1

Signature Assignment: Survival Amidst Diaspora

Stacey Troup

History of the Jewish People/HIS-155

October 26, 2016

Eli Eleff

2

Signature Assignment: Survival Amidst DiasporaIn this Week 8 Signature Assignment, I will address the origin of Jewish diaspora as well

as how the Jewish people were able to survive throughout history. Despite their exile from their

home land, their attempted extermination by Hitler during WWII, and much historic rivalry with

other religions and countries, they continue to remain a strong, faithful community of people

determined to thrive.

Origins of Diaspora

In 722 B.C., Assyrians conquered Israel causing its Hebrew inhabitants to scatter across

the Middle East. Nebuchadnezzar, the then King of Babylon, deported the Jews in 597 and 586

B.C. but allowed them to remain in Babylon as a unified community. In 538 B.C., Cyrus the

King of Persian, allowed the Jews to return to their homeland, but this was to be short lived. The

diaspora is considered to have begun in 597 B.C. following all of the exile they endured.

Following these events, when the Jewish state came to an end in 70 A.D. at the hands of the

Romans, they were driven in droves from their homeland (The Diaspora, n.d.).

WWII and Post War Diaspora

Hitler and his anti-semitic vision came to life with the establishment of the first of over

1000 concentration camps designed to exterminate all who opposed the Nazi regime in 1933.

His reign of terror caused the Jews who had disbursed across the land to be forced into “Ghettos”

and “Concentration Camps” or “Death Camps” this was, no doubt, an attempt by Hitler to amass

these Jews and exterminate them from existance once and for all (The Holocaust: Timeline of

Jewish Persecution, n.d.).

At the end of the 19th Century, the Zionist movement advocated the return to Palestein

and the establishment of a Jewish Independent State (The Daily Telegraph, n.d.). Growing

temptations to assimilate and integrate into host lands increased the desire to cease persecution

3

and anti-sematism. A growing problem at the time was how to prevent the defection of indivials

within the Jewish faith as well as the host countries. The desire to integrate, without prejudice,

into these new lands and groups resulted in the Jews having to adapt and integrate into these

areas without bias (Gale, 2008)

On December 22, 1945, following the establishment of the United Nations and the end of

World War II, President Truman signed a directive giving preferential visa status to displaced

persons following the liberation of the Jews held in captive who wished to flee the land for their

safety and continuation. Fleeing to the U.S. and Canada following the relaxed visa authorization,

many Jews decided to flee back to Israel (The Holocaust: Timeline of Jewish Persecution, n.d.).

The decision to flee to specific areas of the world were largely based on economic, safety

and community factors surrounding the individuals. Several countries who were part of the

United Nations, were forced to accept exiled Jews into their countries because of specific

sanctions guaranteeing their safety (Mehta, 2012).

Following WWII, the Zionist strategy was not only possible but also highly appealing.

The methodology provived opportunity for survival and national revival of the Jews.

Membership in the Zionist movement was, however, limited during post WWII climates for the

Jews (The Diaspora, n.d.; Gale, 2008).

Modern Disapora Survival/Flourishing

With the establishment of Israel as a Jewish State in 1948, the Isralei’s joined the

diaspora voluntarily. Host countries where these people sought refuge, provided communal

living opportunities which guaranteed the continued survival and thriving of the Jews (Gale,

2008).

4

Following the release of Jewish persecution and suppression of their people, the windows

to the world were finally open for them to make their way in the world (Gale, 2008). Within the

United States, with the support of their communities of fellow Jewish immigrants, Jews were

able to reestablish themselves as driven, successful and productive members of society. New

York in particular was a hub for such immigrants whereby burroughs had been set up by Jewish

faith communities and had been welcoming its new residents while helping them toward their

success (Sarna & Golden, N.D.).

Thanks to the educational background of the Jews prior to their WWII diaspora, the U.S.

expereinced a great benefit as many other Jews entered the fields of entertainment, philanthropy,

and education, helping generations thrive (New York Jewish History, N.D.).

