Useful Jew Explained

The term useful Jew was used in various historical contexts, typically describing a Jew useful in implementing an official authority's policy, sometimes by oppressing other Jews.

• In 1744, Frederick II of Prussia introduced the practice of limiting Jewish population to a small number of the most wealthy families, known as "protected Jews" (Schutzjuden).^[1] The first-born son in such families inherited this privilege; other children were considered useless by the authorities and had the choice of either abstaining from marriage or leaving.^[2]
• Following the establishment of the Pale of Settlement by Imperial Russia, only "useful Jews" (Russian: полезные евреи) were allowed to live outside the Pale; these included Jews such as wealthy first-rung merchants (Russian: купцы первой гильдии), persons who had received higher education, cantonists (after serving their full term in the army), and some other categories.^{[3] [4]}
• In the Soviet Union, Jewish members of the Anti-Zionist Committee of the Soviet Public were colloquially known as "useful Jews" or "pocket Jews" (Russian: карманные евреи), implying their corruption by high positions in the state hierarchy.^[5]
• In Israel and among its supporters, along with the term "useful Jews", the term "useful idiots" is often used to describe anti-Zionist/post-Zionist Jews who stand against the Jewish state.^{[6] [7]}

See also

• Court Jew
• Jewish Question
• Schutz-Jude
• Self-hating Jew
• Shtadlan
• Uncle Tom
• Useful idiot
• Kapo
• Judenrat
• Yevsektsiya
• Jewish collaboration with Nazi Germany
  • Jewish Ghetto Police
  • Group 13
  • Chaim Rumkowski
  • Stella Kübler

Notes and References

1. Web site: GHDI - Image. germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org.
2. Book: Dubnow, Simon . Simon Dubnow . The Newest History of the Jewish People, 1789–1914 .
3. Book: Marks, Steven G. . How Russia Shaped the Modern World: From Art to Anti-Semitism, Ballet to Bolshevism . 142 . 0-691-11845-0 .
4. http://www.axt.org.uk/antisem/archive/archive4/russia/russia.htm Russia
5. The infamous AZCSP (in Russian) Prepared by Moscow Bureau for human rights. Contains excerpts from June 6, 1983 AZSCP press-conference from the press-center of Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (sem40.ru)
6. Web site: BDS' useful idiots at Haaretz. Ben-Dror. Yemini. July 12, 2015. www.ynetnews.com.
7. Web site: Игорь Губерман: "Умное редко приходит в мою голову – спросите у жены". Интервью. July 22, 2016. NEWSru.co.il.