Jews In America Joel Silverstein REL 321 ASU

Jews In America Joel Silverstein REL 321 ASU at Lake Havasu Fall 2014 1

Before we get started. . . “. . . it is clear that a freshness of thought and a deepening of spirituality was also penetrating a Judaism that was in danger of ceasing to be a living religion. ” Corrigan & Hudson, 2010, P. 291 2

Overview ▪ History of Jews ▪ Coming to America ▪ Anti-Semitism ▪ The Holocaust ▪ Religious / Family Life ▪ American Jews and Israel ▪ Position of Jews In America ▪ Jews on Ellis Island (larrykuperman. com) ▪ Summary and Questions ▪ And a pop-up of Jews in America – both good and bad! 3

Judaism is… “A 4, 000 year old tradition with ideas about what it means to be human and how to make the world a holy place” (Rabbi Harold Kushner, To Life, 1993) ▪ A “covenant relationship” between G-d and the Hebrew people. ▪ The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (“Israel”) – origins of the Hebrew people. ▪ Enslaved in Egypt and freed by Moses (3, 300 years ago). ▪ A faith, a people, a way of life… 4

As a faith, Jews Believe… ▪ In one G-d, creator of the universe, – personal but non-corporeal ▪ In prophets of old – – Moses, through whom Torah was revealed to the Hebrew people. ▪ In Torah (Five Books of Moses [Bible]) – Contains religious, moral and social law. – Guides the life of a Jew. 5

As a people, Jews are… ▪ A nation in Diaspora (dispersed) ▪ 15 – 16 million in worldwide population. ▪ A common heritage (an “ethnic” religion), modified in practice: – Orthodox: ▪ Modern ▪ Chasidic (Ultra Orthodox) – Reformed (18 th century Germany) – Conservative – moderates, response to reform. ▪ Reconstructionalism (20 th century America) 6

As a way of life, Judaism is based on… ▪ 613 commandments found in Torah (“Written Law”) ▪ Talmud (“Oral Law”) – commentary of ancient rabbis that elaborates on how to apply G-d’s Law through: – – – Dietary rules (Kashrut/Kosher) Dress and other symbols Prayer and devotion to the one G-d The Temple and Temple rites Observance of Holy days Proper social relations ▪ Thus sanctifying life, blessing it in every way. 7

How is Judaism related to Christianity? ▪ Judaism predates Christianity – – It is the foundation of Christianity but not a part of it. ▪ Jews do not believe that Jesus was anything more than a good and wise Jewish man– Jews still await their messiah. ▪ The Jewish messiah would not be divine. – A political figure who restores the Hebrew monarchy and causes peace. ▪ Jews are not concerned about salvation and the “world to come. ” 8

What are Jews really concerned about? ▪ Tikkun Olam - “repairing the world” through justice and righteousness; through “deed, not creed. ” ▪ The heart of Judaism is in the home and family, social responsibility, and doing Mitzvot (good deeds). ▪ Through education and hard work we make our lives, the lives of others, and the world, – Holy! 9

Race, Religion, or Ethnic Group? ▪ Jews are a subordinate group – Experience unequal treatment (like women). – Share a cultural history. – Ascribed status or involuntary status – A Jew is Born. – Group solidarity. – “In-group” marriage. ▪ Identity is based on a shared culture. ▪ Best classified as an ethnic minority. 10

Coming to America ▪ First Jewish migration c. 1654 from Spain and Portugal. – Settled in Charleston, SC, and Newport, RI. ▪ Population remained low during 17 th & 18 th century. ▪ Most Jewish immigration occurred from 1890 -1924. ▪ The primary reason for Jews immigrating to the US was for religious freedom. 11

