Jewish life in America

German Jews

Only a few Jews had come to America before the year 1830, but during the next half of the century, thousands poured into the nation. For these people, the dreams of new beginnings and opportunities actually became realities, at least in some ways.

Most German Jews began their life in America as peddlers travelling from place to place, a profession they were accustomed to in Europe. They journeyed all over the U.S. selling threads, knives and jewelery. Even though they didn’t made much money, it was the first step towards large, multiple department stores. Even though the Jews were most successful as bankers and as owners of the most well known banking houses on Wall Street, many also made lucrative careers for themselves as businessmen. World-reknowned stores such as Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s were started by German Jews. Jewish names like Levi Strauss and Guggenheim are still known till this day. Apart from other European immigrants, the German Jews lived in fine houses and mansions, and they often hired servants. Many also owned summer villas and yachts, indisputable signs of prosperity. The Jews could afford to visit Europe and health resorts like Badgastein. The German Jews had close ties with Germany. They lived in German areas, used the German language, and adjusted their German culture to the American way of life. Although anti-Semitism was often an everyday occurence in Germany, in America Jews were allowed to live among other Germans. In this way, these immigrants were seen as Germans instead of Jews. Even though some German Jews created Jewish societies and held on to their Jewish rituals and belief, most instead held on to the American form of Judaism. This new variation of Judaism was called “Reform” and was a result of the welcoming of American culture. Sermons, organs, and the use of the English language made the Jewish faith more like the Catholic. Even the synagogues resembled the churches of the Christian faith.

The eastern European Jews

Between 1880 and 1920, new Jewish immigrants arrived from Poland, Russia and other eastern European countries. These Jews were very different from the German Jews, both in their way of life and in their faith. They opposed the Americanised Judaism and didn’t approve of the lifestyle that the German Jews had come to accept. These immigrants were also less successful in monetary matters. They never came to experience such a lifestyle of prosperity as the earlier Jews had.

As more and more Jews arrived from eastern Europe, Reform Judaism became the faith of a minority. The 2 million new immigrants that arrived built synagogues and held on to the orthodox Jewish faith, in stark contrast to that of the German Jews. They also preserved their language, Yiddish, and kept their customs free from "contamination" from the other cultures they lived around. Few Jews were illiterate, quite the opposite of the Italians or other new immigrants. In addition, the Jews were often more skilled than their immigrant counterparts. Other differences also set the Jews apart. The Jewish immigrants were not exclusively males. They came as families, and children were particularly common. In addition, they were often used to life in the city. The newcomers from eastern Europe were eager to become Americans even though they disliked the Americanised Jewish faith. However, they thought it was important to become citizens of their new country as soon as possible.

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References
18 1. Maldwyn A. Jones "Chapter 8 - The new Diaspora" Destination America . London - U.K., Thames Television Limited 1976. p. 173

18 1. Maldwyn A. Jones "Chapter 8 - The new Diaspora" Destination America . London - U.K., Thames Television Limited 1976. p.162-189

19 Frederic Fleisher "Americans from Europe" Americans and the United States . Sweden, Seminarium AB 1987. p.11-13



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