Wandering Jew is a legendary figure who is condemned to wander throughout the world until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The most popular version of the legend of the Wandering Jew developed during the early 1600’s in Germany. It tells of a Jewish shoemaker named Ahasuerus who cursed Jesus while Jesus was carrying His cross to the Crucifixion. As punishment, Jesus ordered Ahasuerus to wander throughout the world until Jesus would return to earth. Ahasuerus thus became the Wandering Jew and the living witness of Jesus’ Crucifixion.
According to legend, the Wandering Jew appears at various times and places and describes events that have happened since the time of Jesus. Since the 1600’s, many writers have used the legend as the framework for political and social commentary, especially because the character had observed so much of world history. The legend of the Wandering Jew has also been used to promote prejudice against Jews.
