The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-30
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

BY DIX, HAIRY ELMEk BARNES
If the Jews are not definite
racial type they do represent very
precise. Well-diferentiated and re-
markably persistent cultural group.
This culture centers around the
possession Of: % common historic
cal traditions; ~ a great national
literature, primarily Of a sacred
type and including our own Old
Testament, 80 definite religious
rites and ceremonies; a social
philosophy derived in part from the
great religious teachers Of Israel and
in part from Jewish experiences in
Gentle land, and finally, 90
vivid memory of the age-long per-
secutiOns which the Jews have suf-
1ered at the hands of the Gentiles.
The Jewish culture then is as
well defined as the Jewish race is
vague, nebulous and uncertain.
The increasing wealth and pres
tige of the Jews aroused Jealousy
more than a century before their
dispersion. Cicero Slandered them.
The Roman satirists, Marital and
Juvenal, used their vitriolic wit
widely at the expense of the Jews.
Apion Was Bitter Foe
The most notorious anti-Semite
of the pagan world was an Egypt
ian-Greek named ApiOn, who lived
III the age of TiberiuS Most of the
latter lies and hbels against the
Jews can be found in his writings
He not only grossly talsified the
religious rites of the Jews, but even
accused them of human sacrifice
and emphatically declared them to
be an inferior people on all points.
From the period of the dispersion
to the end of the Middle Ages, the
lot of the Jews was sad one ex-
cept in Mohammedian lands Owing
to the prOnOunCements Of the Chris
ton theologians against interest
taking or usury-they were re-
garded as one and the same thing
during the middle ages-mOney
lending, money changing and bank
ing were long unpopular and
dangerous pursuits for Gentiles.
Yet this profession was necessary
to medieval commerce and industry.
It was held that the Jews were con-
signed to damnation, in any event,
Hence. they were allowed to enter
into these professions formally taboo
to Christians.
Aroused Hatred by Wealth
The Jews frequently became
wealthy in these early financial oc-
equations. but their very wealth
proved their undoing. 1t aroused
the jealousy of the impecunious or
aVaricious kings and feudal lords.
Raids, violence, murder, confsca-
ton and expulsion were frequent
and widespread Edward 1 drove
the Jews, between $4,000 and 10000
in number, out of England follow
ing 1887 Philip the Fair of France
contiscated their property and drove
them from the country in 1906
They were allowed to come back and
then expelled a second time in 14l0.
Spain threw them out in the six
tcenth century along with the Mo-
hammedan MoorS, who had extend
ed to the Jews the only real toler-
ance they had known for a thou
sand years. In Germany the condi-
ton of the Jews was better than
elsewhere in Christian Europe down
to the latter part of the fifteenth
century.
From that time onward the rapid
ly increasing wealth Of the Jewish
capitalists aroused Gentle jealousy
and the customary prosecutions fol-
lowed.
Suffered From SANDER
During the Middle Ages the Jews
sufferer not only from economic
jealousy, but also from the absurd
lies and ISLANDERS which the latter.
together with religious fanaticism.
promoted. In the twelfth and thir-
teenth centuries there was spread
the absurd charge which still per-
siSts; namely, that the Jewish re-
ligion embodies a ritual for which
human blood is necessary.
The disappearance of child
would be the signal for brutal
butCheres of the Jews in the To-
cality. Chaucers story of Hugh of
Lincoln recountS a characteristic
incident. Even more incredible is
the fact that the Jews were charged
with responsibility for the Black
Death which decimated Europe from
1348 to 1851.
This, in spite of the fact that the
Jews themselves died like flies as a
result of the peStilence.
MOhammedanS Were Tolerant
Only in Mohammedan territory.
particularly in Arabia and in Spain.
were the Jews treated as human be-
ingS The MohammedanS were far
more tolerant Of religious diSSenters
than were the Christians.
As Professor James Westfau
Thompson observes: From the
SaraCon conquest of Spain, with the
enormous wealth it afforded them.
dates the prominence subsequently
obtained by the Jews in the po-
litical and financial affairs of
Europe"
The Jews not only gained fnan-
cial prosperity here. but also took
large part in building up the re-
markable intellectual life and cul-
tural achievements for which Mo-
hammedan Spain so justly was ia
nous during the medieval period.
Village Smithy PrOSperS
b. United Press