Jewish Population ▪ Unites States ▪ Europe ▪ Israel ▪ 1880 250, 000 ▪ 1899 1, 072, 000 ▪ 1900 1, 500, 000 ▪ 1900 8, 977, 581 ▪ 1942 4, 975, 000 ▪ 1942 9, 237, 314 ▪ 1945 553, 600 ▪ 1970 5, 400, 000 ▪ 1970 3, 228, 000 ▪ 1970 2, 582, 000 ▪ 2010 5, 275, 000 ▪ 2010 1, 455, 900 ▪ 2010 5, 413, 800 ▪ 2012 6, 271, 680 ▪ 2012 1, 426, 900 ▪ 2012 5, 901, 000 (Palestine) (jewishvirtuallibrary. org) ▪ Total World Wide Population – 15 -16 million 12

Four Generations ▪ Josse Silverstein 1898 – 1909 – Age 11 – comes to America ▪ Abraham M. Silverstein 1920 ▪ Jeffrey 1954 Victoria 1955 Joel 1959 ▪ Charles 1985 ▪ Jane 1998 ▪ Jona 2001 13

U. S. Immigration Act of 1920 ▪ Designed to halt the immigration of "dysgenic" Italians and Eastern European Jews, whose numbers had mushroomed from 1900 to 1920. (Lombardo, 2011) – Considered Anti-Semitism and Anti-Catholic in disguise. ▪ Immigrant Jews in 1930’s were refugees from Nazi Germany. ▪ Recent immigration has been from Israel, Soviet Union, and Iran. 14

Albert Einstein ▪ 1879 -1955 ▪ Fled Germany 1933 ▪ Became US Citizen 1940 ▪ Theoretical Physicist ▪ Philosopher of Science ▪ Considered himself agnostic ▪ Offered Presidency of Israel 1952 (Karsh) 15

From there to here ▪ From – Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Austria. ▪ Settled in: – – New York Boston Philadelphia Chicago ▪ Most stay in states they landed – some dispersed ▪ New York 1, 700, 000 ▪ California ▪ Florida 1, 250, 000 650, 000 ▪ Massachusetts 300, 000 ▪ Illinois 300, 000 ▪ Arizona 120, 000 (jewishvirtuallibrary) 16

Where Jews Live in America Today. “Where there is oxygen, there are Jews. ” Rabbi Rosenbaum, 2014 (brandeis univ, 2013) 17

Jewish Americans ▪ U. S. has the largest Jewish population in the world. ▪ America’s 6 million Jews account for 46% of world’s Jewish population. ▪ Play a prominent role in local & worldwide Jewish community. ▪ 2 nd largest Jewish population in Israel. – Only nation in which Jews are majority. ▪ American Jews superficially resemble Asian Americans in that both are largely free from poverty. 18

Trend in the United States ▪ Judaization ▪ Lessening of the significance of religion and an increase in culture as the bond among Jews (assimilation). ▪ Issue of what “makes a Jew” figures in policy matters. ▪ The Israel Law of Return – Defines who is a Jew. – Extends Israeli citizenship to all Jews. ▪ Jewish identity is ethnic – Share cultural traits not physical features. 19

Meyer Lansky ▪ July 1902 -Jan 1983 ▪ Lower East Side, NYC ▪ “Mob’s Accountant” – Developed Organized Crime – Financed ▪ Flamingo, Las Vegas ▪ Casinos in Cuba ▪ Broke up Pro-Nazi Rallies ▪ Influenced Politics 20

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Anti-Semitism ▪ History of Jews includes the struggle to overcome hatred. ▪ Religious observances commemorate past sacrifices or conflicts. – Passover, Hanukkah, and Purim, Holocaust, Six-Day War ▪ Formation of negative stereotypes. ▪ Origins of anti-Semitism. . . go back to the beginning. ▪ Note: “Judiasm” is a religion whereas “Jew” is a race. 22

Anti-Semitism ▪ “hostility towards or prejudice against Jews or Judaism. ” ▪ 70 B. C. E Jerusalem is conquered by Romans. ▪ Blamed for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. ▪ 4 th Century Jews were disliked by Christians. – St. Augustine – “wicked sect” ▪ 6 th Century Anti-Semitism is Law in Christian Nations. ▪ 13 th Century Germany requires all Jews to wear cone-shaped hats. (Hilberg, 2010) 23

