Useful Jew

{{Short description|Historical term}}

The term useful Jew was used in various historical contexts, typically describing a Jew useful in implementing an official authority's policy, sometimes by oppressing other Jews.

• In 1744, Frederick II of Prussia introduced the practice of limiting Jewish population to a small number of the most wealthy families, known as Schutzjuden ("protected Jews").{{Cite web|url=https://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=571|title=GHDI - Image|website=germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org}} 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.{{cite book |author-link=Simon Dubnow |first=Simon |last=Dubnow |title=The Newest History of the Jewish People, 1789–1914 }}{{Full citation needed|date=February 2016}}
• Following the establishment of the Pale of Settlement by Imperial Russia, only "useful Jews" ({{langx|ru|полезные евреи}}) were allowed to live outside the Pale; these included Jews such as wealthy first-rung merchants ({{langx|ru|купцы первой гильдии}}), persons who had received higher education, cantonists (after serving their full term in the army), and some other categories.{{cite book |title=How Russia Shaped the Modern World: From Art to Anti-Semitism, Ballet to Bolshevism |first=Steven G. |last=Marks |page=142 |isbn=0-691-11845-0 }}[http://www.axt.org.uk/antisem/archive/archive4/russia/russia.htm Russia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120013849/http://www.axt.org.uk/antisem/archive/archive4/russia/russia.htm |date=2008-11-20 }} at Institute for Jewish Policy Research
• In the Soviet Union, Jewish members of the Anti-Zionist Committee of the Soviet Public were colloquially known as "useful Jews" or "pocket Jews" ({{langx|ru|карманные евреи}}), implying their corruption by high positions in the state hierarchy.{{in lang|ru}} [http://www.sem40.ru/anti/history/1501/ 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. (sem40.ru)
• In Israel and among its supporters, along with the term "useful Jews", the term "useful idiots" is often used to describe anti-Zionist/post-Zionist Jews who stand against the Jewish state.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4679117,00.html|title=BDS' useful idiots at Haaretz|first=Ben-Dror|last=Yemini|date=July 12, 2015|via=www.ynetnews.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsru.co.il/israel/22jul2016/guberman_401.html|title=Игорь Губерман: "Умное редко приходит в мою голову – спросите у жены". Интервью|date=July 22, 2016|website=NEWSru.co.il}}