These benefits provided by Jewish immigrants during their U.S. diaspora helped rebuild

our country following the war and launch new businesses and ventures not available at the time.

Additionally, the Jewish women who were part of this diaspora made great contributions within

the U.S. thanks to their community of political networks and religious institutions which allowed

for the launching of careers outside the home. Included in the postwar benefits for women was

the opportunity for further education, something that was not considered an option for them

before migrating to the U.S. (Rutgers University, 2010). We cannot effecitvely discuss the

Jewish contribution to the American economy and the advancement of Jews following the war

without including Jewish women and their contribution to this effort.

Women were a driving force in the assistance to other Jewish immigrants through the

formation of the National council of Jewish Women when it was reestablished in the U.S.

Through their commitment to help those in need, they were able to raise funds with the help of

influential familes such as the deBeerses, the Sulzbergers, Harts, they were able to design and

5

implement influential programs for support and success of immigrants both Jewish and non

Jewish alike. Post war changes to the group included an adaptation of Zionism. Committed to

social justice and Women’s Rights in particular, they were instrumental in the legalazation of

birth control in the United States (Rutgers University, 2010).

Conclusion

Although the Jews faced much hatred and opposition for centuries, their faith guided

them to overcome these challenges and rise as resiliant people who will not be forgotten.

Through their faith and the communities of faith which supported exiled immigrants causing

diaspora, these people were able to regain their positions in society and contribute to the greater

good of both their communities and their host countries through educational commitments to

both their Jewish students as well as to the business communities they worked within.

Modern entertainment would be nothing without the contribution of the Jewish people

and this contribution was due to the diaspora from New York following the Depression whereby

Jews fled to the west in search of prosperity and success. Always seeking succeess, they were

able to establish a community and thrive regardless of where diaspora took them.

While in concenration camps, images can be seen where Jews, even though starving and

near death, still found the faith to try to celebrate the holidays that meant the world to their faith,

albeit in a secret way so as not to be punished for these actions.

Jewish women came into the forefront in the U.S. following WWII with their

commitment to social justice and women’s rights, proving that they were a force for change. Not

abandoning their faith or beliefs, they developed social justice organizations for change and were

instrumental in social reform that is not to be ignored or overshadowed by the accomplishments

of their male counterparts but shold be considered an equal contribution to society as a whole.

6

The Jewish people have proven they are driven, educated, successful and determined for

centuries because of their faith and this belief is not one to be shaken. The Diaspora which

caused their immigtation to other lands only benefitted those lands in the long run as the Jewish

people were determined to be integral parts of their societies and to spread their message of

community and faith among their new lands.

7

References

Gale, T. (2008). The Jewish Diaspora. Retrieved from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/philosophy-and-religion/judaism/judaism/jewish-diaspora

Mehta, P. M. (2012, 10 24). Jewish Migration Before and After WWII. Retrieved from Prezi.com: https://prezi.com/euvboyz5xmxg/jewish-migration-before-and-after-wwii/

New York Jewish History. (N.D.). Retrieved from New York State Archives: http://www.4uth.gov.ua/usa/english/society/religion/jewhist.htm

Rogow, F. (2009, 03 20). National Council of Jewish Women. Retrieved from Jewish Women's Archive: http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/national-council-of-jewish-women

Rutgers University. (2010). Jewish Feminine Mystique in Postwar America. In Jewish Feminine Mystique in Postwar America (pp. 3-6). Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Sarna, J., & Golden, J. (N.D.). The American Jewish Experience in the 20th Century. Retrieved from National Humanities Center: http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/twenty/tkeyinfo/jewishexpb.htm

The Daily Telegraph. (n.d.). How the Jews Survived. Retrieved from Dangoor.com: http://www.dangoor.com/74029.html

The Diaspora. (n.d.). Retrieved from Jewish Virtual Library: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Diaspora.html

The Holocaust: Timeline of Jewish Persecution. (n.d.). Retrieved from Jewish Virtual Library: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/chron.html