Where Are They From: Jewish immigration to America started in 1860. In this year 200,000 German Jews immigrated to USA. From 1882 to 1914, 2 million Jews immigrated from eastern Europe to USA. Jewish immigration in the years 1882-1914 changed the Jews history. It created new Jewish centers, decreased the Jewish numbers in Europe and made new religious-culture trends for the Jewish people who migrated to America.
When Did They Arrive in US: Since 1654, when the first group of 23 Jews arrived in the New Amsterdam.
What Region of the US Did They Settle: Eastern Europe Jews streamed to the big trade cities in the northeast landing in cities such as: New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore. They also went to the mid-west cities such as: Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit. In this way the Jews could keep their way of life.
In 1914, there were more than 1.5 million Jews in New York City alone. Why New York?
1. Eastern Europe Jews came to New York harbor and stayed there. They settled mainly on the east side of Manhattan.
2. New York was the center of the garment industry where Jews carved a niche.
3. In New York there was already a large Jewish community and they felt sure they would get the needed social support.
What Occupations Did They Take Part In: In the 1880s upwards of 65% of the Jews were involved in the Dressing and Textile industry.
Why Dressing and Textile?
1. The garment industry had many available jobs.
2. The Jews had a good knowledge of the textile industry
3. The whole family could work in this field. In this way the family connections worked for them and there was no need to work on Saturdays, their religious –holy day.
What Are The Family Patterns, Rituals: Orthodox - This Orthodox stream didn't change anything from the Torah. This is the Torah from Sinai and no human can change it. Many of them were anti Zionism.
Reformist - The reformists accept the Jews ethical commandment and reject the practical commandment that is not suitable to 20 century life. The Bible is the main stream here and not the Talmud.
Conservative - The Conservatives are between the Orthodox and the Reformist. Their big issue is that there is a new realty and there has to be a change in the Jews religious beliefs and customs. One such change was women and men sitting together and praying together. The Conservatives keep guard over the Kashrut and the Sabbath as it is. They also believe that the practical commandments are not relevant, but they want to keep some of them.
Are They A Group That Appreciates Schooling: Jewish education has attempted to parallel and complement the American educational system and to create lasting institutions that preserve and sustain Jewish life as a vital force for the next generation.
Jewish education has been used both for Americanization and for preserving European Jewish culture and tradition. It has been the source of controversy and debate over the relationship between religious and secular education.
One of the most astounding changes in modern Jewish education has been the growth of private Jewish day schools, a phenomenon that harkens back to the colonial era and the mid-19th century. This movement evolved in part because of the immigration of ultra-Orthodox Hasidic refugees arriving from Europe before and after World War II. With no desire to integrate themselves into the American mainstream or to separate general from religious instruction, these Hasidim developed separate schools for boys and girls to prepare them to become observant, ultra-Orthodox Jews.
What Are The Basic Demographics Today? Many experts have argued recently that Jewish population statistics reveal a community in the midst of stagnation or decline. Although studies vary depending on methodology and definitions of Jewishness, the soon-to-be released National Jewish Population Survey lends support to the view that our population has been shrinking since 1990. This would be the first population decline in American Jewish history. If we are to equate demographic strength with spiritual and cultural vibrancy, the American Jewish community is facing daunting challenges to its oft-stated goals of renaissance.
5 Countries with Largest Jewish Populations
Country Number %
1 Israel 5,313,800 40.6%
2 United States 5,275,000 40.3%
3 France 491,500 3.8%
4 Canada 373,500 2.9%
5 United Kingdom 297,000 2.3%
Fun Facts:
Israel was founded May 14, 1948. Geographically, it is located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. The Prime Minister is the head of state.
- Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year.
- Yom Kippur is a day of Atonement. A day set aside for fasting, depriving oneself of pleasures, and repenting from the sins of the previous year.
- Chanukkah is called the festival of lights which is celebrated by gift-giving and decorations.
- Passover is an observance related to the exodus from Egypt after generations of slavery. This story is told in Exodus, Ch. 1-15.
Brit Milah (Circumcision)
Traditionally, a Jewish baby boy has a circumcision on his eighth day of life, provided there are no medical reasons for delaying. A mohel should be contacted as soon as possible after birth in order to set the correct date and time for the ceremony.
Baby-naming Ceremonies
Simchat Bat
Traditionally, the Simchat Bat ceremony for baby girls, takes place in the synagogue on the first Sabbat following her birth. During the ceremony, either the father or both parents are called to the Torah for a reading and blessing. Today, many families choose to have the ceremonies in their own homes.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrates a young person's entry into the adult Jewish community. Although these observances are not prescribed by written law, they have become important religious traditions over the last 450 years. Typically, during the celebration, the young person recites a blessing over the Torah, reads the Haftorah or Torah portion for that week and then offers a speech or scholarly comment.
Marriage
The marriage ceremony is a simcha, celebrating the union between two Jewish individuals. The ceremony takes place under a Chuppah, or canopy, and the actual marriage involves exchanging wedding rings while the couple (or just the groom in some congregations) recites the following:"Behold thou art sanctified unto me by this ring according to the law of Moses and Israel."
Divorce
Although Judaism does not encourage divorce as a solution to marital problems, it recognizes that, when it is impossible for a couple to continue living together as man and wife, a divorce should be offered with as few obstacles as possible. Most Jewish individuals prefer to obtain a religious divorce, a get, from a rabbinical council Bet Din, in addition to a civil divorce. To acquire a get, the couple appears before a Bet Din, a rabbinical court consisting of three rabbis. Most Batei Din will not permit a divorce unless a civil divorce has already been completed.