"In the 1600s and 1700s, Jews weren’t allowed to be citizens; they were prohibited from certain occupations; they were pushed into ghettos. And yet, one institution existed that from its very beginning welcomed them. We take this for granted now but back then the idea of people of different religions working together—the fundamental principle of Freemasonry—was uncommon and revolutionary."
Bloke, Warrior1256 and Timothy McGuire Jr like this.
Very interesting article Brother Blake, Thanks.
They were run out of many cities. Fear and prejudice are ugly bedfellows.
I rather think that prior to 1717 many Masons were active Kabbalists - the Kabbalah providing many of the spiritual skills required for Masonic Science. Learning the Kabbalah was perhaps easiest within Jewish traditions.
Lightlife and MasonicHermit like this.
Yes it was very easy for them, as it has the resonance of their culture within it.
Well it's pretty common here in European history.
Firstly from a religious perspective they were seen as the killers of Christ.
From an economic perspective they were the money lenders and therefore envied and reviled e.g. Shylock in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" and another play of the same period call The Jew IIRC. What better way to clear your debt with them than denounce them and have your citizens ransack their homes and drive them out.
From York UK in the Middle Ages through Nazi Germany and Stalin's Russia they have suffered centuries possibly a millennium of persecution in Europe.
Glen Cook and MasonicHermit like this.
Wow!!..... I'm no fan of Jesus ( as is my religious right in this country). But I couldn't hurt anyone else for what they believe, and that includes the Jews. I can't imagine what they had to go through.
From an economic perspective they were the money lenders and therefore envied and reviled ...What better way to clear your debt with them than denounce them and have your citizens ransack their homes and drive them out.
Similar to the fate of the Knights Templar.
And Freemasons were included in their persecutions.
As Symbolic Lodge ritual is framed in the Old Testament world, I think it natural that Jews would be accepted and embraced. We re-enact their stories in our Rituals.
A theory I’ve never understood... the Romans killed Jesus. Yes, the Jewish leaders towed the line but that was fairly common in Roman-held territory. Obey or die doesn’t leave many options.
I think it natural that Jews would be accepted and embraced. We re-enact their stories in our Rituals.
Obey or die doesn’t leave many options.
There is a reason that the leader of a SR valley is The Master of Kadosh. The SR was heavily Kabbalistic until recent years when the ritual was modified.
Not just prior to 1717, lets remember that the third degree is younger. There have always been kabbalistic influences in freemasonry.
I didn't know this. Thanks for the info.