& Eastern Jewry in the 18th and 19th C. Haskala & Eastern Jewry in the 18th and 19th C.

Haskala - Enlightment The last quarter of the 18th up to the 1880´s Sceptical about hassidic mysticism and dismissal of the belief in messianic liberation : NOT RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT Aim: integration of Jews Maskilim Raising nationalism – every nation has a right on fatherland Feudal system in Europe collapses Ended following the pogroms in 1881-2 when it became evident that enlightment alone was unable to provide the desired emancipation : new movements emereged from its ruins: Hibbath Zion, Zionism, Jewish socialist movement.

Moses Mendelsohn Schutzjude in Berlin translated Tanakh into German with a Hebrew commentary: Bi´ur, 1783 Jerusalem: the state has no right to interfere with the religion of its citizens Philosophical treatises : "the world results from a creative act through which the divine will seeks to realize the highest good."

Moses Mendelsohn Plurality of truths – various nations need different constitutions – so individuals may need different religions Lessing, Nathan the Wise (= Mendelsohn) – spokesman for love and humanity; classic on religious tolerance JEWISHNESS= RELIGION

Haskala The study of non-religious disciplines should be a part of the education of Jewish children Jews should have perfect knowledge of the language of the country (somewhere led to disappearance of yiddish) + the study of Hebrew should be encouraged Jewish history and religion should be studied in depth – with scientific method Jewish religion should be adapted to the conditions of the modern world The Jews should have a fatherland like every other nation in the world Bettering relations by lessening of the differences New rationalistic interpretation of traditional religious values  often conflicts with ortodox Jews Secular learning (cities, universities – law, medicine) sharply refused in the rural traditionalist shtetleks

Zionism Emancipation does not work, let´s be Jewish Discrimination continued to exist (Dreyfuss) Emancipation did not lead to an end of prejudice (Middle- Ages – religion; 18th/ 19th c- economy reasons; 19th c. – nation based on blood)

Eastern Jewry in the 18th and 19th C. Partitions of Poland 1772-1795 : lasted untill 1918 900 000 Jews in Poland – 10% of the total population (a relatively large number due to early marriage and lower infant mortality) Prussia, Russia, Austria – Jews became subject to the laws of three different powers – more complex and unhappy phase In Prussia and Austria Jews recquired to accept Germanic surnames

1772- 1794

Eastern Jewry in the 18th and 19th C. Austria: Galicia, Free Republic of Cracow Russia: Lithuania, Belarussia, Ukraine - 60% of the Polish territory and 45% of its population; 700 000 Jews = Polish kingdom (Congress Poland) Prussia – the lowest number of Jews, the poorest Jews expelled from the country („protected“ x „tolerated“ Jews – untill 1848)

Pale of Settlement 1791, Catherine the Great – 1917 Alexandr I. - assimilation Nicolas I, 1825-55 – cantonists Alexandr II, 1855-81 abolished cantonist system Assasinated by revolutionaries  pogroms 1881-1914 2,5 mio Jews leave – 2 mio to America 1920 – immigration to US strictly limited – end AFTER WWII

Economic and Social Life Partitions  Polish nobles start considering Jews as COMPETITION Ghettos in the cities – increasing pauperisation  antisemitism Small number of Jewish millionaires – Lodz, textile industry  antisemitism = anticapitalism Assimilation or acculturation – esp. maskilim in the cities Secularization Emancipation of women in traditional families

Outside the Pale: Prussia „Protected“ Jews (Schutzjuden) Wealthy German-speaking Cities, encouraged to assimilate Tolerated Jews equal rights only in 1848

Habsburg Empire

Bohemia and Moravia Prague, 17th c.: European cultural center of Jewish life (10 000 Jews; 4 000 in Berlin; 3 000 in Vienna) 1726 Family Laws – Charles VI 1744 Expulsion of Jews - Maria Theresa

Bohemia and Moravia Joseph II, Edict of Tolerance and the following edicts Jews became almost equal and were allowed to study at public schools Banned from using hebrew and „Jewish language“ in their public and commercial records Germanization: names to be chosen from a government-prepared list Jews are liable for military service Abolished rabbinical juridical autonomy Did not gain the right of citizenship

Bohemia and Moravia 1849 1867 emancipation Industrialization Jews can leave the Prague ghetto Family laws abolished 1867 emancipation Industrialization Jewish high bourgeoisie – German oriented Jewish middle class – Czech oriented Many conversions

Galicia and Bukovina Large Jewish population - before WWI 1 mio Jews in Galicia Predominantly Hasidic Jews Joseph II – better situation than in Russia, difficult economic situation

Hungary 1910: 900 000 Jews = 5% of the population 23% Jewish population in Budapest – neolog Orthodox countryside