The Topic of the Jewish Conspiracy in Russia (1905–1920), and the International Consequences

Abstract

I certainly have little to add to the presentations of my predecessors in general, and to the one by Professor Zukier in particular, but I would, however, like to point out that the Judeophobic tradition, and the tales that grew out of it, were much more virulent in the Greek-Orthodox than in the Roman Catholic realm. The Greek church fathers, natives of a region in which diaspora Jews were numerous, and, thus, more aggressive, were already portraying the Jew as diabolical in a much more systematic way than the Latin fathers. These Judeophobic foundations were transmitted, via Byzantium, to Russia, at the time of her Christianization. Of greater importance was the reform movement that emerged in Novgorod in northwestern Russia, in the age of Luther and Calvin. This movement came to be known as the “Heresy of the Judaizers.” More extreme than Western reformers, its proponents questioned the divinity of Jesus, and translated Maimonides and other Jewish doctors. It was politically expedient for Grand Duke Ivan III to be amenable to their teachings, since he coveted church properties. A long and confused struggle ensued, which led to the total defeat of the “Judaizers.” Following these events, the Russian tsars decided that Jews would no longer be admitted to Muscovy. This tradition was maintained, in principle, until 1917. Nonetheless, due to successive annexations of territories—the Ukraine in the 17th century, the Baltic countries and Poland in the 18th—more than half of the European Jews became Russian subjects. They were, however, not allowed to reside in Russia itself, unless they were “merchants of the first guild” or university graduates. They were, thus, subject to special legislation. However, when Alexander II, the tsar who was to liberate the serfs, was crowned, Russia experienced an initial thaw. The majority of the young Russian intellectuals pleaded for the emancipation of the Jews.

ArticleNotes

Translated by Kathy Stuart.