Language:
German
Year of publication:
1993
Titel der Quelle:
Aschkenas; Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Kultur der Juden
Angaben zur Quelle:
3 (1993) 85-112
Keywords:
Antisemitism History 1500-1800
;
Jews History 1500-1800
Abstract:
Based on a lecture delivered at a conference of the Bezirksheimatpflege of Swabia in 1991. Describes the prevalence and popularity of Jewish medical practitioners in Germany since the Middle Ages, even though they were not admitted to German universities until the 18th century, and in spite of agitation against them both by the Church and by Christian physicians. Lists works of the 16th-17th centuries attacking Jewish medical practitioners and analyzes the arguments used: allegations concerning their lack of academic learning (in fact, Jews studied at Italian or Dutch universities) and their use of methods not accepted by their Christian colleagues; traditional stereotypes of Jews as godless, avaricious, treacherous, and filled with a hatred of Christians which could motivate Jewish doctors to poison their patients; and accusations of witchcraft, by which they might destroy Christian souls as well as bodies. These arguments were supported by references to literature and by horror tales, mostly legendary, of the fatal results of consulting a Jewish physician.
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