The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
and Temple Israel invite the community to hear
Constantine banned Jews from
Jerusalem, from converting others to
their faith and from congregating for
religious services. Conversely, his
nephew Julian rescinded Constantine's
bans, freed the Jews from unfair taxes
imposed by the former emperor
Hadrian (76-138) and sought to rebuild
the Temple.
A still greater villain was Justinian the
Great (483-565). His principle servitus
Judaeorum (the servitude of the Jews)
solidified Christian persecution of Jews,
as he decreed, "Jews must never enjoy
the fruits of office, but only its pain and
penalties." Banned were perceived chal-
lenges to the Christian faith such as the
Mishna, Torah readings and the celebra-
tion of Passover when it preceded Easter.
Also, Justinian raised religious law to the
level of state law, making the enforce-
ment of anti-Jewish laws the responsibil-
ity of civil and religious authorities.
Charlemagne (742-814), king of the
Franks and emperor of the West,
restored Rome's fallen empire in
Western Europe. Jews prospered under
his reign. He loosened restrictions on -
them to some degree, giving them
greater opportunity, greater prosperity,
and greater taxation in the process. In
turn, Jews, with their ties to brethren in
the Islamic world, proved an invaluable
channel to the fabulous East — and its
spices, fine fabrics and gems.
Thomas Aquinas (125-
1274), who became a
saint and whose synthe-
sis of Catholic theology,
Summa Theologica, is
one of history's more
influential works,
decried the murder of Jews. Instead,
he held the view that they should be
allowed to witness the "truth" of
Christianity. He felt friendly, rather
than lethal, persuasion was the best
course for the conversion of Jews.
Many of Martin Luther's
(1483-1546) ideas for
reforming the Catholic
Church were made with
the hope of enticing Jews
to convert. His initial
friendly disposition
toward Jews quickly grew rancorous
when he realized the Jews still stub-
bornly clung to their faith, and he
called for the destruction of their syn-
agogues and homes.
Ottoman sultan Suleiman the
Magnificent (1496-1566), like his pre-
decessors Bayazid II and
Selim I, and his own son
Selim II, welcomed and
encouraged a Jewish pres-
ence in Turkey. Jews
fueled commerce,
engaged in manufacture
and taught Turks the workings of can-
non and gunpowder. At court, Jewish
physicians were in great demand.
Peter the Great (1672-
1725) gets credit for
turning Russia from a
backward, isolated state
into a modern power,
but in 1698, he set
forth his position on
Jewish participation in the new
Russia: No Jew would be allowed to
live there. Peter's attitude toward Jews
remained constant: his 1702 mani-
festo inviting artists to Russia exclud-
ed Jews, and after annexing Baltic ter-
ritory and parts of Ukraine ruled by
Poland, ordered the Jewish traders liv-
ing there to dispose of their wares
wholesale — not retail.
John Locke (1632-
1704) made his mark as
a philosopher and politi-
cal scientist, becoming a
"beacon of the
Enlightenment."
Thomas Jefferson
acknowledged his intellectual debt to
Locke, describing him as one of the
three greatest men in history. In his
1689 "Letter Concerning Tolerance,"
Locke wrote, "Neither Pagan, nor Jew,
ought to be excluded from the civil
rights of the commonwealth because
of his religion." Locke's views opened
the way for religious tolerance in the
development of the New World.
During the 14-years of
the Napoleonic Era, the
whims and edicts of
Napoleon Bonaparte
(1769-1821) touched
every Jew in France and
across each frontier where
French troops marched. "They are cater-
pillars, grasshoppers, who ravage the
countryside," Napoleon said of the Jews.
Although he is fondly remembered for
convening the Grand Sanhedrin of Paris
— the first in 18 centuries — it was
basically a rubber stamp for his policies.
Though Napoleon was good for Jews
outside France — as French troops
occupied towns, ghetto walls came tum-
bling down — back in Paris, Napoleon's
edicts struck a blow at freedom of move-
ment and livelihood for France's Jews.
466't /C4ryn 7<ektr,
Regional Director, Great Lakes Council and Chicago Federation,
Union of America Hebrew Congregations
speak on her latest book
"qoA 171,4ispers: stories I Me .014,
t4e heart"
Cessons
Thursday, January 13, 2000
7:30 p.m. • Free of Charge • All Invited
Jewish Community Center • D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building
Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
For reservations, call the JCC
Jewish Life & Learning Department at (248) 661-7649.
Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building • Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield, MI
Jimmy Prentis Morris Building • A. Alfred Taubman Jewish 'Community Campus
15110 West Ten Mile Road • Oak Park, MI
RESTAU RANT
MID-EASTERN, CHALDEAN
& AMERICAN
•Lambchops • Lamb Shish Kabob
•White Fish Curry • Tabouleh • Hommus
•Vegetarian Entrees • Fresh Catch
•Chicken Shawarma • Etc.
•Fresh Juice Bar • Cocktails and Wine
6123 HAGGERTY RD. ()UST N. OF MAPLE)
BLOOMFIELD AVENUE SHOPS
WEST BLOOMFIELD
(248) 668-1800
27060 EVERGREEN (AT 11 MILE & EVERGREEN)
LATHRUP LANDING
LATHRUP VILLAGE
(248) 559-9099
COUPON GOOD AT BOTH LOCATIONS
r MIN MINI =II
,
I
50°/0
MI
OFF
Lunch or Dinner
With purchase of a second lunch or
dinner entree of equal or greater value
• 1Coupon Per Couple I
I • Dine In Only
• Not Valid With other Offers
• Expires 12/31/2000
16 mu mu sow um low nos
Catering For All Occasions