History reading quizz
allendong
Ch.6AmericanJews.pdf
Ch. 6 American Jews
Topics to Consider
1. What was the foundational belief system that the Jewish people believed in?
2. Were they persecuted during their time in Europe? If so, how? 3. Were there regional differences between German Jews and Eastern
European Jews? How did their experiences differ? 4. Once in America, how did the Hollywood moguls of the time adapt
and build the movie entertainment industry? Also, how were they also persecuted during the time of McCarthyism?
Rosh Hashanah September 18-20th.
Jewish New Year!
Two-day celebration that begins on the first day of Tishrei, which is the seventh month of the
ecclesiastical year.
In contrast to the ecclesiastical year, where the first month Nisan, the Passover month, marks Israel's exodus from Egypt, Rosh Hashanah marks the
beginning of the civil year, according to the teachings of Judaism, and is the traditional anniversary of the
creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman according to the Hebrew Bible, and the inauguration
of humanity's role in God's world.
Treaty of Versailles Effects
• Treaty of Versailles - the most important of the peace treaties that brought World War I to an end. The Treaty ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers in 1918. − However, also imposed HEAVY penalties on Germany.
• Germany’s Great Depression − War reparations totaled 132 billion gold marks. − Hyperinflation - very high and typically accelerating inflation. It quickly erodes the
real value of the local currency, as the prices of all goods increase. − One year after the treaty, Germany required 48 marks to equal one U.S. dollar. By
1923, one U.S. dollar was worth over 1,000,000,000,000 German marks.
Rise of Hitler • National Socialist German Workers' Party (NAZI) - a far-right political party in Germany
that was active between 1920 and 1945, that created and supported the ideology of National Socialism. − Advocated extreme nationalism, Pan-Germanism, and anti-Semitism.
• Adolf Hitler - a German politician and leader of the Nazi Party. He rose to power as the chancellor of Germany in 1933 and then as Führer in 1934. During his dictatorship from 1933 to 1945, he initiated World War II in Europe.
• Mein Kampf - −Hitler’s personal writings while in prison. Advocated for German reunification, military expansion, economic development, pushing back against other nations, and blaming the economic downturn on the Jews who controlled the banks.
• In 1933, Hitler was democratically elected as Chancellor by the people. Passed a series of laws and policies shortly after. − Nuremberg Laws, 1935 - excluded Jews from citizenship and banned intermarriage
between Germans and Jews.
Prejudice Intensifies
• Kristallnacht - the “Night of Broken Glass,” also called the November Pogrom, was a massive riot and arresting move against Jews carried out by German paramilitary forces and civilians throughout Nazi Germany on 9–10 November 1938.
• Unfortunately, many German authorities looked on without intervening.
Hitler’s “Final Solution” • Final Solution - nicknamed the “final solution to the
Jewish Question.” The Nazi plan to exterminate the Jewish population within their reach.
• Holocaust - systematic racist attempt by the Nazis to exterminate the Jews of Europe, resulting in the murder of over 6 million Jews and more than a million other “undesirables.”
• Nuremberg Trials - a series of military tribunals held after World War II by the Allied forces under international law and the laws of war. − Nov 20, 1945 – Oct 1, 1946
The St. Louis Question
• St. Louis, luxury cruise ship, May 13, 1939 - left from Hamburg, Germany to Havana, Cuba. Carried Jewish passengers. − 1939, the U.S. imposed immigration quotas on incoming Jews so that they could keep up to
20,000 German-Jewish children in the U.S. − Heated debate in the U.S. & world whether to accept these new immigrants, fleeing Nazi
Germany and Hitler’s cruel rise to power. • Resulted in U.S. turning them away, Cuba/Britain/France/Holland/Belgium accepting the
rest. − Nicknamed the “Voyage of the Damned.”
• Nazi Editorial: “We are openly saying we do not want the Jews...while the democracies keep claiming that they are willing to receive them - and then leave the guests out in the cold! Aren’t we savages better men after all.”
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Sephardic/Ashkenazi Migrations • Spanish Reconquista (Reconquest)
− After the Christians drove out the Moors, Muslim-worshipping peoples & non-Christians, horrible persecutions occurred in Spain against the infidels.
