Did Jews kill Jesus?

For centuries, Jews were blamed for the crucifixion of Jesus. But the story starts in Roman-ruled Judea, where only Roman authority could carry out a punishment like that. The Gospels, written later, reflect debates within the Jewish world at the time. Over the years, a local conflict was turned into a much broader accusation, shaping attitudes and causing harm far beyond its original context.

Big Ideas

1. The Christian Gospels blamed Jews for the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, which led to two thousand years of hatred and violence against Jews.
2. The Roman Empire did not tolerate any disruption to peace or threats to authority in their territories.
3. The Catholic Church issued a statement that Jews as a group cannot be blamed for the crucifixion of Jesus.

Essential Questions

1. Why have many Christians blamed Jews for killing Jesus?
2. What impact has the belief that Jews killed Jesus had on Jewish communities over the past two thousand years?
3. Can Jewish-Christian relations improve following the Church’s declaration that not all Jews can be blamed for the death of Jesus?