▪ 15 th Century – Jews forced to live in “ghettos. ” – Martin Luther 1543 book – “On the Jews and Their Lies. ” – Significant influence on German Anti-Semitism. ▪ 17 th Century – thousands of Polish / Russian Jews killed. ▪ 19 th Century. . . a reprieve – Jews enjoy freedom in France and begin migration to U. S. ▪ 20 th Century – it’s back – 1920 Immigration Law. – 1933 Hitler designs the “Final Solution” to annihilate the Jewish race. 24

Early Anti-Semitism in the U. S. ▪ Colonial America – Peter Stuyvesant attempts to expel Jews from New Amsterdam (NYC). ▪ Jews were “deceitful, repugnant, and hateful enemies. ” ▪ The 1920’s and 1930’s periods overt anti- Semitism – 1920 Henry Ford prints 500, 000 copies of “The International Jew. ” – 1921 Ku Klux Klan directs hatred to Jews. – 1934 Pro Nazi Publication Liberation. ▪ Publishes Ben Franklin’s Anti-Jewish statements from Continental Convention. – 1939 Congress refuses to admit 20, 000 Jewish refugee children. – American Denial of the Holocaust. 25

Ruth Bader Ginsberg ▪ March 1933 – ▪ Associate Justice Supreme Court ▪ Advancement of Women’s Rights ▪ ACLU ▪ Brooklyn, NY ▪ JMHS / Rutgers / Columbia 26

The Holocaust ▪ Systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jewry by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. ▪ German policy and the restriction of the rights of Jews. ▪ Between 1933 - 1945 two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population were killed – 6 Million. (eurojewcon. org) 27

Modern Anti-Semitism ▪ Holocaust Revisionists – Vocal community who claim that the holocaust did not happen. – Blame Jews for 9/11 Attacks. ▪ Anti-Semitism not just historical social phenomenon in Europe – Jewish worshippers attacked with rocks and insults. – Growing Arab and Muslim population in Europe offer an audience for Christian-generated anti-Semitism. ▪ Spills over to USA. ▪ Henry Ford’s Protocols sold by Wal-Mart until 2004 – 2006 - Spanish version sold in Mexico City. 28

Differences Between Anti-Semitism in the United States and Europe ▪ Anti-Semitism was not institutionalized in America. – U. S. government never promoted anti-Semitic policies. – U. S. never embarked on program of expulsion or extermination. – Jews did not develop a defensive ideology. – Jewish American make personal decision on assimilation or secularization. 29

Contemporary Anti-Semitism ▪ Internet growing as a vehicle for anti-Semitism. – Hundreds of websites – Popularized Religion ▪ Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith (1913) – Monitors anti-Semitic incidents. – Rise in numbers in 1990’s and 2001. – Carried out by neo-Nazis or skinheads. ▪ Groups of young people who champion racist and anti-Semitic ideologies. 30

Steven Spielberg ▪ Dec. 1946 – ▪ Film Maker ▪ Cincinnati, OH ▪ Orthodox ▪ Memorializes Jews in Films (guardian. co. uk) “I was embarrassed because we were Orthodox Jews. I was embarrassed by the outward perception of my parents' Jewish practices. “ 31

American Jews and Israel – Concerned that Jews in US would ignore other Jews. – Israel’s status proven to be strong source of identity for Jewish Americans. – Wars of 1967, 1973, 1991, 2004 remind world of Israel’s vulnerability. – Not all American Jews agree with Israel’s actions. ▪ United Jewish Appeal (UJA) 1939 – Finances Israel and Jews around the world. – $1 – Billion Annually 32

American Jews and African Americans – Jews founded the NAACP 1909 – Jews founded the ACLU 1920 – Jewish Americans active in civil rights causes and contributed generously to legal defense funds. – Jewish employers quicker than Gentiles to hire African Americans. ▪ Black-Jewish contention ▪ 1960’s activists and Black Panther party supported Arabs. ▪ 1984 – Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan broadcast anti-Semitic remarks. 33

