October 28: Growth of the Jewish Population and the Metropolitization of the Jews

1. How and why did the Jewish population increase so rapidly in the 19th century?

During the 19th century, high birth rates and low death rates contributed heavily to the Jewish population growth. The Jewish population added up to about 2.7 million in 1800, and by 1900 it rose to 8.7 million. By 1910, the number was over 12 million. The high birth rates and low death rates posit that the Jews seemed to be a healthy people. This is possibly due to the lack of alcohol consumption amongst most Jews, which contrasted the heavy alcohol consumption of most Europeans. 

Jewish families also tended to be smaller and had fewer children, therefore parents could appropriately provide food and resources for their offspring. Another reason for this population increase could that Jewish mothers tended to breast-feed to a greater extent and for a longer period of time. Traditionally, Jewish mothers also tended to stay at home, which allowed them to look after their children all the time. Jewish hygiene habits also have been considered a reason for their increased longevity, specifically vigorous hand washing. 

2. Why did Jews move to cities and which cities became large Jewish centers?

"Metropolization" is the term Salo Baron uses to refer to the influx of Jews moving into cities. Note that Jews urbanized before the majority of the population. Most urban Jews were those who were alienated from the land. This othering and ostracizing of the Jews made for heavy Jewish population in cities. Even cities that had a small Jewish population still held above 50% of the overall population. 

Cities that became large Jewish centers were Amsterdam, Berlin, and Salonika. This was partly due to the expulsion of Jews, for example, from Spain. After the expulsion, Jews simply continued to move into the city. St. Petersburg also grew in Jewish population, as did Odessa, which was a very "lively Jewish intellectual and commercial center". This exposure provided Jews with culture, industrialization, and commercialization that would come to shape Judaism and Jewish beliefs. This success of the Jews would later contribute to the growth of antisemitism in Europe.