wexler

Lista lui Popovici

Asa cum se stie, din vara-toamna anului 1941, evreii
din Romania – de regula cei din Basarabia si Bucovina
– au inceput sa fie deportati in Transnistria.
Initial, ordinul maresalului Ion Antonescu a fost ca
toti evreii din Bucovina sa fie deportati "in decurs
de zece zile”. Toata activitatea economica si
comerciala din regiune a colapsat. La sfarsitul anului
1941, de pilda, mai functionau in Cernauti doar 510
ateliere din 4.373 existente. Primar al orasului in
perioada 1941-1942, Traian Popovici (considerat astazi
“un Schindler roman") a facut demersuri insistente pe
langa autoritatile romane si germane ca evreii
“necesari din punct de vedere al utilitatii publice”
(mai ales meseriasii dar si “intelectualii si oamenii
de arta, specialistii din toate ramurile industriei,
medicii, inginerii, precum si cei din sistemul
judiciar”) sa fie scutiti de la deportare. S-au facut
trieri, s-au completat liste, s-au impartit
autorizatii (inclusiv asa -numitele “autorizatii
Popovici”), astfel ca au fost salvati de la deportare
(unii doar temporar) circa 20.000 de evrei “importantii
pentru economie” din cei 50.000 de evrei ai orasului.
Din aceasta cauza, Traian Popovici a fost numit
“jidovitul”, iar in mai 1942 a fost destituit.
Spovedania semnata de Traian Popovici a fost publicata
de curand, cu sprijinul Fundatiei Willhelm Filderman
(editie ingrijita de Th. Wexler), intr-un mic volum
bilingv (in romaneste si engleza) de 98 de pagini. Din pacate, volumul este neglijent editat. Nicaieri, nici
macar in minuscula prefata semnata de Razvan
Theodorescu, nu se precizeaza in ce an si in ce imprejurari a scris Popovici aceasta “spovedanie”.
Faptul nu este de mirare; nici cartea publicata acum
nu contine elementele minimale de identificare (fara an, fara loc, fara editura), continand in schimb multe
greseli (de pilda, in loc de cuvantul “munca” e scris
mereu “muzica”, astfel ca “munca fortata” devine
grotesc “muzica fortata”, cf. pp. 22, 23, 44 etc.).
A fost o epoca i n care o “autorizatie Popovici” salva
de la deportare si adesea de la moarte un om. “Cine
ucide un singur om – se spune in Talmud –, ucide intreaga lume. Cine salveaza un singur om, salveaza
intreaga lume”. Daca pe buna dreptate nu ii uitam pe
cei vinovati de persecutii, deportari si crime, cu
atat mai mult nu trebuie uitati oameni ca Traian
Popovici, figuri luminoase in istoria romanilor. Dupa
razboi, in Israel i-au fost recunoscute meritele si
curajul, fiind inclus in galeria celor distinsi cu
titlul “Drepti ai popoarelor”. La Memorialul
Holocaustului (Yad Vashem) din Ierusalim este un pom
sadit in memoria si onoarea romanului Traian Popovici.

Din Romania 40 de oameni au primit aceasta distinctie.
Ultima a fost inmanata in 1993 Regelui Mihai, pentru
Regina-mama Elena. Nu cred ca acesta este numarul real
al romanilor care – fara sa fi beneficiat de vreo rasplata – au salvat evrei de la moarte. In alte tari
numarul lor este mult mai mare: de pilda 68 in
Austria, 93 in Belgia, 135 in Italia, 145 in Ungaria,
148 in Lituania, 240 in Germania, 670 in Franta, 2.972
in Polonia, 3.265 in Olanda. Cred ca, pur si simplu,
autoritatile romane nu s-au sinchisit de aceasta
problema. Probabil insa ca nu e vorba numai de
neglijenta, ci si de o strategie. A avea multi romani
care i-au salvat pe evrei de la moarte, inseamna
implicit a admite ca evreii din Romania trebuiau sa fie
salvati, cu alte cuvinte, ca erau in pericol de
moarte. Si, daca-i elogiezi pe salvatori, trebuie
sa-i acuzi pe calai
(Revista Asymetria)

Doamna Cancicov ne-a salvat!“



Nu era un fapt neobisnuit pentru acei ani. Numerosi alti români au procedat la fel. Oamnei simpli, intelectuali, politicieni, si erarhi ai bisericilor crestine au actionat, individual sau în grup, pentru salvarea semenilor lor supusi persecutiilor rasiale. Sunt fapte de omenie care merita sa fie scoase la lumina, mai ales în momente în care adevarul este înca stânjenit de patimi si resentimente.

In arhivele Comunitatii evreilor din Bacau am descoperit un document, care arunca o raza de soare pe chipul celei care a fost Georgeta Cancicov (1899-1984), sotia fruntasului liberal Mircea Cancicov (1884-1959).

Avocatul D. Ionas, presedintele Comunitatii evreilor din Bacau, îi scria prefectului F.N.D. al judetului respectiv, aducându-i la cunostinta numeroasele interventii pe care scriitoarea Georgeta Cancicov le facuse pe lânga autoritatile române în favoarea evreilor din Bacau. Documentul este de fapt un apel al comunitatii evreiesti bacaoane catre prefect, implorându-l sa repare nedreptatea pe care comandamentul sovietic local o facuse rechizitionând casa familiei Cancicov din Bacau. Dar sa facem loc documentului, care nu mai necesita nici un fel de comentarii.

Teodor Wexler

Bacau, 9 septembrie 1945.

Domnule Prefect,

Subsemnatul D. Ionas, avocat din Bacau, ca presedinte al Comunitatii evreilor din Bacau, respectuos supun domniei voastre urmatoarele:

O datorie de onoare si de constiinta ma determina sa va adresez prezenta.

Faptele ce relatez sunt cunoscute exact doar de câteva persoane, folosul lor l-a avut întreaga evreime din Moldova. Aceste fapte au constituit salvarea vietii unui mare numar de evrei moldoveni. Pot afirma si veti judeca si dumneavoastra ca fara ele ar fi fost zeci de mii de alte jertfe.

In aprilie 1944, odata cu participarea armatelor aliate [sovietice] de linia Iasilor, comandantul armatei întrunite cu dl. generel Racovita a venit la Bacau. Din conducerea obstei evreiesti au plecat aproape toti, ramânând diar dl. Schiller Manascu si înca doi, trei. In luna mai încep ordonantele cu restrictii evreiesti, restrictii ce trebuie sa mearga progresiv. Oarecum dezorientat si în orice caz împovarat, dl. Schiller ma cheama, împreuna cu doi prieteni (L. Schullersohn si B. Garniceanu,), ca sa formam un sfat politic si sa conducem opera de salvare a evreilor din Bacau. S-a dovedit apoi ca opera noastra s-a referit la evreii din întreaga Moldova.

