One of the most prominent and persistent stereotypes about Jews is that they are greedy and try to make themselves rich by any means. Jews are seen as relentless in the pursuit of wealth and as stingy people who are determined not to let any money slip from their grasp. Jews are thought to exert control over the world’s financial systems, but are also accused of regularly cheating friends and neighbours. To “Jew someone down” has become a common expression, meaning to bargain unscrupulously for a lower price.

Further, it is often implied that Jewish wealth is undeserved rather than considering the possibility that the household income of Jewish high-earners reflects their value of hard work.

The stereotype of Jewish greed took hold in the Middle Ages, when Jews were frequently associated with money. Jews typically had restrictions placed on their economic activity and were at times prohibited from owning land. Sometimes the only option available to earn a living was through high-interest loans, a role for which Christian rulers sometimes recruited Jews, as Christians were prohibited from it. This made for a complicated and tense dynamic between Jews and Christian society that lasted well beyond medieval times. It made it easy for leaders to position Jews as a scapegoat and as the cause of common people’s financial woes.

The truth is that Jews, like all other people, exist across the spectrum of socio-economic status. It’s wrong to assume that a high proportion of wealthy Jews signifies Jewish greed, rather than the reward of hard work. It’s also wrong to assume that their money will be put to nefarious use. It is also wrong to assume that all Jews are even wealthy in the first place.