Hannah Wolinsky: Questions due Monday November 11

Blog Questions for Monday November 11

Hannah Wolinsky

What was the Jewish experience in the new states? Were Jews welcomed into these nations?

The Jewish experience in the new states was difficult. Jews were far from welcomed- they were discriminated against. Whether they were treated violently, excluded, or boycotted, they were not treated well. Despite this bad treatment, however, Jewish culture prospered in the new states. Most of these new states favored the presiding religion and therefore shut out the Jews. In Poland, Hungary, and Lithuania, there were terrible Pogroms. The worst pogrom occurred in Lvov, Poland, where seventy Jews were murdered. Jews in the Ukraine had it the worst- in some cases stealing, rape, or murder occurred. Thousands of Jews were killed and injured on a regular basis. Although the Jews did enjoy some new freedoms, they were still faced with an imposing amount of anti-Semitism.

What professions were particularly favored by Jews? What kinds of trade did Jews concentrate in?

Jews partook in many jobs and had a large role in society’s economy. Jews were distinguished in law and medicine. Sixty three percent all doctors in both Vienna and Budapest were Jews. In Poland, Jews made up a large majority of the teachers, lawyers, and journalists. In addition to these professions, Jews were greatly involved in business. Sixty percent of the German Jews worked in commerce. Jews controlled sixty percent of Hungary’s commerce. Sixty five percent of the bankers and financial executives were Jewish. A huge eighty eight percent of the stock exchange was Jewish. If Jews were not members of high professions, they engaged in commercial and industrial jobs. Many Jews worked in trade of leather, textiles, clothing, and shoe production. Jews were widely associated with department stores too.