History Of Modern Judaism In Central Europe

History Of Modern Judaism In Central Europe

A New Era, a New Life

For centuries in Europe, the Jewish people were oppressed, mistreated, not given equal rights and disliked simply because they were different than the majority based on their beliefs. The Jewish people would lead themselves to a new part of the world where they can start new and be one with their country. This country is America. In the late 19th and early 20th century, America was seen as the land of freedom and opportunity where people can escape from mistreatment to discover a new way of living, an equal way of living. During this time frame, “a third of the Jewish population in Eastern Europe immigrated to America” (Diner 2004, pg. 74) to start a new chapter of their life. In America, Jews were able to live a much higher quality life compared to the situation for Jews in Europe. The chapters written by Hasia Diner, Jonathan Sarna, and the primary sources including “Off to America!” by L. Kompert, “Constitution of the United States”, “The Concordance of Judaism and Americanism” by Kaufmann Kohler all support the theory that in the late 19th and early 20th century, life in America was far superior for the Jewish people than in Europe.
The Jewish people in Europe accepted their mistreatment for many years but when they decided enough was enough, they decided to immigrate to America in search for a better life. In the article “Off to America”, by Kompert, he writes to inspire the Jewish people to stand up and not accept how they are being treated. He says “For centuries, our history has been nothing but a silent acceptance of every torture, agony and restriction they have chosen to impose on us! But should we always accept, always bow our head! ... Once we want to resist—and then we shall move on!” (Kompert, pg. 463). He is saying that for once the Jewish people should refuse to accept the standards of life and do something about it. Once something is done, then the Jewish people shall move on. In other words,...