1. The American Experience
Part II

2. 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

3. Anti-Semitism: Social
A Gentleman’s Agreement

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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

7. Religious Adaptation: Conservative Judaism
Treife Banquet (1883)
Break with Reform over Kashrut
Solomon Schecter

8. Religious Adaptation: Orthodox Judaism
Primarily Eastern European
Orthodox Jewish Congregational Union (1898)
Divine revelation
Remain separate
Personal messiah
Nation and religion

9. Religious Adaptation: Reconstructionist Judaism
Mordecai Kaplan ( )
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

10. Jewish Organizations: Goals
Jewish Americans Organized
Motivations:
Jewish Values (Klal Yisrael, Tzedakah)
Main Stream Values (Workers Rights)

11. 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

12. Next Week Continue Reading: Preview: Pages 449-528 in textbook
Jews get involved in America’s big issues
Labor Unions
Civil Rights