JL;DR

This lecture explores the complex history of Jewish involvement in moneylending in Medieval Ashkenaz. During this period, Jewish communities often found themselves in the role of moneylenders due to societal restrictions that barred them from other professions. This economic niche played a significant role in shaping Jewish-Christian relations, as well as the economic and social dynamics within the Jewish communities themselves. The lecture examines historical sources and provides insight into how this economic activity both contributed to the survival of Jewish life in Ashkenaz and fueled antisemitic stereotypes that persisted for centuries.