Judaism in the US. The first important note is that while there have been periods of antisemitic sentiment in the US, such sentiment never reached the levels of Central and Easter Europe. There has been a Jewish presence in the US since Colonial times, and Jews made a rather significant contribution to the founding and growth of our nation.
The Jewish population of the Colonies, while a small group, played a large part in financing the Revolution. The fact is, antisemitism never played as much a role and American society as it did in European. Most of the time, Jewish populations were actually accepted into society at large, although there were periods of restriction of political power. The initial Jewish population was Sephardic, of Spanish and Portugese ancestry, where they would have faced severe discrimination, especially during the Inquisitions. Therefore, it is no surprise that John Locke would have specified their freedoms and tolerance when he wrote the charter for South Carolina.
Negative stereotypes were common in the arts of the day, however, Jewish populations were often the financiers of westward expansion, with strong family ties to the East. They were often the leaders of the textiles retail sector. While predominantly middle class, they were largely responsible for establishing the important business centers in the growing US.
The largest immigration periods were in the mid 19th century, coming from Central and Eastern Europe, where antisemitism made pogrom life undpredictable and dangerous. In the 1830s and 1840s, most of the Jewish immigrants were German Jews (Ashkenazi), who were often well educated. They established their strongest population center in New York, NY. Beginning in the 1880s, it was from Eastern Europe and Russia that large groups immigrated from.
There were antisemitic immigration policies from 1921 to 1965. However, in the interim, US Jews fought in two world wars. In World War II, nearly half of all male Jews between 18 and 50 fought in World War II. Even though Jews comprise a small percent of our population, they're contribution to our society and culture cannot be understated.
The Jewish population of the Colonies, while a small group, played a large part in financing the Revolution. The fact is, antisemitism never played as much a role and American society as it did in European. Most of the time, Jewish populations were actually accepted into society at large, although there were periods of restriction of political power. The initial Jewish population was Sephardic, of Spanish and Portugese ancestry, where they would have faced severe discrimination, especially during the Inquisitions. Therefore, it is no surprise that John Locke would have specified their freedoms and tolerance when he wrote the charter for South Carolina.
Negative stereotypes were common in the arts of the day, however, Jewish populations were often the financiers of westward expansion, with strong family ties to the East. They were often the leaders of the textiles retail sector. While predominantly middle class, they were largely responsible for establishing the important business centers in the growing US.
The largest immigration periods were in the mid 19th century, coming from Central and Eastern Europe, where antisemitism made pogrom life undpredictable and dangerous. In the 1830s and 1840s, most of the Jewish immigrants were German Jews (Ashkenazi), who were often well educated. They established their strongest population center in New York, NY. Beginning in the 1880s, it was from Eastern Europe and Russia that large groups immigrated from.
There were antisemitic immigration policies from 1921 to 1965. However, in the interim, US Jews fought in two world wars. In World War II, nearly half of all male Jews between 18 and 50 fought in World War II. Even though Jews comprise a small percent of our population, they're contribution to our society and culture cannot be understated.
I will be writing Part 8 soon, it will be about Buddhism in the US.
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