"We are Brothers! Let us Separate!" Jews and Community Building in American Cities during the 19th Century. Issue 10 (6th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brinkmann, Tobias
• Is Part Of: History compass. Volume 11:Issue 10(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 869
• Page End: 879
• Publication Date: 2013-10-06
• Subjects: World history -- Periodicals; History -- Periodicals; 900
• DOI: 10.1111/hic3.12094
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-0542

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The article examines the evolution of organized Jewish communities in the United States during the second half of the 19th century. After discussing why the historiography tends to focus on New York, the beginnings of the organized Jewish community in Chicago serves as a case study to highlight the challenges Jewish immigrants faced as they tried to build communities. Landsmanshaft, class, religion, voluntary membership, and the enormous size and diversity of urban Jewish populations after 1850 precluded the recreation of tight‐knit European‐style communities. By avoiding sources of conflict, notably religion, the traditional social tasks of the community emerged as the smallest common denominator bringing Jews of different backgrounds together on a single platform.</p> </abstract>