Blog 1: Intro and Chapter 1 of Jewish Roots in Southern Soil I really enjoyed reading the introduction and chapter 1 of Jewish Roots in Southern Soil. I believe these chapters were a great way to introduce the topic and the readings were an excellent introduction to the course. The introduction explains questions that surround southern Jews. For example, some questions include: What is the Southern Jewish experience? and is Southern Jewish culture different from other cultures? The introduction does a great job explaining the founding of the Jewish South and how many Jewish Southerners came from Europe to the New World in the 16th and 17th centuries. The author does an excellent job explaining history, such as the Great Awakening and the Revolutionary War. I found it very interesting to read about reformers and how they were influenced by the Second Great Awakening, an era of religious revival that swept the South during this period, inspired by Christian missionaries and other individuals. Reformers were focused on balancing the two poles of their identity- "their white southerners and the Judaism of their ancestors" (pg. 5). The Southerns faced an internal struggles amongst themselves, as they wanted Judaism to survive while also trying to adapt to a new environment and culture. Chapter 1 written by Mark Greenberg, explains the economic survival of Jews and how it was almost entirely dependent on trade. Greenberg explains the basic needs Jews needed to have in order to survive. Such survival tasks include, slaughtering, baking and making articles. I enjoyed Greenberg's explanation of Jews arriving from European cities and landing in the South, especially in cities such as Savannah.
Blog 2: Chapter 6 and 8 from Jewish Roots in Southern Soil: Now is Your Time to Show Your True Colors Southern Jews, Whiteness, and the Rise of Jim Crow and a Tangled Web Black-Jewish Relations in the Twentieth-Century South. I really enjoyed starting off the semester reading these two chapters from Jewish Roots in Southern Soil. I am perplexed with the notion of southern Jews and have many questions. Some of my questions include: How were southern Jews treated in society? Was their a hierarchy? What are the differences between southern and northern Jews? Chapter 6, written by Eric Goldstein, discusses racism in the south and the rise of Jim Crow. The chapter was interesting in that it explained to me when Jews in the South arrived. The chapter explains how most arrived in the mid-nineteenth century from central Europe or were born in the south of immigrant parents. I found it interesting that Jews remained "radically ill-defined" within society in the south. I had absolutely no idea that Jews were given all the civic privileges of whiteness, however they were often excluded from social and cultural events where their status might affect white racial purity and integrity. I am interested in exploring how Jews in the north were treated and if the same societal restrictions remained. Lastly, I found it fascinating that both Jewish immigrants and cultivated counterparts were not able to oppose the social structures of the Jim Crow South in any way. Chapter 8 was written by Clive Webb and describes Black-Jewish relations in the South during the 20th century. Webb describes the most common relationship between blacks and Jews as a commercial one. In addition, I am extremely fascinated by the Holocaust so I really enjoyed the excerpt related to the Holocaust strengthening black perceptions of Jews as people with a shared history of abuse and suffering. Several comparisons were drawn between racial repression of the Jim Crow South and how the Jews were treated by Nazi Germany. These two chapters were nice to read after one another, since several comparisons can be drawn regarding the content in both of the pieces. The mention of the rise of Southern antisemitism also struck a chord with me. Jews were alienated and not properly accepted in society. I found it interesting that tensions arose between Southern and Northern Jews. Prior to reading this article, I would have supposed that all Jews, regardless of geographical location, would remain a cohesive unit. I was shocked to be proved wrong and find out that animosity and tension existed. Lastly, the acculturation of southern Jews is striking and extremely impressive.
Blog 3: Chapter 4: Entering the Mainstream of Modern Jewish History: Peddlers and the American Jewish South By Hasia Diner This chapter was about the notions connected with peddling and Jews. This concept is often associated with Jews and I find it interesting to explore why. Diner does an excellent job including a primary source to help explain the idea of peddling. The most important takeaway from the reading is the idea that peddling was vital to connect Jews and non-Jews. I believe this was a great way for Jews to be exposed to others in society and fit in both culturally and socially. Peddling served as a way to break stereotypes that are often associated with Jews. Diner states that a large majority of Jewish immigrants, notably 100% in certain cities, were peddlers. These numbers are surprising and her meta point is that this number is surprising to historians who specialize around this area as well. The concept of peddling also shadows initial migratory patterns of Jews and how they were portrayed as nomads. it is interesting how people needed these Jews, yet still found ways to judge them. Another important point is the interdependence between the two groups of people. Jews relied in these people to have a place to stay and learn the language and culture and on the contrary, the inhabitants needed the Jews for goods and products. Her context is global and her representation is interesting. She explains Jewish peddlers all over the map and doesn't just focus on a specific area. Peddling offered an opportunity for people to be globally mobile, because they needed to earn a living and did so with the advantage of family connections and a knowledge of the trade. Diner did an excellent job explaining peddling experience and how it transpired. A major theme in her writing is courage. Peddling is an ambitious experience to partake in, as there is uncertainty involved with the end result of this job. It is nice to see these figures as heroes, and this offers a unique perspective, since we would normally not consider these individuals as heroes. In addition, I found it interesting that the peddlers did not compete with the merchants. These peddlers were filling a niche and ultimately became merchants.
