Useful Jew

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The term useful Jew was used in various historical contexts, typically describing a Jewish person useful in implementing an official authority's policy, sometimes by oppressing other Jews. Nowadays, the use of this term is considered inappropriate.

  • 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-guild 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]

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Certificate Confirming Payment of Protection Money (Schutzgeld) for a Jewish Resident (1833)
  2. ^ Dubnow, Simon. The Newest History of the Jewish People, 1789–1914. 
  3. ^ Marks, Steven G. How Russia Shaped the Modern World: From Art to Anti-Semitism, Ballet to Bolshevism. p. 142. ISBN 0-691-11845-0. 
  4. ^ Russia at Institute for Jewish Policy Research
  5. ^ (Russian) 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. (