Jew

2005-08-02T02:07:37Z

71.35.153.22: /* Language and Customs */

The '''Jews''' are an ethnic group originating in the [[Mesopotamia]]n region and having spent much of their history in [[Israel]]. They spread throughout [[Europe]] after the revolt of Bar Kochba in AD99. The '''Jews''' also form a religious grouping following the '''Jewish''' religion. The spiritual focus of the '''Jewish''' religion is the [[synagogue]], although by and large '''Jews''' tend to treat attendance at a [[synagogue]] differently to the way that [[catholic]]s treat attendance at [[church]].

== Jewish History in the [[Middle Ages]] and [[Renaissance]] ==

(a very brief and mildly inaccurate outline).

=== Early [[Middle Ages]] ===

In eastern [[Europe]], the main Jewish force from the [[8th century]] onwards was the [http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khazars Khazars].

In western [[Europe]], the early [[medieval]] life of the Jews was established by [[Gregory the Great]] and later [[Louis the Pious]] who in turn rejected forced baptism, encouraged favours for the Jewish people, and placed the Jews under the protection of the King. The [[Catholic Church]] had prohibited [[usury]] amongst [[christian]]s, and so the Jews were handed a monopoly in the loaning of money. This made many Jews relatively wealthy.

In one part of Southern [[France]] the Jews established what was effectively a statelet in the area between Provence and the Pyrenees. Septimania, formerly a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] province, came under the authority of one Theoderic, whose dynasty lasted for 70 years, and his administration appears to have been if not controlled then led by '''Jews'''.

Until about 1150 or so, the Jews were variously required to wear particular [[clothing]], constrained from wearing various clothes or types of cloth, banned from bearing arms, banned from participating as wars, classed as ''unfree'', etc. For the money sometimes it wasn't such a bad deal.

=== Later [[Middle Ages]] ===

Between the [[11th century]] and the [[13th century]] things took a drastic turn for the worse. The first great persecutions of the Jews took place during the [[crusade]]s, and greater restrictions were placed on apparel.

The Jews were expelled from [[England]] in 1209, [[France]] in 1306 and again in 1394, subject to the inquisition in [[Spain]] from 1391, expelled from [[Spain]] in 1492 and from [[Portugal]] in 1496. Modern historians rate the expulsion of the Jews from [[Spain]] as the single act that was most greatly to blame for the [[economic]] decline and later collapse of [[Spain]].

=== [[Renaissance]] and [[Reformation]] ===

Things got a lot better in the early [[Reformation]]. The humanist and [[Hebrew]] scholar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Reuchlin Johann Reuchlin] became the spokesman of the Jews, succesfully arguing with the Emperor Maximilian that the Jews should provide [[Hebrew]] chairs at every German [[university]] for which the Jews should furnish books.

[[Martin Luther]]'s defence of the Jews was published in 1523, but he turned against the Jews in 1542 after which things got bad for the Jews again especially in [[German]] [[Protestant]] areas.

== [[Language]] and [[Custom]]s ==

The primary [[language]] associated with the Jews is [[Hebrew]]. While it has been and remains the standard liturgical language, [[Hebrew]] was not spoken in day-to-day life by Jews from the 10th to 20th centuries A.D., exccept in a religious or scholarly context. Variously throughout the [[Middle Ages]] they were also prohibited from reading, writing, and/or speaking [[Hebrew]], and so other languages came into existence. There are several dozen known Jewish dialects, usually pidgin versions of the local tongue. The most well known are:

* [[Yiddish]], an amalgam of [[Hebrew]], [[German]], [[Russian]] and some [[Polish]], most commonly spoken by [[Ashkenazi]] Jews in Eastern and Central [[Europe]]. It is normally written with the [[Hebrew]] alphabet, although the [[Latin]] alphabet can be used.
* [[Ladino]] (Judeo-espanol), essentially a [[Romance]] dialect, spoken by Jews in [[Spain]], [[Turkey]], [[Italy]], and later [[The Netherlands]].

== Your [[SCA]] [[Persona]] is a Jew ==

Firstly you need to do a fair amount of reading and [[research]] into the time period. The [[SCA]] covers from the early [[medieval]] period until the late [[Renaissance]] of [[1600]] and the life and times of the Jews changed remarkably during that time period.

* Pick a time period and place. The Jews were widespread throughout [[Europe]], with the main concentrations being in [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], and amongst the [http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khazars Khazars].
* In doing your research, bear in mind that how non-Jews in the Middle Ages (and largely in modern times) viewed Jews and how they actually lived and viewed themselves can two radically different things. Consider this when evaluating your sources.
* Find a noted Jewish [[scholar]] and quote his works. Often. Consider all other scholars to be mere shadows of his great self. Remember, where two Jews are gathered together, there are at least 3 opinions.
* [[Research]] the [[clothing]] restrictions of the day and area your [[persona]] inhabits, and follow those closely. The [[4th Lateran Council]] might be a good place to start looking.
* Common occupations: The vast majority of Jews were poor: labourers, farmers, scholars, etc. There were occasionally wealthy [[merchant]]s, [[doctor]]s, and especially [[bank]]ers amongst the Jews, however, and these are good target occupations for the Jewish [[SCA]] [[persona]]. The Jews tended not to be [[law]]yers, and were rarely of the [[noble]] or other arms-bearing classes, except amongst the [http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khazars Khazars] where even the [[King]] was Jewish. One occupation that Jews in the Middle Ages were particularly known for was long-distance traders.

== Resources ==

* ''[[Compleat Anachronist]] #110: An SCA Guide to Jewish Persona (January 2001).'' Available from the [https://secure.sca.org/cgi-bin/stockclerk/index SCA Marketplace]
* [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/jewish/jewishsbook.html Internet Jewish History Sourcebook]
* Internet Medieval Sourcebook - [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook1t.html Selected Sources on Medieval Jewish Life]
* [http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/beyond-the-pale/english/06.html Beyond the Pale]

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