1. Jewish People: Race, Religion or Ethnic Group?
Jews are a subordinate group
Unequal treatment
Share a cultural history that distinguishes them from the dominant group
Ascribed status or involuntary status
Group solidarity
In-group marriage

2. Jewish People: Race, Religion or Ethnic Group?
Jewish identity among Jews is based on a shared culture - thus Jews are best classified as an ethnic minority
The trend in the United States among Jews has been toward Judaization -lessening of the significance of religion and an increase in culture as the bond among Jews

3. Immigration of Jews to the United States
First Jewish migration occurred around 1654 from Spain and Portugal (Refugees)
Largest Jewish migration occurred around the turn of nineteenth century
Immigration Act of 1920 reduced Jewish immigration
Recent immigration has been from Israel, Soviet Union and Iran

4. Figure 14-3 Intergroup Relations Continuum

5. Anti-Semitism Past and Present
Origins of anti-Semitism
Blamed for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
Formation of negative stereotypes over the years
Fringe-of-values theory by Gordon Allport (1979) and the formation of negative stereotypes
Jewish group identity as a means of adapting to a hostile environment and in-group virtues becoming out-group vices
Discrimination as a source of anti-Semitism

6. Holocaust
Holocaust - state-sponsored systematic extermination of European Jews by Nazi Germany
German policy and the restriction of the rights of Jews
Between two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population were killed

7. Unites States Anti-Semitism: Past
Colonial America and anti-Semitism
Peter Stuyvesant’s attempt to expel Jews from what is New York city today
The 1920’s and 1930’s saw an increase in anti- Semitism
Perpetuation of false propaganda - In the forged documents “Protocols of the Elders of Zion”
The publications of the Protocols and anti-Semitism

8. Differences Between Anti-Semitism in the United States and Europe
First - United States government never promoted anti-Semitic policies
Second - anti-Semitism was not institutionalized in the United States
Third - Jews did not develop a defensive ideology in order to survive

9. Contemporary Anti-Semitism
Anti-Defamation League
Monitors anti-Semitic incidents
Rise in numbers in 1990’s and 2001
American Jews and the relationship with Israel
Source of unity and identity
Zionism - and anti-Semitism
African Americans and Anti-Semitism
Fewer anti-Semitic and more anti-White institutions

10. Figure 14-4 Anti-Semitic Incidents, 1980-2002

11. Position of Jewish Americans
Declining discrimination in the business world
Jewish MBAs and job opportunities
Rising rapidly up the corporate hierarchy
Higher salaries
Declining poverty and the invisible poor

12. Education Judaic religion and the emphasis on formal schooling
Emphasis on education
Higher educational attainment
Prejudice at school

13. Organizational Activity
United Jewish Appeal - founded in (1939) raises funds for humanitarian causes
American Jewish Committee - founded in (1906) to improve Jewish-Gentile relations
American Jewish Congress - founded in (1918) to improve Jewish-Gentile relations
B’nai B’rith - founded in (1843) to promote cultural programs (ADL)

14. Political Activity Jewish voters and the Democratic party
Political offices
Politics and the New Left
Politics and Israel

15. Religious Life Orthodox: Conservative: Reconstructionist Reform:
Just Jewish:
7 %
29% 2%
33%

17. The Orthodox Tradition
Torah
Life is conducted according to tradition and rituals
Kashrut - food

18. The Reform Tradition Very religious
Changed traditions to reflect social changes
Conservative Judaism – in between Orthodox and Reform

19. Jewish Identity
Yiddishkait - Jewish Americans and a sense of peoplehood (Jewishness)
Jewish women and Jewish identity
Halakha

20. Family Delayed marriage
Single life has become increasingly more acceptable
Declining birth rate, acceptability of childlessness and rising divorce rate
Decline in intergenerational roles in the family
Decline in Jewishness in daily live

21. Figure 14-5 Generational Patterns by Denomination

22. Role of Religion Judaism and religious diversity
Traditional Jewish Law
Religion and marginality
The role of culture
Maintaining a sense of peoplehood