HIST 5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Sephardi Jews, Acculturation, Hasidic Judaism
Document Summary
History 5- lecture #2- jews and non-jews in europe before ww2. Most jews in interwar europe lived in eastern europe (6. 8 million of 9. 5 million) Across europe, jews were concentrated in urban centers. Yet , in urban centers, jews represented a near majority. Internally divided by class, language, politics, and religious practices. The older the nation state in which they lived, the more acculturate was a given jewish population. Divided by how many are observant jews, how they practice and adhere to laws. Acculturation: jews can slowly abandon their customs, while still maintaining a sense of themselves as jews. Middle class, acculturated, identified with the nation they lived in. Speakers of the language of the majority. Tended to not be very religiously observant. Very high rate of conversion of jews to christianity. Very high percentage married to non jews. High up in the ranks of professions in germany, many high decorated military officers.