− Held Jews responsible for the death of Jesus. Massacred and slaughters in multiple cities. − Jewish population scattered to Italy, North Africa, Russia, Brazil, Dutch West Indies, and
America. • Ashkenazi Jews Migration
− Originally settled in central and northern Europe. Sacred language was Hebrew, and term “Ashkenazi” originates from settling next to the Rhine River in Western Germany.
− Brought culture, innovations, and ideas from Babylon and the Holy Land. − Eventually, massive persecutions began again under Pope Paul IV forcing them to wear
identifying symbols, Poland/Ukraine slaughtering thousands, and other areas forcing them to migrate.
• American Life → very pleasant! Calvinists liked these “Hebrews” and people of the Old Testament. Both hated Roman Catholicism & liked decentralized congregation and success!
• Main Point: Expelled for religious beliefs, fled home country, started new life in foreign land.
German Jews • A culmination of traditionally German-Jewish community and Sephardic Jews assimilating
into the larger community over time. Class distinctions between both blurred during the 19th century.
• Entered into commerce and business, becoming merchants and financiers. (A trade that Hitler would later use against them).
• Intellectualism/Agnosticism/Reform: − Many within the community did not like the strict observance of the faith. Judaism was
not an adequate tool for interpreting the world, not modernly relevant. − Isaac Wise, 1889 → established Central Conference of American Rabbis. Reformed
Jewish life, prayer, traditions, synagogue segregation, translated Torah, etc. − Torah was NOT a literal explanation of reality, but a symbolic reading to guide
mankind to greater ethical value. − Many rejected Zionist notions of Israel being the promiseland, instead wanting overall
peace and justice. America would become their true Zion. • Main Point: Enlightenment & Reformation impacted Jews greatly here. New worldview.
One of science, progress, and not necessarily focused on hardship/repression policies.
Eastern European Jews • Identity as a People → Synagogue, Yiddish language, fierce cultural preservation due to past
trauma. − Jewish faith led to marriage with only Jews, religious family life, and loyalty within their
communities. • Singular Vision of Time
− Eastern European Jews saw time as one long linear time stream. − Their creation of Judaism, and being the children of Abraham, led them to believe themselves as
the central characters in the human experience. • Russian Empire Turmoil
− After Tsar Alexander II wa assassinated in 1881, Jewish hate crimes/murders/massacres started to increase. Forced many to flee the country in search of better treatment.
• By 1910, more than 500,000 Jews lived in New York. − Found solace in humble/poor years, hard work led to greater success, and education was of the
utmost importance for themselves and their children. Education = success! • Main Point: Learned to live within an imperial rule without special treatment, if not
negative treatment/stereotypes. Developed a rugged/pragmatic view of the world.
First Impressions of America as a Russian Jewish Immigrant in the
1990s
A Divided House • German Jews
− Advocated rapid assimilation, phasing out Yiddish, supporting Republican party, advocating good citizenship, Americanization, and philanthropy work.
− Owned clothing factories. Wanted to keep wages low and profits high. • Takeaway: Americans liked this group very much due to their similarities and
successful assimilation/acculturation. • Eastern European Jews
− Fiercely advocated for keeping Yiddish, hated cultural imperialism against their culture, did not want to “reform” themselves, and maintained Old World values within their communities.
− Worked in many clothing factories, wanted to establish Unions. • Takeaway: Americans discriminated against them for their large numbers,
poverty, and Old World ways.
Early American Jewish Community • Jewish people had a mostly positive relationship with the United States for many years, starting even
with one of our founding fathers, George Washington. − On August 17, 1790, Moses Seixas, the warden of Congregation Kahal Kadosh Yeshuat Israel,
better known as the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, penned an epistle to George Washington, welcoming the newly elected first president of the United States on his visit to that city.
• Moses Seixas’s letter on behalf of the congregation described them as “the children of the Stock of Abraham.” − Expressed the Jewish community’s esteem for President Washington and joined “with our
fellow citizens in welcoming [him] to New Port.” The congregation expressed its pleasure that the God of Israel, who had protected King David, had also protected General Washington, and that the same spirit which resided in the bosom of Daniel and allowed him to govern over the “Babylonish Empire” now rested upon Washington. While the rest of world Jewry lived under the rule of monarchs, potentates and despots, as American citizens the members of the congregation were part of a great experiment: a government “erected by the Majesty of the People,” to which they could look to ensure their “invaluable rights as free citizens.”
