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Teaching the Holocaust and other Genocides
 
Created in collaboration with the Holocaust & Human Rights Center, the NYS Education Department, and the NYS Archives Partnership Trust.

Lateran Council of 1215

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Canon 68. Jews appearing in public 

… we decree that such Jews and Saracens [Muslims] of both sexes in every Chris-tian province and at all times shall be marked off in the eyes of the public from other peoples through the character of their dress. … Moreover, during the last three days before Easter and especially on Good Friday, they shall not go forth in public at all, for the reason that some of them on these very days, as we hear, do not blush to go forth better dressed and are not afraid to mock the Christians who maintain the memory of the most holy Passion by wearing signs of mourning. 

Source: H. J. Schroeder, Disciplinary Decrees of the General Councils: Text, Translation and Commentary, St. Louis: B. Herder, 1937. 

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Man from Worms

A Jewish Man from Worms, Germany, 16th Century

Woman from Worms

A Jewish woman from Worms, Germany, 16th Century

German Jews 12th Century

German Jews of the 12th Century

Discussion Questions

  1. What is your reaction to the text and images?   
  2. Why did the Church establish these decrees?  
  3. What effect do you think they had on society?