american jews insticnct to identity - arise roby
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Jewish Americans
US has the largest Jewish population in the
world
Play a prominent role in worldwide Jewish
community
2nd largest Jewish population in Israel and
only nation in which Jews are majority
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American Jews superficially resemble Asian
Americans in that both are largely free from
poverty
Anti-Semitism
Anti-Jewish prejudice and discrimination
Anti-Semitism is as old as relations between Jews
and Gentiles (non-Jews)
Concentrated in Urban areas
Especially New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami
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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
Jewish identity among Jews is based on a shared
culture - thus Jews are best classified as an ethnic
minority
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The trend in the United States among Jews
Judaization Lessening of the significance of religion and an increase in culture
as the bond among Jews
Issue of what makes a Jew figures in policy matters
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
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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
Immigrant Jews in 1930’s were refugees from Nazi Germany
Recent immigration has been from Israel, Soviet Union, and Iran
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Anti-Semitism Past and Present
History of Jews is history of struggle to overcome centuries of hatred
Religious observances commemorate past sacrifices or conflicts
Passover, Hanukkah, and Purim
Origins of anti-Semitism
Blamed for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
Formation of negative stereotypes over the years
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Stereotype of Jews obsession with money is false
Fringe-of-Values Theory Social Psychologist Gordon Allport (1979)
To gentile, business practices by the Jews constituted behavior on the fringes of proper conduct
In-Group Virtues becoming Out-Group Vices Sociologist Robert Merton (1968)
Being critical of others for traits for which you praise members of your own group
Discrimination as a source of anti-Semitism
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The Holocaust
Holocaust
State-sponsored 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
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Holocaust Revisionists Small but vocal proportion of the world community who
claim that the holocaust did not happen
Also blame Jews for 9/11
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
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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 periods of most virulent
and overt anti- Semitism
Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion
Absurd definition of communism attributed to the Jews
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Henry Ford responsible for publication of the
Protocols
Faced with millions in civil suits, posted halfhearted
apology in 1927
Charles Lindbergh, Klu Klux Clan, and German
American Bund supported anti-Semitism and Hitler
Many changed their attitudes when Nazi atrocities were
exposed
Protocols sold by Wal-Mart until 2004
2006 - Spanish version sold in Mexico City
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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
Jews did not develop a defensive ideology in order to
survive
Jewish American can make personal decision on assimilation
or secularization
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Contemporary Anti-Semitism
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
Internet growing as a vehicle for anti-Semitism
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American Jews and Israel
Many Jews concerned that Jews in US, who were
more free, would ignore struggle of other Jews
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
Express support for struggles by contributing money
and trying to influence American opinion and policy
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Zionism Initially referred to the old Jewish religious yearning to return
to the biblical homeland, now expressed in 20th century as a movement to create a Jewish state in Palestine
UN (1974) passed resolution declaring “Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination.”
Diaspora Exile of Jews from Palestine several centuries before
Christianity
Many Jews have seen the destiny of their people only as the establishment of a Jewish state in the Holy Land
Zionism resolution repealed by the UN (1991)
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American Jews and African Americans Anti-Semitism of African Americans is of special
concern to Jewish Americans given Black history of oppression
Jewish Americans active in civil rights causes and contributed generously to legal defense funds
Jewish neighborhoods and employers quicker than Gentiles to accept African Americans
Causes of Black-Jewish contention
1960’s activists and Black Panther party supported Arabs
1984 – Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan publicly broadcast anti-Semitic remarks
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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.”
Deep racial prejudice in the US demonstrated
by two groups suffering discrimination that
should unite in opposition to the dominant
society, fight each other instead
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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”
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
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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
Brandeis University
Jewish sponsored contribution to higher education
Nonsectarian (admission is not limited to Jews)
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Organizational Activity Groups serve many purposes
Religious, charitable, political, or 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)
Many community groups founded because existing groups barred Jews from membership
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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)
First Orthodox Jew elected to Senate
VP candidate of Al Gore
Some Jews backed the 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
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Jewish voters have always backed the Democrat over the
Republican presidential candidate for the last ten elections
Barack Obama received 78 percent of the vote compared
to only 21 percent for the Republican candidate John
McCain
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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 in 2007
Orthodox: 8%
Conservative: 29%
Reconstructionist: 2%
Reform: 30%
Just Jewish: 29%
Not sure: 2%
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The Orthodox Tradition Three sects beginning in mid-19th century
Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism Based on varying acceptance of traditional rituals
Reasons for development of 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
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The Reform Tradition Deeply committed to faith but altered many of the
rituals
Changed traditions to reflect social changes
Conservative Judaism – in between Orthodox and Reform
Reform are least likely to participate in predominantly Jewish organizations
Effort to observe religious occasions such as Rosh Hashanah in Reform temples
Like Protestants, Jewish denominations associated with class, nationality, and other social differences
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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
Non-Jewish in-laws interfere with marriage plans
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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
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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
Observers argue that Jewish family no longer
maintains role in identity transmission due to
assimilation
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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
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 Jews lives
10. Intermarriage has lessened involvement of Jewish partner in Jewish life and aspects of family life
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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
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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
Jews have spoken many languages throughout their long history, Yiddish is just one
Peoplehood A group with a shared feeling
For Jews originates from past and present, within and without