Jewish Life in Small-Town America: A HistoryIn this book, Lee Shai Weissbach offers the first comprehensive portrait of small-town Jewish life in America. Exploring the history of communities of 100 to 1000 Jews, the book focuses on the years from the mid-nineteenth century to World War II. Weissbach examines the dynamics of 490 communities across the United States and reveals that smaller Jewish centers were not simply miniature versions of larger communities but were instead alternative kinds of communities in many respects. The book investigates topics ranging from migration patterns to occupational choices, from Jewish education and marriage strategies to congregational organization. The story of smaller Jewish communities attests to the richness and complexity of American Jewish history and also serves to remind us of the diversity of small-town society in times past. |
Contents
11 | |
32 | |
The Era of Mass Migration | 51 |
4 Patterns of Stability and Mobility | 70 |
5 Patterns of Livelihood and Class | 94 |
6 Patterns of Family Life | 126 |
7 Patterns of Congregational Organization | 156 |
8 Patterns of Synagogue History | 177 |
The East Europeans | 243 |
12 Patterns of Prejudice and Transformation | 271 |
Patterns of Endurance and Decline | 295 |
Reading the Manuscript Census | 315 |
Bibliographic Essay | 325 |
Appendix of Tables | 337 |
Notes | 359 |
425 | |
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Common terms and phrases
activities American Jewish Anniversary Appleton arrived B’nai became began Beth Israel Book born brothers building California Census Central city directory congregation continued County cultural David decades developed early East East European established European example fact figures first German groups heads Hebrew History household Illinois immigrants included Indiana individuals instance involved Iowa Israel Jackson Jacob Jewish centers Jewish communities Jewish population Jewry Jews Kentucky Lafayette larger late later leaders least Lexington listed living major married Mass Massachusetts Michigan Mississippi moved Newburyport nineteenth North observed Ohio opened organized Orthodox Patterns Pennsylvania percent period places practice published rabbi records Reform religious remained reported residents served settle Similarly small communities small Jewish small-town Jewish smaller social Society South story synagogue Temple tion towns triple-digit twentieth century United University Vicksburg Virginia Wichita women World York