[sfrechtling]

I think an objective summary is going to be hard to come by.

The only thing I can add is that this view is common throughout history - think Shylock in the Merchant of Venice. The stereotype of Jewish people as being involved in the processes of finances and money lending may have been one seed for this.

[beagle3]

In many places in 17-18th century Europe, foreigners (which usually included Jews and gypsies among others) were forbidden from owning land and engaging in quite a few honorable jobs.

Jewish practice converged to require praying from a book, so the literacy rate was extremely high (not so much among the general population, especially in Eastern Europe), and as a result of both this and the restrictions, Jews were constrained to jobs like trade, bankers, lawyers, doctors, which later became much more desirable than the (previously) more honorable jobs and ownership positions that they couldn't take.

IIRC, at some point in the late 19th century Germany, Jews were ~3% of the population, but were about 30% of the doctors and 70% of the lawyers; they were also over-represented among the rich. (Can't find a reference right now, so numbers might be off - but I'm quite sure about being over-represented in lucrative and rich circles).

I have no idea if a percentage of jews involved with finances (among all jews) was high; But they were definitely over-represented among finance people.

And besides, hating someone who's different is an established tradition among the people of the world.

I don't think it is entirely irrational to suspect a group that has non trivial dealing with the land's finances, law and health - yet is distinct, marries among itself, has its own "secret" languages and rituals, and has a demonstrated history of moving around and rotating loyalties. (My statements are not politically correct, I'm afraid)

[iand]

I don't think it's a stereotype. In the Middle Ages Christianity and Islam both had strict usary laws forbidding the charging of interest on loans. Judaism only forbade it amongst fellow Jews so they could charge interest to followers of other religions. This allowed them to afford to make loans where others could not. Obviously they also became the focus of anger when people could not repay the loan and the subject of jealousy when they became rich from loaning money. This is probably the root of many historic pogroms.