why were jews seen as disproportionately intellectuals?

Answer 1

Because they control the media and that is what they want people to believe. They aren't any better or smarter than the rest of the world's population.

Answer 2

They were seen as intellectuals because in the Dark Ages, they were the only ones who were regularly taught reading and writing. As time went on the rest of Europe had to catch up and there was always some resentment and suspicion of having that capacity. The reason Jews went into money lending and pawnshops is that the Catholic Church at one time forbade making interest on loans, of course without the ability to make money in business, no christian wanted to lend money, Jews, not living under the domination of Catholic principles could, and so assumed that role in the community. Which led to the present day assumption that Jews have all the money, or influence, of course if they really did, then there wouldn't have been the mass murders of the pogroms or the Holocaust. Education has always been important in the Jewish community, because if a country were to order you out, as they did in England and Spain for example, you could take your training with you and set up in another country, and still make a living. A cultural impetus and insistence toward education is an excellent way to convince a young boy that learning is a very important way to survive.

Answer 3

Probably because compared to the general population, Jews tended to be better educated and more often found in the professions of medicine, law and science.

This is not because Jews are innately more intelligent, it is because of historical background. After centuries of being denied the right to own land, and after centuries of having their personal property taken from them and being driven out of nation after nation, the Jews learned they need some sort of "wealth" that was easy to transport or was impossible to take.

In regards to wealth that was easy to transport, Jews got into the diamond industry, where if needed, you could take your entire wealth wrapped up in a scarf. Jews also got into banking and with the development of Letters of Credit and other types of bearer bonds, they could quickly and easily move their "money" out of the country.

In regards to wealth that is impossible to take, education fits the bill. If a Jew spent his money and became a doctor, lawyer or scientist, you could not take that knowledge away. He could move from country to country and take his "wealth" with him and get established in the new country.

As a result of history, Jews have always placed a high value on education, in particular medicine as that is a skill that is always in demand and can be used in any country. When a particular group has a greater percentage getting higher education than the general population, you will find a greater percentage of that group at the top, be it medicine, law, science or politics.

Jews were seen as disproportionately intellectuals BECAUSE compared to the general population, they WERE disproportionately intellectuals.

And I might add, Jews prove that just because you may have been a repressed minority in the past, that is no excuse to whine about your situation now. If Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans put as much value in education as the Jews do, the Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans would not have close to a 50% drop out rate from high school and be disproportionately represented in the POOR category in society.

Answer 4

"td" has part of the answer; Jews were indeed barred from most trades in Europe in the Middle Ages and they did specialize in banking and in law...two pursuits that need some smarts to be successful. There is also a very long scholarly tradition in Judaism...intellectual study and examination of the holy books, philosophy and spiritual exploration have always been encouraged in Judaic tradition.

In addition, when fanatical Christians decided to persecute the local Jews and drive them out of the village (it happened fairly often in the Middle Ages and into modern times in the Russian pogroms), you only survived if you moved fast and abandoned any material possession you couldn't carry. Knowledge can be carried in one's head...so that is why the tradition survived.

Answer 5

Nature versus Nurture.

Jews have a gene pool that seems to be of above average intelligence. Smart people make smart babies more often than not smart people.

Nurture - Jews value education and push the kids to read, learn, get good grades. They nurture the above average intelligence of the babaies that are born of smart people.

And so on...and so on...and so on.Smart babies getting raised by smart parents who become smart adults who make smart babies and raise smart people who go on to make smart babies who get educated...etc.

Smart people tend to find smart people to marry and make babies, who often end up being smart babies.

In the end - great gene pool, good family values that educate and nurture their kids. A pretty successful plan based upon a smart, self selecting, strategy to build a good gene pool.

Oh yeah, Jews are nearly always under represented in crime, violence and substance abuse. They gamble but that is about it. The jews just quickly channel their energy into positive things, bad apples aside.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Einstein

Answer 7

The were forbidden to practise various trades in European countries and therefore specialised in banking and law.

Answer 8

I dunno I think the perspective is due to religion which is really sad, people still believe they killed Jesus and all that. Little do they now that we all did...................we are all sinners...........