American jews insticnct to identity - arise roby

JEWISH

AMERICANS

INSTINCT

TO

IDENTITY ARISE AMERICA - ROBY

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

ARISE AMERICA - ROBY

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


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


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


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



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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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)


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


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


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


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)


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


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


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


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%


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

Thank You


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American jews insticnct to identity - arise roby