In the middle ages was used as an excuse at various times to exclude or persecute Jews - think Merchant of Venice.
Jewish people could go into the moneylending business, and lets be blunt here - peole borrow money when it suits them, regardless of belief. Even the crown. Then, maybe when everyone had run up a bit much debt or scapegoats were needed or something- well, whaddya know - let's burn the jews because they are evil usurers.
Usury
Jewish people could go into the moneylending business, and lets be blunt here - peole borrow money when it suits them, regardless of belief. Even the crown. Then, maybe when everyone had run up a bit much debt or scapegoats were needed or something- well, whaddya know - let's burn the jews because they are evil usurers.