Foreword by Moshe Idel ix
Preface xi
INTRODUCTION: THE IMAGINARY JEW 1
Ethnic Imagology 1
Romanian Tolerance: Between Myth and Reality 7
The Tabooed Jew 25
Notes 30
1. THE PHYSICAL PORTRAIT 38
Hooked Nose and Thick Lips 38
Ritual Hair, Beard, and Sidelocks 44
Why Jews Are Freckled 57
The Ruddy Man as Evil Omen 59
Filthy, Stinking Jew 66
Beautiful, Elegant Jewess 85
Jewish Dress and the Stigma of Clothing 99
Notes 113
2. THE OCCUPATIONAL PORTRAIT 138
The Jew as Tradesman 138
The Jew as Craftsman 154
The Jew as Moneylender 162
The Jew As Musician 169
The Jew as Tavern-keeper 173
The Jew as Wagon-driver 191
The Jew as Farmer and as Shepherd 197
Notes 205
3. THE MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL PORTRAIT 228
The Intelligent, Yet Cunning Jew 228
Dangerous Intelligence 233
The Cowardice of the Jew 235
The Good-Bad Jew 257
Ethnical and Ethical Characteristics 266
The Blind, Deaf, and Dumb Jew 276
Notes 290
4. THE MYTHICAL AND MAGICAL PORTRAIT 310
Brimstone and Fire 310
Demonization of the Jew 315
The Jew as Warlock and Rainmaker 324
The Legend of the Wandering Jew 330
Why Jews Do Not Eat Pork 342
The Jew as Good Omen 347
The "Jidovi" or Giants 356
Notes 360
5. THE RELIGIOUS PORTRAIT 378
Deicide 378
Hagiocide 385
Iconocide 393
Ritual Infanticide 400
Ritual Xenocide? 426
Notes 441