Toledot Yeshu

Toledot Yeshu (Hebrew תולדות ישו, the story of Jesus ) is a resultant in Italy probably before the 8th century Jewish legends collection of Jesus' life.

The name Yeshu is a form of Yeshua, which is used in the Talmud, in rabbinic writings and in modern usage only in connection with Jesus. All other Yehoshua is called Yeshua in Aramaic or Hebrew.

This type of literature is to say historical ( and cultural and intellectual history ) of interest, but its content without historical value.

First versions ( Aramaic ) emerge from 750. Numerous versions with satirical and polemical character in the style of entertaining novels were then since the Middle Ages known as a kind of underground literature, in modern times also Jewish- German versions.

First Aramaic versions, but also western diaspora traditions are the underlying. Maria is deceived as fiancee of Joseph by a Roman soldier named Pandera (or similar) or seduced and receives Jesus as occurring as a magician and deceiver of the people, defeated by Judas and justice is betrayed. The disciples steal his body and claim he had risen. Added to this is a Peter - legend, in some versions.

The best-known version was published in 1681 by Johann Christoph Wagenseil. For Jews (especially Eastern Europe ) the Toledot Yeshu were to the 19th century. into the only source of information about Jesus.

Literature (selection )

• Samuel Krauss: Life of Jesus according to Jewish sources. Berlin 1902.
• Judah Bergmann: Article Toledot Yeshu. In: Jewish Encyclopedia, Volume IV / 2 Berlin 1927.
• Michael Krupp (ed.): The Life and Death of Jews Yeshu and how the Rabbis again instigated peace between Christians and Jews. A Jewish narrative / Sefer Toldos Yeshu. Facsimile edition of the first edition Altdorf 1681st Jerusalem 2001. ISBN 965-7221-01-3