Chapter 14 Jewish Americans Quest to Maintain Identity

Chapter 14 Jewish Americans: Quest to Maintain Identity

Jewish Americans • The United States has the second-largest Jewish population in the world • America’s 5 million+ Jews account for 39% of world’s population • Play a prominent role in worldwide Jewish community © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jewish Americans • American Jews resemble Asian Americans in that both are largely free from poverty • Anti-Semitism – Anti-Jewish prejudice and discrimination • Concentrated in Urban areas – Especially New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jewish People: Race, Religion or Ethnic Group? • Jews are a subordinate group – Experience unequal treatment – Share a cultural history that distinguishes them from the dominant group – Ascribed status or involuntary status – Group solidarity – In-group marriage © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jewish People: Race, Religion or Ethnic Group? • The trend in the United States among Jews – Judaization • Issue of what makes a Jew figures in policy matters © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jewish People: Race, Religion or Ethnic Group? • The Israel Law of Return – Defines who is a Jew and extends Israeli citizenship to all Jews • Jewish identity is ethnic – Share cultural traits not physical features or uniform religious beliefs © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Immigration of Jews to the United States • First Jewish migration occurred around 1654 from Spain and Portugal (Refugees) • Largest Jewish migration occurred around the turn of nineteenth century • Immigration Act of 1920 reduced Jewish immigration © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Immigration of Jews to the United States • Immigrant Jews in 1930 s were refugees from Nazi Germany • Recent immigration has been from Israel, Soviet Union, and Iran © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Anti-Semitism Past and Present • History of Jews is of the struggle to overcome centuries of hatred • Religious observances commemorate past sacrifices or conflicts • Origins of anti-Semitism • Blamed for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Anti-Semitism Past and Present • Stereotype of Jews obsession with money is false • Fringe-of-Values Theory • In-Group Virtues becoming Out-Group Vices • Discrimination as a source of anti. Semitism © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Holocaust • German policy and the restriction of the rights of Jews • Between 1933 - 1945 two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population were killed © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Holocaust • Holocaust Revisionists • Anti-Semitism not just historical social phenomenon in Europe – Jewish worshippers attacked with rocks and insults © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

United States Anti-Semitism: Past • US cannot be described as a nation with a history of anti-Semitism • Colonial America and anti-Semitism – Peter Stuyvesant’s attempt to expel Jews from what is New York City today • The 1920 s and 1930 s period of most virulent and overt anti- Semitism © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

