Ghettos of Europe: Where Jews Were Imprisoned for Hundreds of Years

Many people aren’t aware that the term “ghetto” stems from the practice by Christians of locking up Jews in restricted neighborhoods -– surrounded by walls -– in numerous European cities. Jewish ghettos, which first appeared in the 16th century, existed for hundreds of years; the practice only ended with the advent of the Jewish Emancipation during the 19th century. The European ghettos frequently were overpopulated places of extreme poverty and misery. Nazis revived the practice during World War II with the goal of exterminating the Jewish people.
 
Quotes: “The ghetto in Venice was enclosed by a wall and gates that were locked at night. Jews had to observe a curfew, and were required to wear yellow hats and badges to distinguish themselves, a practice that the Nazis would later adapt in the 20th century.” || “In 1555, Pope Paul IV issued the ‘Cum nimis absurdum’ proclamation, which required the Jews of Rome to live in separate quarters and also severely restricted their rights, including what businesses they could engage in. The purpose of this edict was to encourage conversion to Catholicism, an act that would serve as a ticket out of the ghetto.” — My Jewish Learning
 
Sources: Wikipedia, My Jewish Learning
 
Learn more about the Jewish ghettos of pre-Emancepation Europe from My Jewish Learning >>
 
Watch “Visiting a Jewish Ghetto in Venice” [3:57]. >>
 
Illustration: My Jewish Learning
 
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