Anti-Semitism | Fantom expozice

Anti-Semitism is hostility or prejudice against Jews as representatives of the Jewish religion of Judaism, an ethnic group, or race. Hostility towards Jews as a religious group is often called anti-Judaism. Although the word anti-Semitism itself refers to all Semitic nations, the term is used mostly to denote hostility to Jews. This xenophobia can take various forms, from personal hatred to institutionalized violent persecution. An extreme example of anti-Semitism is Adolf Hitler's openly hostile Nazi ideology, which led to the genocide of European Jews.

Manifestations of anti-Semitism by official places accompanied Czech Jews throughout their coexistence with the Christian majority. Periods of relative calm alternated with periods of pogroms, expulsions, persecution. The Jews very often served as hostages of the lords and were forced not only to fight for their rights, but above all to pay dearly. The Jews of Boskovice were never directly exposed to the pogrom, but they certainly also felt hostilities and dishonesty. A number of preserved architectural elements in Boskovice shows the origin and functioning of the so-called condominium – when several families had to share one house. This was a consequence of the so-called family law, which in the 18th century drastically reduced the number of Jews living in the Czech lands. Strong restrictions were later imposed by Maria Theresa, and even the "enlightened" Joseph II did not improve the situation of Czech Jews much, although during his reign there were some noticeable reliefs.

The Holocaust hit the Boskovice Jewish community very hard during the Second World War, it can be said that it practically led to its destruction. The so-called the Nuremberg Laws followed various anti-Jewish ordinances from previous centuries, but the systematicity and degree of violence of this genocide surpassed everything the Jewish people had ever known. 6 million Jews were murdered. The massiveness of the violence is also evidenced by the fact that only a few individuals of Jewish origin returned to Boskovice after the war.

From the very beginning, the Jews were different at first glance. They brought a different style of clothing to Europe. Even before the twelfth century, the Jews wore the typical yellow or white pointed Judenhut hat, which later became mandatory.
Depiction from Codex Manesse.

Then the symbols began to be sewn on the dress. Mostly it was wheels (rouelle) - yellow, red, or red and white. Also a red star (in Portugal) or a white fabric cut into the shape of the Ten Commandments (in England) and sometimes a red heart. The women had to have two blue stripes on their veil, and later their girdle was yellow again. Finally, in 1555, the papal bull ordered the Jews to wear compulsory yellow caps ...
Depiction from one Emglish medieval codex.

The most infamous symbol worn by Jews, now one of the symbols of holocaust

Joseph II. and his wife

According to the tolerance laws of Joseph II. the Jewish faith was also more tolerated. After 1783, Jews were able to pursue most common occupations, study at universities, and in some areas even own land. The disgraceful marking with a yellow circle was abolished, somewhere they could be addressed "sir" instead of "jew". However, they were still not allowed to enter the civil service. The so-called "Jewish toll" was abolished. In our view, inhuman "baptisms in need" were also forbidden, when a Jewish child was born to parents on the basis of a baptism performed against their will.

On the other hand, not only advantages but also disadvantages came. Rabbinic jurisdiction was abolished, Hebrew and Yiddish were no longer official languages for Jews, and every Jew had to accept a German name.

The Jews become full-right citizens thanks to the enshrinement of rights in the constitution of 1867.

In the photo, we can see a trasport of Jewish inhabitants at the railway station in Boskovice, 13.3.1942.

Another photo of transport.

Faces of those who were transported

Erich Brüll, 1 day before transport. Survived.

Faces of those who were transported

Herta Färber (born in 9. 1. 1920 in Boskovice, Plačkova street 84), the photo made due to ID in photographic studio in Boskovice. She was dragged away during the transport.

Faces of those who were transported

Salomon Lamm (born 17. 6. 1906 Brno, lived in Boskovice, later in Brno, Bratislavská 21), was dragged in the transport K-344 and died in a concentration camp. The photo made due to ID.

In this context of many destroyed lives, it is more then sad that many people still deny the Holocaust or its extent. This is also related to some conspiracy theories, such as the efforts of Jews to rule the world. The basis of these ideas became the infamous literary hoax called the Protocols of the Sages of Zion.