Historian Goldstein Debunks Myths About Zagreb's Jewish Middle Class

Historian Ivo Goldstein challenged common perceptions of Jewish communities in Croatia during a discussion on "Historical Dialogues." He traced Jewish presence from antiquity, noting their marginalized status in the Middle Ages, where they were denied land ownership and primarily engaged in trade and moneylending.

Goldstein detailed the slow process of Jewish settlement and integration in Croatia, particularly after Emperor Joseph II's 1782 Edict of Tolerance allowed settlement in Banska Croatia. By 1900, Croatia had about 20,000 Jews, a fraction compared to Hungary's 600,000 and Romania's 800,000, within the Austro-Hungarian Empire's 2.5 million Jewish population. He observed a linguistic assimilation, with the second generation adopting Croatian.

Dispelling the myth of universal Jewish wealth, Goldstein stated, "There is a perception, I would say a prejudice, that all Jews are rich. That is not true. There were also many poor people." He described most Jews as belonging to the middle-class, working as merchants, artisans, and innkeepers, with some engaging in unique trades like exporting leeches from Slavonia. Their emphasis on education, requiring literacy from a young age, contrasted with the high illiteracy rates in Europe, enabling later generations to enter professions like law and medicine.

The historian also touched upon historical antisemitism, referencing bizarre beliefs from the early 20th century, such as the notion that pregnant Jewish women drank blood, which fueled prejudice. He noted that antisemitism has ancient roots, dating back to Alexandria and the Roman Empire, and that Christianity contributed to anti-Jewish sentiment, often forcing Jews to live on the margins of society.

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There is a perception, I would say a prejudice, that all Jews are rich. That is not true. There were also many poor people.