Evident ca toate acestea erau lucruri ce nu trebuia sa intre în public si au ramas necunoscute maselor evreiesti. Prima mare chestiune a fost ordinul d-lui Pichi Vasiliu [subsecretar de stat la Ministerul de Interne] de a se face ghetouri în Moldova. Am hotarât ca prin dl. Schiller, ce avea rol oficial, sa intervenim la d-na Cancicov. Am gasit la ea deplina întelegere, mai mult decât ne asteptam. Primele ei cuvinte au fost: „Nu se vor face ghetouri, iar daca se vor face merg si eu cu voi în ghetou“.

Profitând de împrejurarea ca maresalul Antonescu când venea la Bacau locuia în casa d-sale si de relatiunile ce le avea cu domnia-sa, doamna Cancicov a intervenit cu toata energia si a obtinut sa nu se faca ghetouri.

Apoi, cum de la Bucuresti veneau ordine de ghetou, continuu s-a intervenit si într-adevar în Moldova nu au fost ghetouri.

S-a pus apoi chestiunea muncii femeilor evreice, sub forma unei munci în oras. S-a intervenit din nou la d-na Cancicov si maresalul Antonescu, pe un memoriu al nostru, a luat hotarârea ca femeile evreice vor munci dupa pregatirea si capacitatea lor, ceea ce însemna un câstig total al cauzei.

Cel mai dureros a fost când la scurt timp s-a pus chestiunea formarii de echipe de câte 500 femei evreice care sa lucreze în dosul frontului, la transee. Va închipuiti ce batjocura s-ar fi facut cu ele si ce se alegea din ele în mijlocul trupelor hitleriste. La Roman au fost scoase 200 femei care au lucrat doua zile la scosul pietrelor din râul Moldova. La Piatra Neamt s-au format echipe de femei, printre care si intelectuale, în câteva rânduri, si care urmau sa fie trimise în dosul frontului. S-a intervenit la d-na Cancicov si ea a obtinut, la început, amânari din partea comandamentului local si, apoi, pe un memoriu al nostru, a reusit sa obtina o rezolutie a maresalului Antonescu ca femeile evreice sa munceasca conform normelor stabilite anterior, adica în oras, dupa pregatirea si capacitatea lor, si aceasta pentru toata Moldova.

Evident ca în tot acest timp, în afara acestei chestiuni mari, au fost zeci de chestiuni marunte, în care d-na Cancicov a aparut ca îngerul protector si salvator al evreimii nenorocite si obidite.

Mai relatez un ultim fapt si las totul la judecata dvs.

La 22 august 1944, seara, mi se aduce la cunostinta ca s-a dat ordin ca evreii din detasamentele de munca sa fie evacuati. In dimineata zilei de 23 august a fost adunat în curtea bisericii Precista un detasamen de 6oo de evrei ce urmau sa fie evacuati. Va închipuiti starea lor când trebuiau sa-si paraseasca familiile, iar ei sa peregrineze printre trupele lui Hitler. Am intervenit la d-na Cancicov care mi-a dat în scris ca evreii sa nu plece, prezentându-ma cu acest ordin comandantului. Acesta a mers la d-na Cancicov, care i-a spus ca, pe raspunderea ei, sa nu plece nimeni, iar acesta a dat drumul la oameni. In baza acestui fapt, nici la celelalte detasamente n-au mai fost luati evrei.

Domnule prefect acestea vi le-am relatat ca sa întelegeti ca d-na Cancicov reprezinta pentru noi Providenta Salvatoare din acele vremuri si, într-adevar, ne-a salvat.
(itcnet.ro)

Martor la evenimentele din august '44

Teodor Wexler
Vicepresedintele Fundatiei W. Filderman

Dupa batalia de la Stalingrad aliatii Germaniei erau constienti ca aceasta va pierde razboiul si cautau solutii pentru a iesi din conflict si a incheia un armistitiu cu Natiunile Unite. Nu intotdeauna solutiile propuse occidentalilor de catre aliatii Reichului erau realiste si in primul rand ele pacatuiau prin aceea ca nu tineau cont de inamicul nr. 1 al Germaniei, Uniunea Sovietica, si de faptul ca Statele Unite si Marea Britanie considerau alianta cu rusii ca o realitate ce nu putea fi ignorata si, cu atat mai mult, tradata. In ianuarie si iunie 1943, Mihai Antonescu se deplaseaza la Roma pentru a stabili cu Mussolini iesirea simultana din razboi a Italiei si Romaniei. Actiunea esueaza. In tot cursul anilor 1943-1944, atat guvernul Antonescu, cat si opozitia democrata din Romania vor tatona obtinerea unor conditii de pace. Ei vor fi respinsi rand pe rand pentru ca occidentalii se vor incapatana in a respecta alianta cu Uniunea Sovietica si aceasta in special pentru tarile din Europa de est. Clasa politica romaneasca din acea vreme nu a inteles sa-si asume raspunderea tratativelor de pace, de aceea vor esua si tratativele ambasadorului Cretzianu la Ankara cu delegatii generalului Wilson si tratativele de la Stockholm cu Ana Kollontay, ambasadoarea sovietica in Suedia.


Un moment semnificativ al tratativelor de pace din primavara anului 1944 este acela la care participa Barbu Stirbey si ambasadorul MacMillan - principalul consilier al generalului Wilson. Dar sa-l lasam pe Nicolae Baciu sa relateze: "Voi semnala ca la acea data (aprilie 1944 - n.a.) autoritatile engleze erau in posesia unei importante scrisori adresate de avocatul Filderman, seful Comunitatii Israelite din Romania, catre principele Stirbey.

Scrisoarea era destinata, evident, sa intareasca mana principelui in negocierile sale. De altfel, maresalul s-a gandit el insusi, vazand ca negocierile de la Cairo nu inainteaza, sa-l trimita pe avocatul Filderman ca pe un al treilea emisar" (Nicolae Baciu, Ialta si Crucificarea Romaniei, Editura Dumitru, München, 1983).

Este cazul sa facem cateva precizari: 1) Scrisoarea lui Wilhelm Filderman nu era adresata lui Barbu Stirbey, ci ambasadorului MacMillan, viitorul prim-ministru al Angliei; 2) Scrisoarea a fost redactata la cererea presedintelui Partidului National Liberal, C.I.C. Bratianu, intrucat ambasadorul MacMillan l-a trimis pe Barbu Stirbey sa trateze initial cu dna Kollontay la Stockholm sau in spatele frontului de la Iasi direct cu sovieticii, in lumina declaratiei lui Molotov din 4 aprilie 1944. Dr. Filderman a predat scrisoarea ambasadorului Cretzianu la 10 mai 1944.


