Jews in Europe have been compared to the Indian low-caste group of the Paraiyar (anglicized as “pariahs”) since the early 19th century. Max Weber (1864–1920) placed it at the beginning of his religio-sociological study Das Antike Judentum (1921; “Ancient Judaism,” 1952). Weber’s concept of the “Jewish pariah people” must be seen in the context of his research into occidental rationalism and the controversy over J…
Pariah People(3,300 words)
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Dunkhase, Jan Eike, “Pariah People”, in: Encyclopedia of Jewish History and Culture Online, Original German Language Edition: Enzyklopädie Jüdischer Geschichte und Kultur. Im Auftrag der Sächsischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig herausgegeben von Dan Diner. © J.B. Metzler, Stuttgart/Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland 2011–2017. Consulted online on 22 September 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2468-8894_ejhc_COM_0618>
First published online: 2017
First print edition: 20210312
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