A Black and a Jew in the Whitehouse Rham Emanuel ▪ 1959 – – Congress – Whitehouse Chief of Staff – Mayor of Chicago ▪ Liberal Social Issues ▪ Modern Orthodox ▪ Yeshiva educated – Sarah Lawrence, Northwestern ▪ Wife Converted to Judaism 34

Position of Jewish Americans ▪ Employment and Income – Declining discrimination in the business world. ▪ ▪ Jewish MBAs, MDs, Ph. D’s and job opportunities. Own companies, stores, consulting, manufacturing. ▪ 25% $150 k + ▪ 45% $35 -$145 K ▪ 20% < $30 k Rising rapidly up the corporate hierarchy. (pew. org) Higher salaries. – Declining poverty and the invisible poor ▪ Anne Wolf (1972) “The Invisible Jewish Poor” – Jewish poor remain invisible to rest of society. – Similar to Chinese Americans and not well served by the Economic Opportunity Act and other federal programs of the 1960’s. 35

▪ Education – Judaic religion and the emphasis on formal schooling. ▪ Emphasis on education. ▪ Higher educational attainment 68% vs. 24% College Educated – 1947, Jews founded graduate schools of medicine, education, social work, and mathematics. ▪ Brandeis University – Jewish sponsored contribution to higher education. – Nonsectarian (admission is not limited to Jews). – More than thirty universities. 36

Organizational Activity ▪ Religious, charitable, political, and educational. – United Jewish Appeal (UJA) (1939) ▪ Fund raising organization for humanitarian causes. – 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). 37

Political Activity – Prominent role as voters and elected officials. – Likely to label themselves as liberal. – Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT) ▪ First Orthodox Jew elected to Senate. ▪ VP candidate of Al Gore ▪ Mayors ▪ Congressmen ▪ Governors ▪ Senators ▪ Justices ▪ Cabinet Members ▪ Sec’y State – Some Jews backed extreme responses to Arab-Israeli conflict. ▪ Few settled in Israel and were vocal backers of resistance to any accommodation to Arab nations or Palestinian Authority. 38

Chuck Schumer ▪ November 1950 ▪ US Senator - NY ▪ Focuses on local issues – Health care reform – Equal Pay – Women’s Rights ▪ Brooklyn, NY (associatedpress) ▪ JMHS, Harvard 39

Ideological Similarities ▪ Jewish Beliefs ▪ Democracy / Liberalism ▪ Emphasis on education and intellectual freedom. ▪ Affirmative action- allowing everyone the right of education • Charity and helping the weak and oppressed. ▪ Women’s Rights / Pro Choice. • The need to make the world a better place. ▪ Social justice organizations and the focus on the people. 40

Religious Life ▪ Identity and participation in religion are not the same. – Many consider themselves Jewish and are considered Jewish by others though never participated in religious life. ▪ Levels of affiliation ▪ ▪ ▪ Orthodox: 8% Conservative: 29% Reconstructionist: 2% Reform: 30% Just Jewish: 29% Not sure: 2% (pew. org) 41

Religious Sects (mid-19 th Century) ▪ Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism – Based on varying acceptance of traditional rituals. – Reasons for differences ▪ Some Jews wanted to be less distinguishable from other Americans. ▪ The absence of a religious elite and bureaucratic hierarchy, which facilitated breakdown in traditional practices. – Orthodox life is demanding ▪ Ultra-Orthodox are Hasidic. ▪ Life conducted according to traditions and rituals. ▪ Strict adherence to the Torah. 42

▪ Conservative Judaism – in between Orthodox and Reform – Deeply committed to faith but altered many of the rituals. – Changed traditions to reflect social changes. – More Americanized. ▪ The Reform Tradition – Reform are least likely to participate in predominantly Jewish organizations. – More Assimilated ▪ Effort to observe high religious occasions. 43