Autorul acestor randuri, studiind memoriile dr. W. Filderman, este nevoit sa mentioneze informatia ca ambasadorul MacMillan i-a predat scrisoarea liderului Comunitatii Evreiesti din Romania lui Vasili Bogomolov, ambasador sovietic la Alger si reprezentant al guvernului sovietic pe langa cartierul general aliat de la Cairo si in acelasi timp coordonatorul activitatii KGB pentru tarile Orientului Mijlociu si Africii de Nord. Deconspirarea scrisorii dr. Filderman a avut urmatoarele consecinte:


Rusii erau informati ca Romania doreste ca dupa armistitiu pe teritoriul sau sa stationeze trupe ale celor trei aliati si nu numai trupe sovietice.
Teritoriile romanesti cedate catre URSS la 28 iunie 1940 sa constituie subiect de negociere privind o retrocedare totala sau partiala catre Patria mama.

Comunitatea evreiasca din Romania, prin liderul ei, ramane fidela cauzei nationale a tarii.

La procesul pe care-l vor intenta lui Filderman, in 1950, comunistii vor utiliza scrisoarea drept cap de acuzare impotriva liderului populatiei evreiesti din Romania.


Alt moment semnificativ. La 13-14 iunie 1944, la Bucuresti, in casa profesorului universitar Tudor Ionescu din Calea Mosilor (profesorul Tudor Ionescu era un oportunist social-comunist) se intruneste comitetul militar politic de pregatire a unei lovituri de stat si incheierea unui armistitiu cu Natiunile Unite. Pe langa reprezentantii partidelor politice participa si reprezentantii minusculului partid comunist, Lucretiu Patrascanu si inginerul Ceausu, alias Emil Bodnaras, precum si generalul Aurel Aldea, generalul Gheorghe Mihail si colonelul Damaceanu. Casa Regala era reprezentata prin Mocsonyi-Starcea. Comunistii resping planul generalului Aldea Aurel de a se aduce de pe front unitati fidele regelui, de a mari dispozitivul de jandarmi pedestri cantonati in Bucuresti si de a trece urgent in dispozitiv de lupta premilitari aflati la dispozitia Apararii Pasive.


In contrapropunerea sa, Emil Bodnaras cere ca alaturi de unitatile militare din garnizoana Bucuresti, complotistii sa se foloseasca de asa-zisele "garzi patriotice" organizate de minusculul partid comunist. Cerandu-se explicatii de unde are PCR unitati militare pentru asigurarea unei insurectii armate (citeste lovitura de stat - n.a.), Lucretiu Patrascanu mentioneaza posibilitatea inarmarii populatiei evreiesti si in special a celei deportate.


Inca din noaptea de 13-14 iunie 1944, generalul Sanatescu il informeaza pe dr. Filderman de propunerile minusculului, dar zgomotosului partid comunist. A doua zi, 14 iunie 1944, Filderman se prezinta la Palatul Peles spre a-i cere regelui sa opreasca aventura sinucigasa in care comunistii vor sa-si dobandeasca un rol in viata tarii pe spinarea comunitatii evreiesti din Romania, dar si pe viitorul poporului roman. Mai mult, Filderman ii cere regelui ca Armata Romana sa asigure siguranta si viata evreilor in cazul unei retrageri germane. Regele este de acord cu liderul evreu, planul comunist nu este acceptat, ei vor incerca sa-l reia intr-o parodie esuata in dimineata zilei de 24 august la Bucuresti. In audienta de la Peles din 14 iunie 1944, au mai participat maresalul palatului, Al. Ghica, si secretarul doctorului Filderman, avocatul Grubea. Detinem continutul discutiei dintre rege si liderul evreu intr-o relatare pe care am primit-o, in august 1995, la Paris, din partea dr. Grubea.


Comentand evenimentele descrise mai sus si atitudinea ferma a dr. Filderman, cunoscuta analista politica Nicolette Franck scrie: "Daca s-ar fi ridicat impotriva compatriotilor lor romani, evreii puteau sa fie acuzati ca seamana discordie in interior si impiedica cristalizarea solidaritatii nationale: (Nicolette Franck, La Roumanie dans l'engrenage Edit Elsevier Jaquier, Paris-Bruxelles, 1977).


Dupa normalizarea relatiilor dintre puterea postdecembrista si fostul suveran al Romaniei, consider de a mea datorie sa cer Majestatii Sale ca pe baza arhivelor aflate la Versoix sa confirme intrevederea sa cu Filderman din 14 iunie 1944. Aceasta ar insemna nu numai respect pentru mult incercata istorie a Romaniei, dar si un omagiu postum adus ilustrei sale mame, Regina Elena, care, in anii razboiului, s-a implicat in salvarea a zeci de mii de cetateni romani de etnie evreiasca, manifestare plenara a umanismului romanesc.


Politica sferelor de influenta a marcat si evenimentul pe care l-am relatat mai sus. Intr-adevar, incepand cu 15 iunie 1944, ofiteri apartinand armatei a VIII-a britanice, detasati in Iugoslavia pe langa trupele lui Tito, trec clandestin frontiera Romaniei sau sunt parasutati de aviatia britanica spre a aduce la indeplinire planul Bodnaras-Patrascanu. O parte dintre ei sunt prinsi de Jandarmerie, o alta vor fi arestati dupa 23 august 1944 de guvernul Groza, ca spioni (vezi Arh. SRI, d. 16385). Prezenta acestora denota ca planul Bodnaras-Patrascanu a fost inspirat de sovietici si a primit binecuvantarea britanica pe principiul zonelor de influenta, stabilit intre englezi si sovietici si binecuvantat ulterior la Ialta. Am mentionat ca organizatorii "insurectiei armate" de la 23 august 1944 nu au renuntat la planurile lor. Nereusind sa primeasca adeziunea populatiei evreiesti, comunistii strang mai in gluma, mai in serios, in dimineata zilei de 24 august, circa 120-150 de copii, baieti si fete, cu varste cuprinse intre 13 si 16 ani, si ii trimit inarmati cu bate si topoare la Baneasa. Copiii proveneau din cartierele evreiesti Dudesti si Vacaresti. Vazandu-i, generalul Iosif Teodorescu, comandantul militar al Garnizoanei Bucuresti, il cheama pe Bodnaras, apostrofandu-l ca trimite copii la moarte sigura si ordonandu-i sa puna capat unui macel colectiv. Am citat falimentul ultimului act al unui scenariu pe care comunistii l-au regizat spre a-si atribui roluri pe care nu le-au avut si care nu si-au gasit ecou in randurile populatiei evreiesti, indiferent de naratiunile national-comuniste postdecembriste.