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19th Century Jewish Community • Throughout the 19th century, many Jews faced prejudice in the United States through being
banned from: − Holding political office, expulsion orders, social exclusions, etc.
• However, they still thought that America was a better place than others for Jews to live in. • Political and economic restrictions in the U.S. paled in comparison to other regions of the
world. − Europe: Prejudice, punishing communal taxes, economic and political restrictions,
killings, etc. − United States: Jews could build synagogues, get tax exemptions, incorporate voluntary
associations legally, build a civic life more or less peacefully. • As Jewish immigrants arrived from Eastern Europe later in the 19th century, they would
call the United States as the “Promised Land.” • Main Point: Despite nativism, many Jews rose in economic opportunity, had legal
protections, and grew to see the U.S. as their home.
20th Century Jewish Community • 1920’s - 1940’s: Even as the U.S. slowed immigration from various countries for having
undesirable populations and many Jews were targeted as having conspiracies for global control, many still held faith for their “golden land.” − Many votes for Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) to support the New Deal. − Saw themselves as having an exceptional future as children in the U.S. − Kept confirming the destruction of European Jewish communities and that U.S.-born
Jews had the “accident of geography” of being born in a safe country, as Jewish intellectual Irving Howe wrote.
• Post WWII: Began to craft rhetoric against intolerance and prejudice through radio and television ads as well as political activism. − Beginning of Hollywood’s rise in American culture and entertainment industry. − Over time many Jewish communities grew in prosperity, becoming well-off versus
other minority groups. − Engaged heavily in civil rights marches and fought legal battles to help African
Americans during the Civil Rights Movement.
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20th & 21st Centuries • Entertainment & Music Industry:
− Great cultural legacy over decades of hit-films that had an impact on the United States and the world.
• Dracula, Snow White, Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Planet of the Apes, Jaws, E.T., Indiana Jones, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, etc.
− As the United States went into WWII and the Cold War, Hollywood was asked by the U.S. government to make special movies to propagate patriotic themes against Naizism, Communism, and other ideologies. What an impact!
− Due to heavy persecution in Eastern Europe, many of the Jewish film moguls were wary of making films that were overtly “Jewish.” Makes for an interesting ethnic identity story for the 20th century.
• Birthright Israel (1999) - a not-for-profit educational organization that sponsors free ten-day heritage trips to Israel for young adults of Jewish heritage, aged 18–32. − Allows for Jewish heritage young adults from around the world to fly to Israel and
learn of their heritage.
Hollywoodism: Jews, Movies and the American Dream (1998)
“This is not simply another “golden age of the silver screen” special, filled with classic clips and fond memories. Based on the book An Empire of Their Own by Neal Gabler (who comments frequently in the film), Simcha Jacobovici’s documentary tells the extraordinary story of a small group of Jews of East European background—among them Louis B. Mayer, Harry Cohn and the Warner brothers—who founded the major studios and made them into great temples of a secular religion based on the “American dream” of optimism, opportunity and community. The Hollywood moguls turned out movie after movie that, as the narration puts it, “celebrated the working class while extolling middle-class values.” The incredible success of their product gave them the status of potentates, but Hollywoodism asserts that their fear of stirring up anti-Semitism spurred the dream merchants to erase anything overtly Jewish from “their films, their lives and the lives of their stars” (thus did a Bernard Schwartz become a Tony Curtis). Suggesting that “Jewish concerns” slipped onto the screen in disguise, the documentary invites us to look at old movies in a new way—to see the shadow of an East European pogrom in a typical scene of violence in the American West. We might wish its perspective weren’t so narrow or its generalizations so broad, but the film is fascinating and provocative, particularly in arguing that anti-Semitism animated the congressional communist-hunters who bedeviled Hollywood following World War II.”
- Terry Kelleher, Picks and Pans Review (1998)
Sitting at 1 hour and 38 minutes, it’s an interesting documentary to watch! Details early Hollywood, the creation of the “American Dream,” fear of stirring anti-Semitism so Jewish moguls make films that do not overtly state any Jewish themes, and ends with proposing that McCarthyism during the Red Scare began with anti-Semitism. A blend of an ethnic group’s American story and practical business decisions.
Rise of Zionism
What is Zionism:
Israeli-Palestinian Conflicts:
Review Google Slides.
Finish Ch. 6 reading.
Discussion Questions due Sunday at 11:59PM.