Synagogues ▪ Central meeting place for Jews – Daily and Weekly Services – Religious Sanctuary – Religious Schools ▪ Reform 840 766, 000 ▪ Conservative 591 ▪ Orthodox 1, 929 947, 020 ▪ Reconstructionist 95 501, 776 ▪ Temple Beth El – NYC founded 1845 built 1929 41, 436 44

Bernie Madoff ▪ April 1938▪ Queens, NY ▪ Madoff Investment Securities – Chairman NASDAQ – Largest Financial Fraud in History ▪ $15 -$65 Billion ▪ Negative Affect on Jewish Institutions – Hadassah – Women's Zionist Org – Elie Wiesel Foundation (forbes. com) 45

Role of the Family ▪ Shadchan – Marriage broker or matchmaker. ▪ Fulfilled important function by ensuring marriage of all eligible people. – Less acceptable to young Jews because of romantic love. ▪ Traditionally remained in extended families. ▪ Observers argue that Jewish family no longer maintains role in identity transmission due to assimilation. 46

Jewish Identity ▪ Improvement of Jewish-Gentile relations creates new problems – It became 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. – Non-Jewish in-laws interfere with marriage plans. ▪ Maintain on-going Jewish friendships. 47

Elana Kagan ▪ 1960 ▪ Associate Justice Supreme Court ▪ Separation of Powers ▪ NYC ▪ Oxford, Princeton, Harvard 48

World Events: Reminder of Heritage – – – – – Nazi Germany Founding of Israel (1948) 1967 Six-day War Soviet interference 1972 Munich Olympics Yom Kippur War (1973) 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. 49

Role of Religion ▪ Devotion is way to preserve ethnic identity. ▪ Question not so much ideology as of observing commandments of traditional Jewish law. ▪ Marginality – The status of living in two distinct cultures simultaneously. ▪ Jews who give some credence to secular Christmas. 50

Role of Cultural Heritage ▪ Religious observance small aspect of Jewishness. ▪ Identity expressed in many ways including: – Political, cultural, social, and family activities. ▪ Gentiles mistakenly believe speaking Yiddish is a measure of Jewishness. – Jews have spoken many languages throughout history, Yiddish is just one. 51

▪ American Jewish Committee (1906) – 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. ▪ 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. ▪ 8. Sense of responsibility of family members to each other has declined. ▪ 9. Role of Jewishness no longer central in Jew’s lives. ▪ 10. Intermarriage has lessened involvement of Jewish partner in Jewish life and aspects of family life. 52

Yet every Jew instinctively knows. . . "(Every man should) plant a tree, have a child, and write a book. These all live on after us, insuring a measure of immortality. " Attributed to the Talmud and Jose’ Marti 53

Review ▪ History of Jews ▪ Coming to America ▪ Anti-Semitism ▪ The Holocaust ▪ Religious / Family Life ▪ American Jews and Israel ▪ Position of Jews In America 54

Questions? 55

References ▪ Corrigan, J. , & Hudson, W. (2010). The Shifting Religious Configuration. In Religion in America: An historical account of the development of American religious life (8 th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, N. J. : Prentice Hall. ▪ Hertzberg, A. (1997). The jews in america: Four centuries of an uneasy encounter : A history. New York: Columbia University Press. ▪ Hilberg, R. (2010, November 1). The Southern Institute for Education and Research. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http: //www. southerninstitute. info/holocaust_education/ds 1. html ▪ Jewish Virtual Library http: //www. jewishvirtuallibrary. org/index. html ▪ Kushner, H. S. (1993). To life: A celebration of Jewish being and thinking. Boston: Little, Brown. 56

References ▪ Lombardo, P. (2011, December 1). Social Origins of Eugenics. ▪ Tighe, E. , Saxe, L. , De Kramer, R. , & Parmer, D. (2013). American Jewish Population Estimates: 2012. Waltham: Brandeis University. Retrieved November 8, 2014. ▪ Wolfe, A. (1972). The Invisible Jewish Poor. Berman Jewish Policy Archive. Retrieved November 1, 2014, from http: //www. bjpa. org/Publications/details. cfm? Publication. ID=4510 57