Alt moment semnificativ. Ovidiu Vladescu, fostul sef de cabinet al lui Mihai Antonescu, relateaza (Arh. SRI, ds. 16385) ca in seara zilei de 22 august, in jurul orelor 21,30, din ordinul lui Ica Antonescu, l-a convocat pe dr. Filderman la Palatul Victoria spre a-i cere in numele sefului sau sa solicite urgent marilor organizatii evreiesti sa intervina pe langa guvernele american si britanic ca unitati parasutate aliate sa participe la ocuparea Romaniei pentru ca rusii sa nu fie lasati sa faca singuri acest lucru. Ovidiu Vladescu afirma ca Filderman s-a ocupat de aceasta. Marturisiri asupra acestui moment dramatic fac (in acelasi dosar SRI) Radu Lecca si fruntasii evreimii romane: A.L. Zissu, Jean Cohen si Misu Benvenisti.


Iata propriile mele amintiri asupra acestui eveniment. In august 1944, W. Filderman si sotia sa, Emilia, locuiau provizoriu in casa dr. Alfred Condru, situata in Bucuresti, Piata Sf. Voievozi nr. 1, et. 1, ap. 2. Filderman ocupa provizoriu aceasta locuinta intrucat in imediata apropiere se afla Ministerul Economiei Nationale, in subsolul cladirii fiind amenajat unul dintre cele mai eficace adaposturi antiaeriene din Bucurestii acelor ani. Eu locuiam peste drum de locuinta dr. Condru, adica pe str. Sf. Voievozi 32. In seara zilei de 22 august 1944, ma gaseam impreuna cu parintii mei in casa Condru. In jurul orei 22,30 a intrat dr. Filderman, insotit de un ofiter imbracat in uniforma de front. Era sublocotenentul Nenitescu, secretarul cu probleme militare al lui Mihai Antonescu. I-au telefonat dr. Costinescu, presedintele Crucii Rosii Internationale, din Piata Romana, de unde s-a transmis mesajul guvernului Romaniei. Unul dintre destinatarii mesajului era Agentia Evreiasca din Istanbul si altul, Sally Maier, reprezentantul Agentiei Evreiesti din Zürich. Cand Filderman s-a intors noaptea tarziu, era deja 23 august 1944. Zarurile fusesera aruncate. Ezitanta in a salva tara, clasa politica esuase. Regele Mihai si unii dintre conducatorii armatei mai sperau sa salveze ceva actionand cu abnegatie si devotament. In ceasul al doisprezecelea al istoriei, agentura comunista intorcea evenimentele in propriul sau interes si al stapanilor de la Kremlin. Noaptea totalitarismului fascist era inlocuita cu lunga noapte a totalitarismului comunist.
LUMEA MAGAZIN

de cand se traduce "jew" prin "jidan"(termen insultator)?

N-am intentionat sa jignesc pe nimeni si nu stiam ca "jidan" e un termen insultator; daca e imi cer scuze. Cum s-ar traduce atunci? --- ca n-am un dictionar englez-roman la indemina.

Dupa cite stiu eu: hebrew = evreu
israeli = israelian
jew = ? (eu credeam jidan---corectati-ma)
jewish = de religie ?

Citez mai jos pentru cei ce au timp sa citeasca din Oxford English Dictionary:

oed jew | more
Jew (d3(j)u:), sb. Forms: Sing. 3 Gyu, 4 Giu, Gyw, Iu, Iuu, Iuw(e, Ieu, Ieuu,
Ieu3, 4-5 Iwe, 4 (6 Sc.) Iow, 4-7 Iewe, 5 Ieue, 5-6 Iue, (Ive), 4-7 Iew, 7-
Jew. Plur. 2 Giwis, 3 Giws, Gius, Gyu(e)s, 3-4 Gywes, Giwes, Geus, 4 Iuu(e)s,
Iuwis, Iow(e)s, Ioues, Iewis, -ys, -us, 4-5 Iuwes, 4-6 Iues, 4-7 Iewes, 5
Iuys, 6 Sc. Iowis, Iouis, 4-7 Iews, 7- Jews; beta. 4 Iuen. [ME. a. OFr. giu,
gyu, giue, earlier juieu, juiu, jueu:-L. iudaeum (nom. -us) Jew (cf. Fr. dieu,
ebreu:-L. deum. hebraeum); in later Fr. juif, fem. juive. L. iudaeus was a.
Gr. iota-omicron-upsilon-delta-alpha-iota--omicron-sigma-, f. Aramaic y'hudai,
corresp. to Heb. y'hudi Jew, f. y'hudah Judah, name of a Hebrew patriarch and
the tribe descended from him. (The OE. equivalent was Iudeas Jews, Early ME.
Iudeow, Iudew: see JUDEW.)]
1 a A person of Hebrew descent; one whose religion is Judaism; an Israelite.
Orig. a Hebrew of the kingdom of Judah, as opposed to those of the ten tribes
of Israel; later, any Israelite who adhered to the worship of Jehovah as
conducted at Jerusalem. Applied comparatively rarely to the ancient nation
before the exile (cf. HEBREW sb. 1), but the commonest name for contemporary
or modern representatives of this group, now spread throughout the world. The
word `Jew' is also applied to groups, e.g. the Falashas in Ethiopia, not
ethnically related to persons of the main European groups, the Ashkenazim and
the Sephardim.
C. 1275 Passion our Lord 351 in O.E. Misc. 47 Pilates hym onswerede, am ich
Gyv penne? A. 1300 Cursor M. 3944 (Cott.) O sinnu etes neuer Iuu [v.rr. ieuu,
iew]. A. 1300 Cursor M. 11072 (Cott.) It halus bath Iu and sarzine. C. 1310 in
Wright Lyric P. (Percy Soc.) 100 Ich holde me vilore then a Gyw [rimes bowe,
trowe, now]. C. 1340 Cursor M. 4532 (Trin.) Therynne a iewes childe we fonde.
C. 1340 Cursor M. 18579 (Trin.) And namely leue herof no iwe For al pus dud
pei wip ihesu. 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) VI. 385 Charles Grossus was
i-poysoned of a Iewe [v.r. Iuw]. A. 1400 Pistill of Susan 2 That was a Ieu3
ientil, and Ioachin he hiht. C. 1440 Promp. Parv. 266/2 Ive, judeus. 1530
PALSGR. 235/1 Jue a man of jurye, jvif. 1572 Satir. Poems Reform. xxxi. 173
Mair nor in Jurie dois the Jow. 1596 SHAKS. Merch. V. III. i. 61 What is the
reason? I am a Iewe; Hath not a Iew eyes? 1615 G. SANDYS Trav. 52 His mother a
Iew both by birth and religion. 1775 SHERIDAN Rivals II. i, She shall have a
skin like a mummy, and the beard of a Jew. 1820 BYRON Blues I. 77 You forget
Lady Lilac's as rich as a Jew.1940 AUDEN Another Time 116 He [sc. Sigmund
Freud] Was taken away from his old interest To go back to the earth in London,
An important Jew who died in exile. 1956 I. MURDOCH Flight from Enchanter ix.
126 `Of course, you realize that I could rescue you with my little finger,'
said Mrs Wingfield. `I'm as rich as a Jew!' 1970 R. D. ABRAHAMS Positively
Black iii. 76 The Englishman is arrogant and overbearing, the American is a
check-writing millionaire who doesn't mind the cost, the Jew tries to push
down the entry price into heaven. 1970 Times 28 Jan. 10/4 At the heart of the
matter lies the rabbinical definition of a Jew: a person born of a Jewish
mother, or a person who has converted to Judaism according to rabbinical law.
1974 J. R. BAKER Race xiv. 234 From the traditional religious point of view, a
Jew was a person born of a Jewish mother, but this formula suffers from the
defect that the defined word is included in adjectival form in the definition.
The same flaw occurs in part of the new definition enacted by the Israeli
Parliament in..1970, according to which a person is a Jew if he or she is the
offspring of a Jewish mother or has been converted to the Jewish faith by the
Orthodox Rabbinate or by the Rabbis of the Jewish Reform Movement or by the
Rabbis of the Jewish Conservative Movement.
plural. C. 1175 Lamb. Hom. 9 Alswa hefden pe giwis heore sinagoge. C. 1250
Old Kent. Serm. in O.E. Misc. 26 Hi..askede wer was se king of gyus pet was
i-bore. C. 1250 Old Kent. Serm. in O.E. Misc., 26 King of geus. A. 1300
Cursor M. 142 O pe Iuus [v.rr. iewes] and moyses. A. 1300 Cursor M. 19129
(Gott.) Thar badd pai iuen suld paim 3eme. A. 1340 HAMPOLE Psalter xxvii. 5
The iowes sloghe crist. 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) VIII. 53 That he schulde
doo pe Iewes [v.r. Iuwes] out of Engelond. 1482 CAXTON Trevisa's Higden
(Rolls) IV. 369 The Iuwes accused Pilatus to Tiberius. 1533 GAU Richt Vay 30
Ve prech Iesu Christ crucifeit, sclander to the Iowis and folie to the
gentils. 1548-9 (Mar.) Bk. Comm. Prayer (Coll. Good Friday), Haue mercy upon
all Iewes, Turkes, Infidels, and heretikes. 1611 BIBLE 2 Kings xvi. 6 At that
time Rezin king of Syria..draue the Iews from Elath. 1619 SANDERSON Twelve
Serm. (1632) 2 In Rome there lived in the Apostles times many Iewes. 1710 etc.
[see FALASHA]. 1776 GIBBON Decl. & F. xv, The same..abhorrence for idolatry
which had distinguished the Jews from the other nations of the ancient world.
1968 L. ROSTEN Joys of Yiddish 142 Relentless persecution of Jews, century
after century, in nation after nation, left a legacy of bitter sayings: `Dos
ken nor a goy.' (`That, only a goy is capable of doing'). 1971 B. MALAMUD
Tenants 50 The Jews got to keep us bloods stayin weak. 1974 J. R. BAKER Race
xiv. 232 In various parts of the world today there are communities that
practise the Jewish faith in one form or another, but are ethnically distinct
from the Jews of Europe and North America.
gen. plur. A. 1225 Ancr. R. 394 Uorto acwiten ut his leofmon of Giwene
honden. A. 1225 Juliana 62 Ant poledest pinen ant passiun purh giwes read on
rode. A. 1300 Cursor M. 4532 (Cott.) Thar in a Iuen child [Trin. iewes childe]
we fand. C. 1300 Cursor M. 19289 (Edin.) The iuwin folc felune. C. 1300Cursor
M. 21696 (Edin.) Mang pe Iuwis lede. C. 1350 Childh. Jesus 616 (Matz.) Giwene
children feole..Him siweden. C. 1449 PECOCK Repr. III. iii. 291 If Cristen
preestis weren Iewen preestis. 1653 GREAVES Seraglio 150 In the Kings
Seraglio, the Sultana's are permitted to employ divers Jewes-women about their
ordinary occasions.
b Jew's eye: proverbial expression for something valued highly.
1592 G. HARVEY Pierce's Super. 85 A souerain Rule, as deare as a Iewes eye.
1596 SHAKS. Merch. V. II. v. 43 There will come a Christian by, Will be worth
a Iewes eye. 1833 MARRYAT P. Simple ii, Although the journey..would cost twice
the value of a gold seal, yet, that in the end it might be worth a Jew's eye.
1844 WILLIS Lady Jane I. 212 From dome to floor, Hung pictures..Each `worth a
Jew's eye'.
c Black Jew (see quot. 1967); also = FALASHA.
1807 C. BUCHANAN Jrnl. 4 Feb. in Christian Res. in Asia (1811) 192 The
resident Jews are divided into two classes, called the Jerusalem or White
Jews; and the Ancient or Black Jews. The White Jews reside at this place [sc.
Cochin]. The Black Jews have also a Synagogue here; but the great body of
that tribe inhabit towns in the interior of the province. A. 1817 T. DWIGHT
Trav. New-Eng. (1823) III. 174 The black Jews in Hindostan. 1822 Imperial Mag.
