Emancipation

Definition:

"The legal process, which began in Europe with the French Revolution, of granting to the Jews equal civic rights in the countries in which they reside."

By Extension:

"The whole cultural and social movement promoting directly and indirectly Jewish integration."

Causes:

• Rise of nation-state and mercantilism. People were valued for their individual contributions to the national treasury.

• Liberal philosophy: Ideals of equality must be applied equally, even to Jews.

Implications of Emancipation:

Rights:

• It offered Jews rights as individuals.

  Previously they had enjoyed rights as a group.

The cost:

• The Jews were expected to give up their communal, cultural and national identities.

Challenges to traditional Jewish religious ideas:

• Messianism and National redemption

  • Often equated with ideals of Emancipation and Enlightenment, universal brotherhood, etc.

• Hope for restoration to homeland

• Ties to Jews in other countries.
  • Question of "dual loyalties."

• Perception of Galut (exile).

  • "Mission" theory of Jewish exile.

• Ideas of religious evolution and progress.

• Tension between universalism and need to proclaim superiority of Judaism.

• Use of Hebrew.

• Jewish legal autonomy as a religious value.

• Religion would now be treated only as a matter of individual belief.

  • Less emphasis on practice and observance.
  • Transformation of Rabbi into clergyman.

• New emphasis on Bible.

• Anti-Jewish assumptions in European society

  • It was assumed by Christians that the Jews were a backward, materialistic people, lacking culture and spirituality.
  • Introduction of reforms in religous practice in order to conform to the aesthetic standards of the host society.
    
    • Some felt that this was a result of the Jews' forcible segregation, and would be remedied once Jews were permitted access to more advanced ideas and culture.
    • Jews often accepted these stereotypes, and felt the need to improve themselves, in order to be worthy of acceptance by the host society.
    • Demand for vocational retraining of Jews, often based on the assumption that the Jewish concentration on banking was part of their religion!
    • It was widely assumed that European liberal Protestant culture was the embodiment of universal enlightenment.