Jewish Assimilation Essay -- essays research papers

Has assimilation been bad for Judaism?Samuel Heilman made it clear that materialistic gain has led to the fall ofJewish culture. Have Jews turned their ghostlike lives solely to conform to theCatholic American society? Heilman gives the argument that since Jews earnmoved up the socio-economic ladder, they actually lost focus on what it means tobe a Jew. One must first answer the question of what is being Jewish? Is itsimply something inherited? Does it mean living wizs life solely regarding whatthe Torah tells one to do? Is the answer much more complicated than followingrules, which were built for a time that was completely different? The Jewishreligion has lasted thousands of years, which were filled with credulity andmurder, why is Samuel Heilman blaming the free Jews of today for being differentthan their predecessors? One must look at events, which Jews cook had to endure,to fully comprehend the nature of why they have changed so vastly. Jews came tothe unify States to esc ape persecution and gain economic security, why aretheir grandchildren complaining of the state of Judaism, 100 years later?Since the beginning of time Jews have endured anti-Semitic regimes, whichkilled Jews merely for being Jewish. A clear illustration would be the past 150years, which later involved a mass migration of Jewish heap, to the UnitedStates. Jews beganGergely 2 leaving Europe because laws did not allow them to havecommon freedoms, which we take for granted presently. Jews subsequently came tothe United to escape persecution. Jews came from countries as different asRussia and Germany with two common bonds. Religion and having endured some formof persecution. Experiencing the pains of persecution, prepared Jews for anypossible experience awaiting them in the United States.Most Jews captured in Ellis Island without a penny in their pocket. Jewssettled in a part of New York that was called The Lower East Side. Jews chosethe Lower East Side, because it was the only place one could arrive and not haveto immediately assimilate into American society. These Jews began theireconomic endeavors with the only profession they knew, commerce. Trade wastheir main form of economic gain, the only profession that was allowed inEurope. In America, Jews had to follow the American govt., instead of theKahilla. Not being singled out meant that Jews had to pu... ...past. Jews have responded byliving in the United States peacefully and together with people of otherreligions. Cultural assimilation does not mean the end of Judaism. It meansJews will now be able to spread their word of God, without prejudice. Presently,there are less restrictions on Judaic practice, than in the past. This willultimately lead to the distribution of the Jewish practice not its demiseGergely 12ReferencesAmerican Council For Judaism A Statement of Policy. Feb. 1944Diner, Hasia R. A Time For Gathering Striving for The Sacred. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore and London. 1992.Hei lman, Samuel C. Portrait of American JewsThe Last Half of the 20th Century. University of Washington Press. Seattle and London. 1995.Howe, Irving. A Margin of Hope In the Movement. Harcourt Brace Jovanich,Publishers. San Diego, New York, London. 1982Prell, Ellen. Fighting to Become Americans The Jewish American Princess. Beacon Press. Boston. 1999.Revel, Bernard. Builder of American Orthodoxy The American Yeshiva. PublicationSociety of America. Philadelphia. 1972.Sachar, Howard M. A History Of The Jews In America. Vintage Books. NY. 1992.