IV. 358 A copy of the Hebrew Pentateuch..found in one of the Black Jews'
Synagogues, at Cochin. 1843 J. C. MAITLAND Lett. from Madras xviii. 178, I
told him about the first preachers, the Black Jews, the Syrian Christians, &c.
1892 G. M. RAE Syrian Church in India x. 150 These black Jews are converts to
the faith from among the people of the land. 1907 I. ZANGWILL Ghetto Comedies
155 The black Jews..surrounded by all those millions of Hindoos. 1930 H.
NORDEN Africa's Last Empire 185 The black Jews among whom he works. 1964 [see
FALASHA]. 1967 D. T. KAUFFMAN Dict. Relig. Terms 77/1 Black Jews, in India,
term applied to brown-skinned Jews to distinguish them from a group known as
`White Jews'. Sometimes used also for Negro Jewish groups. 1974 J. R. BAKER
Race xiv. 232 The Falasha or `black Jews' of Ethiopia are members of the
Aethiopid subrace, a hybrid taxon.
d A ship's tailor. Hence also jewing vbl. sb. and ppl. a. Naut. slang.
1916 Chambers's Jrnl. May 278/2 They [sc. ships' tailors] were still known as
`jews'. 1916 Chambers's Jrnl., May 278/2 The term `jewing', as sewing is
still called. 1945 TACKLINE Holiday Sailor x. 102 There was the
`Jewing-bloke', who undertook tailoring repairs. 1945 TACKLINE Holiday Sailor,
x. 102 The `Jewing-bloke' had a rather ancient Singer sewing machine, bought
when ashore at Alexandria with..pay in his pocket. 1946 J. IRVING Royal
Navalese 100 A sailor-tailor is known as a `Jew'. 1962 GRANVILLE Dict.
Sailors' Slang 66/1 Jewing firm, ship's tailoring `firm' run by one or more
ratings who repair and make clothing.
2 a transf. and offensive. As a name of opprobrium: spec. applied to a
grasping or extortionate person (whether Jewish or not) who drives hard
bargains.
In medieval England, Jews, though engaged in many pursuits, were particularly
familiar as money-lenders, their activities being publicly regulated for them
by the Crown, whose proteges they were. In private, Christians also practised
money-lending, though forbidden to do so by Canon Law. Thus the name of Jew
came to be associated in the popular mind with usury and any extortionate
practices that might be supposed to accompany it, and gained an opprobrious
sense.
1606 Sir G. Goosecappe V. i. in Bullen O. Pl. III. 77 If the sunne of thy
beauty doe not white me like a shippards holland, I am a Iewe to my Creator.
1700 BP. PATRICK Comm. Deut. xxviii. 37 Better we cannot express the most
cut-throat dealing, than thus, You use me like a Jew. 1830 COLERIDGE Table-t.
16 May, Jacob is a regular Jew, and practises all sorts of tricks and wiles.
1844 D. KING Ruling Eldership II. i, It is undesirable..that he pass in the
commercial circle for what is there termed a Jew.1846 Swell's Night Guide
123/1 Jew, an overreaching fellow. C. 1861 E. DICKINSON Poems (1955) I. 160
'Twould be `a Bargain' for a Jew! Say-may I have it-Sir? 1906 J. M. SYNGE
Lett. to Molly (1971) 31 What have I done that you should write to me as if I
was a dunning Jew? 1920 T. S. ELIOT Ara Vos Prec 14 The jew is underneath the
lot. Money in furs. 1931 T. R. G. LYELL Slang 428 Why waste your time asking
him for a subscription? He's a perfect Jew where money's concerned. 1944
Britannica Bk. of Year 693 In March 1943 there were tirades from Bangkok radio
against the `Jews of Siam' (probably Chinese), who were accused of
profiteering. 1952 G. BONE Came to Oxf. xi. 34 There is a curious fallacy,
rather wide-spread, that a borrower of money is an innocent and hapless
person, while a lender is a shark, a harpy, a `Jew'. 1964 H. BROTZ Black Jews
of Harlem iii. 54 Occasionally the Black Jews forget they are Jews when
complaining about the fact that `the Jews' own all or most of Harlem!
b A pedlar.
In this use not depreciatory.
1803 G. COLMAN John Bull III. ii. 32 Here is two poets, and a poll-parrot,
the best image the Jew had over his head, over the mantle-piece. 1963 E.
MCBAIN Ten Plus One (1964) iv. 42 There was a guy who used to come around to
the door selling stuff, and my mother called him `The Jew'... For her, `Jew'
was synonymous with pedlar. 1970 J. H. GRAY Boy from Winnipeg 43 For us,
however, `Jew' was just another generic word that often included the peddlers
who were Greek or Italian. When we scrounged bottles it was to sell to `the
Jew', who was anybody that came along buying junk.
3 attrib. and Comb. a attrib. or as adj. That is a Jew, Jewish, as Jew boy,
butcher, girl, man, pedlar, physician, trooper (such expressions now mainly in
offensive use but not originally opprobrious); of or relating to Jews, as Jew
bill, hatred, toll. b objective, similative, etc., as Jew-drowning, -hater,
Jew-dear, adj.; Jew-like adj. and adv., -looking adj.
1765 BLACKSTONE Comm. I. x. (1793) 375 Very high debates about the time of
the famous Jew-bill; which enables all Jews to prefer bills of naturalization
in parliament, without receiving the sacrament.
1796 P. COLQUHOUN Treat. Police of Metropolis (ed. 3) vi. 125 Jew Boys..go
out every morning loaded with counterfeit Copper, which they exchange for bad
Silver, to be afterwards coloured anew, and again put into circulation. 1817
M. EDGEWORTH Harrington iii. 45 Mowbray easily engaged me to join him against
the Jew boy; and a zealous partizan against Jacob I became. 1873 TROLLOPE
Eustace Diamonds II. liii. 361 You used to be very wicked, and say he was once
a Jew-boy in the streets. 1929 D. H. LAWRENCE Let. 10 Oct. (1962) II. 1208, I
do hate John's Jewish nasal sort of style-so uglily moral... Spring doesn't
only come for the moral Jew-boys-for them perhaps least. 1948 J. BALDWIN in
Commentary Oct. 334/2 Jules Weissman, a Jewboy, had got the room for me. 1954
Jewboy [see IKEY sb. and a.]. 1959 N. MAILER Advts. for Myself (1961) 50
Jewboy, blond Jewboy Wexler perched by the cellar window, tackling Japs with
machine-gun bullets. 1968 Daily Mail 9 Feb. 3/3 Angry viewers rang the BBC
last night to complain about an `anti-Semitic' remark on the TV programme
Softly, Softly. In last night's episode..the detective tells the man: `You
always were a great one for putting things in your wife's name, Bob, just like
a Jewboy heading for bankruptcy.' 1972 Observer 7 May, Mrs Lane Fox dismisses
what she calls the country set, who call their children `the brats', talk
about `thrashing them into shape', support Enoch Powell and still refer to
`jew boys'. 1974 New Society 3 Jan. 11/2 A car's desirability also creates the
opposite reaction, in that envy is easily turned to resentment and aggression
towards, for instance, the `jewboy', the `poser', the `toffee nose' and the
`business classes' who sport expensive and powerful cars.
1849 W. S. MAYO Kaloolah (1887) p. viii, Oil, garlic, salt fish, and Jew
brandy.
1613 PURCHAS Pilgrimage (1614) 213 Thus you see the Iew-butcher had need be
no botcher, but halfe a Physitian in Anatomizing.
1755 J. SHEBBEARE Lydia (1769) I. 274 [He] must have had this jew-craft
among his reasons for endeavouring to naturalize the Jews.
1899 A. WHITE Modern Jew 122 There are many instances of the drollery of
*Jew-drowning in the annals of monkish historians.
1796 E. WYNNE Diary 11 Dec. (1937) II. ix. 139 Before having ever seen us she