Blog 4: Jewish Fates, Altered States chapter from Jewish Roots in Southern Soil I really enjoyed the Civil War chapter of this book. Reading this chapter was a great refresher of the Civil War and that events that took place. I found Bingham's monograph on three generations interesting. I enjoyed learning about the Moredcai family and the "measures of pressures of assimilation in a region not famous for cherishing pluralism" (pg. 309). It was unique that the Moredcai's abandoned Judaism and the theories behind why are interesting to further examine. It still intrigues me that Jim Crow was legal in the south for as long as it was and the rules and regulations that were instilled. In addition, the chapter mentions how the new paradigm is marked by an increasing number of museums and establishments that celebrated how entwined Jews have been in southern history. I would love the chance to visit The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum in Atlanta! The new paradigm also gives credit to the extent to which the condition of southern Jewry has become urbanized. Lastly, I really enjoyed the Florida anecdote the author provides at the end of the chapter. This was refreshing and tasteful and provided a sense of humor to the question of whether or not Floridians are officially apart of the South.
Blog 5: Jewish Confederates from Jewish Roots in Southern Soil This chapter was about the Civil War in the South and the role Jews took during this time period. This chapter states how Jews were in fact slave owners and highly participated in the wrongdoing that are often debated. Jews were fully assimilated into society, as they acted just like white wasp men who owned slaves as well. It is interesting to explore if there were differences in treatment of slaves owned by Jews and non-Jews? A statement that struck a chord was when it was written that "Jewish Confederates, like other immigrants and African Americans, had a special burden during the war. They had to prove that Jews could fight" (pg. 115). Perhaps this left Jews facing an internal conflict with themselves, as they were forced to fit in by fighting but maybe indeed they wanted not to fight. This notion is interesting to further explore. I would want to learn more about the role of Jewish women during this time and the role they played during the war. I find it interesting to explore if Jewish women upheld the common Jewish mother stereotype of overbearingness, warmth and if they treated the slaves with appreciation and love.
Blog 6: The Jew Store by Stella Suberman The Jew Store by Stella Suberman was an excellent read about an intimate family story showcasing American history. It is primarily about a jew who was born into poverty in pre-revolutionary Russia. He finds his way to venture to America in hopes of finding the American dream, however, where he decided to settle, Jews are unwelcome. I found it interesting to learn how every state in the South had a token "Jew Store", which was a place that sold low-priced goods to factory workers, farmers and blacks. It is the going name for a dry-goods low-cost store, owned and operated by jew, and that served the farmers, factory workers and African Americans. This memoir really depicts what it was like to live in the South during the 1920's.
The Bronson family faced adversity being that they were Russian immigrants in Tennessee and were alienated and treated as complete outsiders. Suberman does a great job exploring the stresses and influences within and outside the family. The book showcases the challenges faced by immigrants to America and the influence of Americanization and American culture on the children of immigrants. The book explores the forces that hold a family together and those that pull families apart, while always explaining the role of religion. I found it interesting to learn about the culture presented by the author. I loved learning about the story behind the Bronson family and how they were the first Jews to arrive in Concordia, Tennessee. At first, members of the community were very prejudiced against the Bronson's as they were the only Jewish family in town. However, as the story progresses, the community spirit overcomes that prejudice and the store was successful and the family lived a happy life there. Suberman does an excellent job providing imagery to the town. She explains how the town was tiny with one drugstore, one bank, one main street and many Christian churches.
The Jew Store is told from the perspective of Aaron Bronson's youngest son in a way that sends new light on a piece of American history. Suberman includes the speech patterns both of New Yorkers and rural Southerners. She also provides some yiddish throughout the book with words such as mazel and shlimazel. The book is a tale of the American Dream and is a story about how a man who not only is a dreamer, but is hardworking and determined makes the best for his family. The Jew Store is enlightening and motivating and truly represents an inspiring story.
Blog 7: The Provincials (Chapters 1 and 2) After reading chapters 1 and 2 of The Provincials I was able to better understand the relationship between Southern and Jewish histories. This book is written by Eli Evans, who provides an autobiography of growing up Jewish in the bible belt with anecdotes, stories and unfamiliarities in this environment. I found the book moving and uplifting and important to understand how outsiders who entered a xenophobic society were able to assimilate into Southern society, with hard work and determination. It is truly the story of individuals striving for the American Dream. Evans focuses a great amount on the city of Atlanta, which was interesting for me to read being that I have resided in this city for almost 4 years now. I believe after reading these chapters I was able to get a good look into the Jewish South and am excited for what the rest of the book will provide. Evans provides an interpretive history to create an encompassing image of Jewish contributions to the history of the region.
“My parents were one generation away from the immigrant experience but the values of the immigrant experience were forged deep within them” (pg. 29)
“Yet the story of Jews in the south is the story of fathers who built businesses to give to their sons who didn’t want them…”
These two quotes from the story really spoke to me. I found it interesting how a common theme is uncertainty and ambiguity amongst Jewish immigrants. The notion of hard work and determination is how Jews fought this uncertainty and were able to maintain their Jewish culture, heritage and to ultimately succeed in a new place. In addition, these quotes were a great overview of what Evans and his brother experienced. They were close with their families, however, they both strived to do their own thing and create their own legacy for themselves. In summary, some important themes of Jews in the south as a whole is moving upward and the idea of upward mobility, economically, socially and politically. The concept of the American Dream and wanting to be successful while assimilating into a novel culture but also maintaining Jewish heritage. Reading this book, I did not feel an emotional element. I felt as if the book was more historical than emotional, however, it depends on the chapter. The chapter on the family store does spark an emotional feeling, whereas the first chapter does not.