The American Experience

Part II

Anti-Semitism: Political Growing numbers of Jews leads to more

Anti-Semitism Political anti-Semitism

Henry Ford Dearborn Independent

Jews have legal recourse Dearborn Independent sued for libel Ford apologizes

Anti-Semitism: Social A Gentleman’s Agreement

Anti-Semitism: Jews Respond Jewish Foundations, fearing anti-Semitism,

move Jews out West Bethlehem Judea Colony (1883)

Established by Russian organization Agricultural colony with a socialist framework

Galveston Project (1907) Route Jews to the South instead of the Northeast Help Jews find Jobs away from the big cities

Projects are not terribly successful, but do help to spread Jews throughout the country

Religious Adaptation: Reform Judaism Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim

Organ Prayers reflecting American life English

Isaac Mayer Wise Minhag America Union of American Hebrew Congregations (1873) Hebrew Union College (1875)

Religious Adaptation:Reform Judaism Pittsburgh Platform

Basic statement of Reform tenets Modern science is not antagonistic to Bible Accept only moral laws as binding Religion and not a Nation Reject bodily resurrection Help fix the world through social justice

Adopted by CCAR in 1889 Remained until Columbus Platform in 1937

Religious Adaptation:Conservative Judaism

Treife Banquet (1883) Break with Reform over Kashrut

Solomon Schecter

Religious Adaptation:Orthodox Judaism Primarily Eastern European Orthodox Jewish Congregational Union

(1898) Divine revelation Remain separate Personal messiah Nation and religion

Religious Adaptation:Reconstructionist Judaism Mordecai Kaplan (1881-1983)

Conservative Rabbi Founder of Reconstructionist Judaism

“American Jews no doubt are more ethnic, or people oriented than religion oriented.” – ethnic oriented religion

Naturalistic conception of God 3 goals

Interpret Jewish tradition for present day Fostering of Jewish unity by building Palestine - Zionism Code of Jewish practice that everyone can know

Jewish Organizations: Goals Jewish Americans Organized Motivations:

Jewish Values (Klal Yisrael, Tzedakah) Main Stream Values (Workers Rights)

Jewish Organizations:Tzedakah

B’nai Brith (1843) Service organization 1882 becomes international

Anti-Defamation League (1913) Part of B’nai Brith Action against anti-Semitism

American Jewish Conference (1943) Reps from all major American Jewish orgs Action to help Jews in Europe & Palestine

Next Week Continue Reading:

Pages 449-528 in textbook Preview:

Jews get involved in America’s big issues Labor Unions Civil Rights