declared that we were all excepting the youngest, like little crows and Jew
girls. 1930 E. POUND XXX Cantos x. 45 Wives, jew-girls, nuns. 1971 B. MALAMUD
Tenants 50 Jewgirls are the best whores.
1899 Westm. Gaz. 18 Sept. 2/2 The nature of the wounds roused amongst the
*Jew-haters the old story of the blood sacrifice.
1898 Nat. Rev. Aug. 807 Outside Russia, Jew hatred is a matter with which
Governments have no direct concern.
1808 COBBETT Pol. Reg. XIII. 172 Through the means of a jew-like commerce
with the revolted slaves.
1905 JOYCE Let. 29 Oct. (1966) II. 127 For a Jewman it's better than having
to bathe. 1922 JOYCE Ulysses 336 I'll brain that bloody jewman for using the
holy name. 1938 W. B. YEATS John Kinsella's Lament in London Mercury Dec. 114
Though stiff to strike a bargain Like an old Jew man.
1771 SMOLLETT Humph. Cl. 20 Apr. Let ii, I was cheapening a pair of
spectacles with a Jew-pedlar.
1731 Gent. Mag. I. 403 Dr. Bass, a noted Jew Physician in St. Mary Axe.
A. 1680 BUTLER Rem. (1759) II. 84 And crucify his Saviour worse Than those
*Jew-Troopers, that threw out, When they were raffling for his coat.
c Special Combs.: Jew-bail, insufficient bail, `straw-bail'; 'Jew-baiting sb.
= Ger. Judenhetze, systematic harrying or persecution of Jews; so Jew-bait v.
nonce-wd., Jew-baiter, Jew-baiting a.; Jew-bush, a euphorbiaceous plant of the
genus Pedilanthus; Jew-cart (see quot.); Jew-lizard, a large Australian
lizard, Amphibolurus barbatus; Jew plum = OTAHEITE APPLE; Jew Tongo, a
language spoken among Bush Negroes in Surinam, possessing a structure largely
derived from West African languages and a vocabulary largely derived from
English.
1785 GROSE Dict. Vulg. T., Jew Bail. 1797 MARY ROBINSON Walsingham IV. 283
He..did the deep ones with Jew-bail, till they were up to the trick.
1892 Sat. Rev. 18 June 700/2 [He] is always going about Jew-baiting and to
*Jew-bait with pen or sword.
1883 Pall Mall G. 19 Nov. 3/1 [They] are now in full possession of the case
of the German jew-baiters against the Jews. 1907 I. ZANGWILL Ghetto Comedies
85 She's honest... She won't fall back on the old Jew-baiter. 1945 W. S.
CHURCHILL Victory (1946) 145 Julius Streicher, most notorious of Jew-baiters,
was captured by the Americans. 1960 C. DAY LEWIS Buried Day vi. 116 The same
herd instinct that produces Teddy Boys, Jew-baiters and Ku-Klux-Klansmen. 1974
G. MITCHELL Javelin for Jonah xi. 133 Benjy was unlucky enough to fall foul at
school of a ring of young Jew-baiters.
1883 Evening Post (N.Y.) 21 Apr., The Jew-baiting in Germany; the bloody
persecutions in Russia. 1898 Nat. Review Aug. 807 In the Empire of the
Tsar..Jew-baiting is a matter of high State policy. 1922 JOYCE Ulysses 202
Shylock chimes with the jewbaiting that followed the hanging. 1939 Ann. Reg.
1938 203 The brutalities began on April 23, and it was clear that the scheme
of Jew-baiting had been worked out in readiness for the `Anschluss'. 1969 J.
MANDER Static Soc. iii. 99 The American, however ugly, is no Jew-baiting
Gauleiter.
1830 LINDLEY Nat. Syst. Bot. 105 The Jew Bush, or Milk plant.
1840 MARRYAT Poor Jack xviii, Then we have what we call Jew Carts, always
ready to take [stolen] goods inland, where they will not be looked after.
1847 LEICHHARDT Jrnl. iii. 89 A small Chlamydophorus (*Jew lizard of the
Hunter [River]) was also seen. A. 1884 J. SERVICE Thir Notandums (1890) 205
From beneath a log the green Jew-lizard, or the iguana peeps.
1913 W. HARRIS Notes Fruit & Veg. in Jamaica 18 The Jew Plum..was
introduced to Jamaica in 1782 and again in 1792. 1920 W. POPENOE Man. Tropical
& Subtropical Fruits iv. 156 Jew-plum is another name for the ambarelle, used
in Jamaica. 1971 Caribbean Q. XVII. II. 14 Different name, same
referent..golden apple/Jew plum/pomme-citerre.
1933 L. BLOOMFIELD Lang. xxvi. 474 Two creolized forms of English are spoken
in Suriname (Dutch Guiana). One of these.., more divergent from ordinary
types of English, is known as Jew-Tongo. 1968 W. J. SAMARIN in J. A. Fishman
Readings Sociol. of Lang. 666 Amerindian pidgins... Saramakan (Jew Tongo,
Ningre-Tongo).
d Genitival Combs.: Jews' apple, a name for the Egg-plant or its fruit; Jews'
frankincense, a plant of the genus Styrax, or the resin obtained from it
(storax or benzoin); Jews' houses, name given to the remains of ancient
tin-smelting furnaces in Cornwall; Jew's letter, a text inscribed in Hebrew
upon a phylactery, regarded as the outward symbol or badge of a Jew; Jews'
lime, a synonym of Jews' slime (see below); Jews' mallow, a name for Corchorus
olitorius (N.O. Tiliaceae), one of the plants from which the fibre called jute
is obtained, used as a pot-herb in Egypt, Syria, and other countries; Jews'
money, a popular name for ancient Roman coins found in some parts of England;
Jews' myrtle, a name for Butcher's Broom, and for a variety of the common
Myrtle; Jews' pitch, Jews' slime, names for asphalt or bitumen (cf. Gen. xi.
3); Jews' thorn = Christ's thorn (see CHRIST 5); Jews' tin, name for lumps of
tin found in ancient smelting-furnaces (Jews' houses) in Cornwall.
1884 MILLER Plant-n., Solanum esculentum, Jew's-Apple, Mad-Apple... S.
Melongena,..Egg-plant, Jew's-Apple.
1760 J. LEE Introd. Bot. App. 315 Jew's Frankincense, Styrax.
1851 Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib. 162 In the reign of King John, the mines
[were] principally in the hands of the Jews..remains of furnaces, called
*Jews' houses, have been discovered, and small blocks of tin, known as Jews'
tin, have..been found in the mining localities.
1589 R. HARVEY Pl. Perc. (1860) 32 Iewes letter scrible scrable ouer the
Copurtenaunce of a mans countenaunce. 1598 FLORIO Worlde of Wordes To Rdr. A
vj, A fouler blot then a Iewes letter..in the foreheads of Caelius and Curio.
1731-3 MILLER Gard. Dict. s.v. Corchorus, Jews Mallow, ..sown in great
Plenty about Aleppo as a Pot-herb, the Jews boiling the Leaves of this Plant
to eat with their Meat. 1887 MOLONEY Forestry W. Afr. 289 `Jews' Mallow' or
`Jute' (Corchorus olitorius, L.)-Annual. This is one of the species that
affords the well-known fibre of commerce called `Jute'.
1577 HARRISON England II. xxiv. (1877) I. 360 Some peeces or other are dailie
taken vp, which they call Borow pence, Dwarfs monie..*Iewes monie, and by
other foolish names not woorthie to be remembred.
1856 N. & Q. Ser. II. I. 432/2 In some parts of Kent it [Ruscus aculeatus] is
called `*Jews' Myrtle'; and it is the popular belief, that the crown of
thorns..was composed of its branches.
1756 P. BROWNE Jamaica 40 Asphaltum, Jew's pitch. 1816 TINGRY Varnisher's
Guide (ed. 2) 1 Asphaltum..issues in a liquid form from the bottom of the lake
Asphaltis in Judaea; and hence the name of Jew's pitch.
1607 TOPSELL Four-f. Beasts 188 Iewes lime drunk in water..prescribed for a
remedy of this euill. 1639 HORN & ROB. Gate Lang. Unl. x. Sect.104 Salt-peter,
brimstone, Jew's slime, patrol, bole-armoniak,..are called mineral juyces.
1597 GERARDE Herbal Index, Iewes thorne, that is Christs thorne. III. xxvi.
1153 This shrubbie thorne Paliurus was the thorne wherewith they crowned our
Sauiour Christ.
1851 Jews' tin [see Jews' house].

