anti-semitic beliefs
  • Vatican II Council

    Vatican II Council
    -Reformed the Catholic Church’s position on Jews and Judaism
    -Jews as a people are not guilty of the deicide charge
    -Jews have not been rejected by God
    -Pope John Paul II makes a formal apology and ask for forgiveness at the Western Wall
  • Nazi demonstrators gather outside 'Diary of Anne Frank' play in Michigan

    Nazi demonstrators gather outside 'Diary of Anne Frank' play in Michigan
    The “Diary of a Young GIrl (Anne Frank)” is about a young Jewish girl who wrote about her life hiding from German authorities occupying the Netherlands
    Five individuals were heard shouting racist and antisemitic slurs in the parking lot where the play about the young Holocaust victim was being held.
    This goes to show how Anti-Semetism views are still prevalent in today’s world