United States Anti-Semitism: Past • Henry Ford responsible for publication of the Protocols – Faced with millions in civil suits, posted halfhearted apology in 1927 • Protocols sold by Wal-Mart until 2004 • 2006 - Spanish version sold in Mexico City © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Differences Between Anti-Semitism in the United States and Europe • First - United States government never promoted anti-Semitic policies – US never embarked on program of expulsion or extermination • Second - anti-Semitism was not institutionalized in the United States © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Anti-Semitism • Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith (1913) – Monitors anti-Semitic incidents – Rise in numbers in 1990 s and 2000 s – Carried out by neo-Nazis or skinheads • Internet growing as a vehicle for anti. Semitism © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Anti-Semitism • American Jews and Israel – Israel’s status proven to strong source of identity for Jewish Americans – Wars of 1967, 1973, and 1991 reminded world of Israel’s vulnerability – Not all American Jews agree with Israel’s actions © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Anti-Semitism • Zionism • Diaspora – Exile of Jews from Palestine several centuries before Christianity • Many Jews see destiny of their people only as the establishment of a Jewish state in the Holy Land • Zionism resolution repealed by the UN © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Anti-Semitism • American Jews and African Americans – Anti-Semitism of African Americans is of special concern to Jewish Americans • Given Black history of oppression – Jewish neighborhoods and employers quicker than Gentiles to accept African Americans © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Anti-Semitism • African American sentiment rarely anti. Jewish as such – But rather opposed to White institutions – James Baldwin (1967) • Blacks “are anti-Semitic because they’re anti. White” © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Position of Jewish Americans • Employment and Income – Declining discrimination in the business world • Jewish MBAs and job opportunities • Rising rapidly up the corporate hierarchy • Higher salaries – Declining poverty and the invisible poor • Anne Wolf (1972) “The Invisible Poor” © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Position of Jewish Americans • Education – Judaic religion and the emphasis on formal schooling • Emphasis on education • Higher educational attainment – 1947, Jews founded graduate schools of: • Medicine, education, social work, and mathematics © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Position of Jewish Americans • Organizational Activity – Groups serve many purposes • Religious, charitable, political, or educational – United Jewish Appeal (UJA) (1939) • Fund raising organization for humanitarian causes © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Position of Jewish Americans – American Jewish Community (1906) and Congress (1918) • Improve Jewish-Gentile relations – B’nai B’rith (Sons of the Covenant) (1843) • Promotes cultural and social change (Anti. Defamation League) © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Position of Jewish Americans • Political Activity – Prominent role as voters and elected officials – Not typical as more likely than general population to label themselves as liberal – Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT) – Some Jews backed the extreme responses to Arab-Israeli conflict © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Position of Jewish Americans • Jewish voters have always backed the Democrat – Over the Republican presidential candidate for the last ten elections • Barack Obama received 78% of the vote – Compared to 21% for the Republican candidate John Mc. Cain © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Position of Jewish Americans • Religious Life – Jewish identity and participation in Jewish religion are not the same – Many Americans consider themselves Jewish • And are considered Jewish by others though never participated in religious life – Levels of affiliation © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Position of Jewish Americans • The Orthodox Tradition – Three sects beginning in mid-19 th century • Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism – Reasons for development of differences • Some Jews wanted to be less distinguishable from other Americans – Orthodox life is demanding © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Position of Jewish Americans • The Reform Tradition – Deeply committed to faith but altered many of the rituals – Reform are least likely to participate in predominantly Jewish organizations – Jewish denominations associated with class, nationality, and other social differences © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jewish Identity • Improvement of Jewish-Gentile relations creates new problem for Jewish identity – It has become possible for Jews to shed their “Jewishness” or Yiddishkait • Jews cannot totally lose identity – Denied total assimilation in the US – Social clubs may still refuse membership © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jewish Identity • World events reminder of heritage – Nazi Germany – Founding of Israel (1948) – 1967 Six-day War – Soviet interference – 1972 Munich Olympics – Yom Kippur War (1973) © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jewish Identity – 1973 Oil Embargo – UN’s 1974 anti-Zionism vote – Scud missile attacks during 1991 Gulf War • Changes in Halakha – Jewish law covering obligations and duties – regarding women © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Role of the Family • Shadchan – Marriage broker or matchmaker • Fulfilled important function in Jewish community by ensuring marriage of all eligible people – Less acceptable to young Jews because of romantic love • Traditionally remained in extended families © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Role of the Family • American Jewish Committee – 10 problems endangering Jewish family • 1. More Jews marry later than other groups • 2. Most organizations of single Jews no longer operate solely for matching – Now support single lifestyle • 3. Divorce rate is rising © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Role of the Family • 4. Birthrate is falling, childlessness socially acceptable • 5. Financial success more important than child raising • 6. Intensity of family interaction decreased • 7. Less socializing across generation lines © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Role of the Family • 8. Sense of responsibility of family members to each other has declined • 9. Role of Jewishness no longer central in Jews lives • 10. Intermarriage has lessened involvement of Jewish partner in Jewish life & family life aspects © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Role of Religion • Devotion is way to preserve ethnic identity • Marginality – The status of living in two distinct cultures simultaneously • Jews who give some credence to secular Christmas © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Role of Cultural Heritage • Religious observance small aspect of Jewishness • Identity expressed in many ways including: – Political, cultural, and social activities • Gentiles mistakenly believe Yiddish is a measure of Jewishness • Peoplehood © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.