Jew, jew, v. colloq. [f. JEW sb. (sense 2).] trans. To cheat or overreach, in
the way attributed to Jewish traders or usurers. Also, to drive a hard
bargain, and intr., to haggle. Phr. to jew down, to beat down in price; also
transf. Hence 'Jewing vbl. sb.
These uses are now considered to be offensive.
1824 C. HARDING Diary 29 Apr. in Sketch (1929) 75 He is a country clergyman;
and, from his Jewing disposition, I should judge he had more taste in tithes
than pictures. 1825 Constitutional Adv. (Frankfort, Kentucky) 15 Dec. 3/1 We
hope, for the honour and character of the state, that neither the legislature
nor the people, will Jew the items of expence. 1833 L. DOW Dealings of God
(1849) 189 If they [sc. the Jews] will Jew people, they cannot flourish among
Yankees, who are said to `outjew' them in trading. A. 1845 BARHAM Ingol. Leg.,
Bro. Birchington lxv, Is it that way you'd Jew one? 1847 W. IRVING Let. 30
Apr. in Life & Lett. (1864) IV. 19 Some mode of screwing and jewing the world
out of more interest than one's money is entitled to. 1848 W. BAGLEY Let. 14
Mar. in N. E. Eliason Tarheel Talk (1956) 279, I Jewed old Galloway down to
1.50 for ploughs. 1851 H. MAYHEW London Labour I. 368/1 Some of the ladies in
the squares..sets to work Jewing away as hard as they can, pricing up their
own things, and downcrying yourn. 1854 D. G. ROSSETTI in Rossetti Ruskin,
Rossetti, etc. (1899) 15 But as to his doings And jawings and jewings, William
brought me the news. 1870 Congress. Globe 7 July 5340/1 This bill supposes
that Congress..is ready to commence jewing down the pay of its General. 1872
Chicago Tribune 14 Oct. 8/2 The prices [for lodging] asked vary-the lodger
being generally asked as much as it is thought he will give. If he jews, he
will get it for comparatively little. 1883 G. M HOPKINS Let. 6 Dec. (1938) 195
You will I know say..that Jew is a reproach because the Jews have corrupted
their race and nature, so that it is their vices and their free acts we
stigmatise when we call cheating `jewing'-and that you mean that Disraeli in
1871 overreached and jewed his constituents. 1891 Daily News 2 Nov. 7/3 He'd
take care he didn't `Jew' him again.1897 [see HIGHLAND a. 2 b]. 1908 Dialect
Notes III. 324 Jew, to beat down the price. `I tried to jew him, but he
wouldn't jew.' 1926 Market Growers Jrnl. 1 July 3, I make my retail prices
about half way between grocery store wholesale and retail prices, and do not
stand for any `jewing' down. 1937 Scribner's Mag. Apr. 25 Thought we might get
the divorce a little under fifty dollars. Maybe we might jew the young man
down. 1939 A. POWELL What's become of Waring v. 140 Then we can meet again and
jew each other down. 1946 W. G. HAMMOND Remembrance of Amherst 121 Both here and at the mountain top we were unmercifully jewed for all the refreshments.
1947 L. Z. HOBSON Gentleman's Agreement i. 9 Now she was describing the large
new house she and Dick wanted to buy. `Did you close the sale on the old
place?' Mrs. Green asked. `Not yet. That cheap Pat Curran keeps trying to
Jew us down.' 1968 L. ROSTEN Joys of Yiddish 142 Just as some Gentiles use
`Jew' as a contemptuous synonym for too-shrewd, sly bargaining (`He tried to
Jew the price down,' is about as unappetizing an idiom as I know), so some
Jews use goy in a pejorative sense. 1970 R. LOWELL Notebk. 69 This embankment,
jewed-No, yankeed-by the highways down to a grassy lip. 1971 R. THOMAS Backup
Men xxi. 184, I say how much and he says this much and I say it's not enough
so we jew around with each other until we make a price. 1972 Harper's Mag. May
83 Jew the fruitman down for his last Christmas tree. 1972 New Society 11 May
301/1, I got jewed down..over the cheap offer.