Why were the E. European Jews so hated and persecuted before and during WWII ?

Question

Did it have to do with their becoming successful entrepreneurs?

Answer 1

Not only did it have to do with the European Jews being moneylenders in the past, and successful independent entrepreneurs in the present, throughout European history the Jews were chosen by people of other faiths as a scapegoat for religious and economic reasons.

Unfortunately, a question of this type will draw many a crackpot and their "answers." To understand why the Eastern European (and all European Jews) were so hated and persecuted BEFORE (it seems someone missed that word) and during World War II, it will help if you look into what has been called "a notorious anti-semitic hoax and forgery."

'The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion.'

Answer 2

The Jews as a group were separate, their dietary laws saw to this and often successful, many were money lenders, an occupation denied to Christians at this time. Their strict laws often kept them healthy while others caught disease, which led to them being blame for the illnesses.
Although it is true that the Catholic Church were also anti-Semitic I don't think you can blame Christianity for all that happened. People might have said that they were doing it because of the Bible but the truth is that people always turn against and blame small groups that are separate from their society. The Chinese have suffered persecution in many countries, such as Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries in the east; the Romany are still persecuted today in places such as Romania and I could go on. They E. European Jews were hated because they were different.

Answer 3

Because they stick to their religious beliefs and stand by their origin and so they are not easy to integrate into the social network. Thus they escape the rule of the circulation of the elite in some European countries where such things exist.

And of course, because their religious beliefs has no provision against the pursuit of happiness and money, contrary to what the tenets of Catholic religion advocate.

The origin of their success in Europe is to be found earlier, at a time when the Roman Catholic Church banned loan with interest. The Roman Catholic Church and the rilling political power (the noblesse) made an exception for the Jews and allowed them to loan money with interest (until Protestantism was tolerated). From this on, their business could grow up until Jews became bankers in the sense we understand it today.

The Gentiles (or people who are not Jews) subsequently expressed envy toward Jews. The same phenomenon applies today to the United States. Many people around the world express criticism and even anti-Americanism because this country has founded on the basis of the Protestant ethic which is not against the notions of profit, money, success and the pursuit of happiness. Trully, the cause of this resentment is to be found in envy.

Answer 4

Europe had a long history of persecuting Jews. It was justified by the Christian teaching that the Jews were responsible for the Crucifixion.

Matt 27:24-25
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"
25 All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

When anything went wrong from crop failures to illness the Jew were blamed. One of the reasons there were so many Jews in Eastern Europe is that the nations in Western Europe had expelled them during the middle ages.

Edit: I am not trying to blame it all on Christianity, because I know it is human nature to scapegoat people who are different. But it is religion that has made Jews the target of choice for over a 1000 years in Christian countries.

Answer 5

Since the 1600s they were persecuted in several Occasions by the Cusecs in the Polish Ukraine, the Swedes, Russians, …, etc.

Usually it’s a combination of Economical & Religious motives. Some times they’re not the only victims. As in the case of the Polish Ukraine, the Cusecs hates their catholic polish masters with the Jewish who were developers the lands for the polish masters and getting in return plenty of advantages

Answer 6

jews were low in numbers in those areas and thus became easy scapegoats for stuff that was going wrong in a country. they also kept to themselves which made it even easier for people to see them as the bad guys. lastly they didn't accept jesus as their savior so the christians found it easy to get rid of them. hitler wasn't the only one ever to suggest getting rid of them, he just used what was already there to focus the country on something other than the real problem.

Answer 7

I'll tell you the REAL reason why people started not liking Jews : it's because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is Jewish. Ever notice how they never did a thing to make anybody not like them like that ? Believe me, if Christianity weren't real, there would be no reason for the devil to turn people against Jesus and Jewish people. But being as though it is, that's why the devil has turned people against them.

Answer 8

Yes. Some Jewish people were very good at the businesses they had. Hitler needed a scapegoat for his evil thinking and of course it is easier to control people if all are unified in one-mindedness = 'the jews were bad' get rid of them. By taking away their property, stores and income, it fueled $$ for his followers. [ It is always easier to hate than it is to love. ]

Answer 9

Because they were living in christian countries and the jews have always been hated by christians who call them christ killers