La questione ebraica in Lutero e nel pensiero di alcuni studiosi salentini

This project briefly retraces the history of anti-Semitism between the 13th and 16th centuries in Europe. Special attention is given to the situation of Jews in Germany and to Luther's thinking and writing, to verify whether the Reformer's ideas on Jews are indeed at the root of 20th century anti-Semitism, as declared by the Nazi Streicher. This project investigates how 'anti-Judaism' would be a more apt term than 'anti-Semitism' to consider European society in Luther's time. Luther's writings contained indeed the same false accusations and stereotypes that were circulating in various works throughout Europe, during the same period. The study then argues that, even though in Salento Luther was known, some intellectuals had no difficulty in defending and affirming, even at the risk of their own safety, the dignity of the Jewish people and their writings.