Jewish People: Race, Religion or Ethnic Group?

Jews are a subordinate group Unequal treatment Share a cultural history that distinguishes them from

the dominant group Ascribed status or involuntary status Group solidarity In-group marriage

Jewish People: Race, Religion or Ethnic Group?

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 has been toward Judaization -lessening of the significance of religion and an increase in culture as the bond among Jews

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

Recent immigration has been from Israel, Soviet Union and Iran

Figure 14-3 Intergroup Relations Continuum

Anti-Semitism Past and Present

Origins of anti-Semitism Blamed for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ Formation of negative stereotypes over the years Fringe-of-values theory by Gordon Allport (1979)

and the formation of negative stereotypes Jewish group identity as a means of adapting to a

hostile environment and in-group virtues becoming out-group vices

Discrimination as a source of anti-Semitism

Holocaust

Holocaust - state-sponsored systematic extermination of European Jews by Nazi Germany

German policy and the restriction of the rights of Jews

Between 1933 - 1945 two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population were killed

Unites States Anti-Semitism: Past

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 saw an increase in anti- Semitism

Perpetuation of false propaganda - In the forged documents “Protocols of the Elders of Zion”

The publications of the Protocols and anti-Semitism

Differences Between Anti-Semitism in the United States and Europe

First - United States government never promoted anti-Semitic policies

Second - anti-Semitism was not institutionalized in the United States

Third - Jews did not develop a defensive ideology in order to survive

Contemporary Anti-Semitism

Anti-Defamation League Monitors anti-Semitic incidents Rise in numbers in 1990’s and 2001

American Jews and the relationship with Israel Source of unity and identity Zionism - and anti-Semitism African Americans and Anti-Semitism

Fewer anti-Semitic and more anti-White institutions

Figure 14-4 Anti-Semitic Incidents, 1980-2002

Position of Jewish Americans

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

Education

Judaic religion and the emphasis on formal schooling Emphasis on education Higher educational attainment

Prejudice at school

Organizational Activity

United Jewish Appeal - founded in (1939) raises funds for humanitarian causes

American Jewish Committee - founded in (1906) to improve Jewish-Gentile relations

American Jewish Congress - founded in (1918) to improve Jewish-Gentile relations

B’nai B’rith - founded in (1843) to promote cultural programs (ADL)

Political Activity

Jewish voters and the Democratic partyPolitical officesPolitics and the New LeftPolitics and Israel

Religious Life

Orthodox: Conservative:

Reconstructionist Reform:

Just Jewish:

7 %

29%

2%

29%

33%

The Orthodox Tradition

Orthodox tradition Torah

Life is conducted according to tradition and rituals Kashrut - food

The Reform Tradition

Very religiousChanged traditions to reflect social changesConservative Judaism – in between Orthodox

and Reform

Jewish Identity

Yiddishkait - Jewish Americans and a sense of peoplehood (Jewishness)

Jewish women and Jewish identity Halakha

Family

Delayed marriageSingle life has become increasingly more

acceptableDeclining birth rate, acceptability of

childlessness and rising divorce rateDecline in intergenerational roles in the familyDecline in Jewishness in daily live

Figure 14-5 Generational Patterns by Denomination

Role of Religion

Judaism and religious diversityTraditional Jewish LawReligion and marginalityThe role of cultureMaintaining a sense of peoplehood