The Jews
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Enlightenment: Signals end of middle ages and beginning of modernity- main concept is the rights of the individual- regardless of class, family, and religion- everyone is created equally under God- emphasis on rationalism- rational approach to politics and religion- began to have a more secular thinking using logic- allowed Jews to stand alongside Christians and have the same rights-
court Jews: were select Jewish individuals who had close business ties with kings- enjoyed rights and privileges as Christians- still most Jews lived in ghettos
Ghetto: internal and external- internal- Jews wanted to live closer together because of kosher and shabbat- tradition- external- Christians built walls to separate- hence ghetto Christians did not want Jews to live with them-
Haskalah: the Jewish Enlightenment, was a movement among European Jews in the late 18th century that advocated adopting enlightenment values, pressing for better integration into European society, and increasing education in secular studies, Hebrew, and Jewish history. the first Jewish political movements and the struggle for Jewish emancipation. The term is sometimes used to describe modern critical study of Jewish religious books, such as the Mishnah and Talmud, when used to differentiate these modern modes of study from the methods used by Orthodox Jews. Language played a key role in the haskalah movement, as Mendelssohn and others called for a revival in Hebrew and a reduction in the use of Yiddish. Haskalah resulted in an increased rate of assimilation, as Jews known as maskilim became estranged from their traditional religious beliefs. Haskalah produced such groups as the Reform movement, which deviated from traditional Judaism with denial of Divine source of Torah and relaxation of Jewish law.
The Jew: by Lessing: saves a life of a baron and did not want an award; proves Jews enlightenment, response was negative because the truth about Jews was not recognized; people thought it was unrealistic because Jews were not that wise
Nathan the Wise- by Lessing- based on Mendelssohns life- Set in Jerusalem during the Third Crusade, it describes how the wise Jewish merchant Nathan, the enlightened sultan Saladin and the (initially anonymous) Templar bridge their gaps between Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The centerpiece of the work is the ring parable, narrated by Nathan when asked by Saladin which religion is true: An heirloom ring with the magical ability to render its owner pleasant in the eyes of God and mankind had been passed from father to the son he loved most. When it came to a father of three sons whom he loved equally, he promised it (in “pious weakness”) to each of them. Looking for a way to keep his promise, he had two replicas made, which were indistinguishable from the original, and gave on his deathbed a ring to each of them. The brothers quarrelled over who owned the real ring. A wise judge admonished them that it was up to them to live such that their rings powers proved true. Nathan compares this to religion, saying that each of us lives by the religion we have learned from those we respect.
Moses Mendelssohn: father of haskalah; first modern Jew, not court Jew; not working with the king; born in the ghetto; how is he so wise? He translated the Hebrew bible into German- attributable the renaissance of European Jews, Haskalah, the Jewish enlightenment. When he went to Berlin, he encountered court jews and thus he taught himself German and French and came into contact with Latin ideas. Became Christian manager to business owner- he wanted to assimilate but keep tradition- felt it was important for Jews to learn about non Jewish topics- most Jews did not want change because they could stick together and keep kosher- felt it was possible to assimilate and keep jewish identity- To others, like Rabbi Dessaw he was a step into the beginning of assimilation and loss of identity for Jews and the dilution of traditional Judaism.
French Revolution:
Jews in France: there was a ghetto wall built; but Napoleon comes into power and knocks down these walls; give rights to individuals, not groups/ 1790- Jewish group is granted emancipation because the French national assembly/ werent speaking yiddish but french; granted equality- border of Germany Jews were not emancipated- eastern Europe jews were stuck in ghettos- but a year later in 1791- Jews in France made equal citizens
Declaration of Rights of Man: declaration of independence based on that; fundamental documents of the French Revolution, defining a set of individual rights and collective rights of the people. The Declaration was adopted August 26, 1789, by the National Constituent Assembly, as the first step toward writing a constitution. It sets forth fundamental rights not only of French citizens but acknowledges these rights to all men without exception, making it a precursor to international human rights instruments: It was intended as part of a transition from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy. Jews fit into this: should the Jews also gain rights because where do their loyalties lie, in Palestine or France? Should we emancipate the Jews
Reign of Terror: was a period in the French Revolution characterized by brutal repression. The stated aim of the Terror was to defend the Revolution by destroying internal enemies and conspirators and chasing the external enemies from French territory. During The Terror, a centralized political regime suspended most of the politically democratic achievements of the Revolution, while pursuing the Revolution on many social matters. Napoleon in power.
Napoleon: 1793- emerges as a dictator- was a general of the French Revolution; the ruler of France as First Consul: then Emperor of the French and King of Italy under the name Napoleon I from 18 May 1804 to 6 April 1814; and briefly restored as Emperor from March 20 to June 22 of 1815. Recognized tax, education and wanted to conquer as much of the land as he could; physically knocked down walls of ghettos; changed Jewish shape; emancipated Jews of Europe; ended ghetto life and was involved in political and holy life- he granted assembly of Jewish nobilities called lay leaders in 1806- not religious leaders, but intellectuals, court jews; will the Jews do what the rabbi says or what the French say; defeated in 1815 and all the laws he made were reinforced-
Assembly of Jewish Notables in 1806: lay leaders; not rabbis; mainly intellectuals and court jews; 12 questions were given group of people who come together; loyalty rabbinical or French? France is the fatherland and the Frenchmen are our brothers; Jewish laws would not interfere with the laws of France- satisfied Napoleon but he wanted to write them down and make it official- Jews recognized as French citizens
Congress of Vienna: