 In the third decade of her reign , influenced by her Jewish courtier Abraham Mendel Theben , Maria Theresa issued edicts which offered some state protection to her Jewish subjects . She forbade the forcible conversion of Jewish children to Christianity in 1762 , and in 1763 she forbade Catholic clergy from extracting surplice fees from her Jewish subjects . In 1764 , she ordered the release of those Jews who had been jailed for a blood libel in the village of Orkuta . Notwithstanding her strong dislike of Jews , Maria Theresa supported Jewish commercial and industrial activity . 
