Jewish Identities in Vienna Becky Dernbach German 346 March 1, 2006
Background Anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism Zionism Zionism Formative period for Hitler Formative period for Hitler Major cultural figures Major cultural figures Sigmund Freud Stefan Zweig Gustav Mahler Arnold Schönberg Berta Zuckerkandl Adele Bloch-Bauer Arthur Schnitzler Hugo von Hofmannsthal Peter Altenberg
History and Revolution Long history of anti-Semitism in Vienna Long history of anti-Semitism in Vienna Revolution, 1848 Revolution, 1848 Edict realized in 1868 Edict realized in 1868 Growth Growth –Viennese Jewish population doubled –28 fold increase between
Counter-revolution Revolution not universally popularly supported Revolution not universally popularly supported Emergence of modern anti-Semitic ideology Emergence of modern anti-Semitic ideology Bourgeois-liberal ideas meant anti- Semitism could not flourish right away Bourgeois-liberal ideas meant anti- Semitism could not flourish right away
Post-Revolution Plight Nominal equality Nominal equality In some ways, situation did not improve In some ways, situation did not improve Discrimination, stereotypes abounded Discrimination, stereotypes abounded
Common Stereotypes Extremes of exaggerated displays of wealth or total laziness (Luftmensch syndrome) Extremes of exaggerated displays of wealth or total laziness (Luftmensch syndrome) Arranged marriages Arranged marriages Haggling Haggling Excessive fertility Excessive fertility Disdain for manual labor Disdain for manual labor
Liberalism and Capitalism Both strongly associated with Judaism Both strongly associated with Judaism Center of Catholic romanticism Center of Catholic romanticism Collapse of liberalism no allies for Jews Collapse of liberalism no allies for Jews Stock market crash of 1873 Stock market crash of 1873
Politics and Christianity August Rohling—Der Talmudjude August Rohling—Der Talmudjude Eduard Taaffe, 1879—Premier of Austria Eduard Taaffe, 1879—Premier of Austria Österreichische Reformverein Christian Social Party Österreichische Reformverein Christian Social Party Georg von Schönerer, 1885—Abgeordnete Georg von Schönerer, 1885—Abgeordnete
Karl Lueger Mayor Mayor Originally Jewish himself Originally Jewish himself “Schauspieler” “Schauspieler” Salience of religion, cultural roots Salience of religion, cultural roots “Only the blind and deaf could fail to note an ominous change in the atmosphere, a chilling decline in civility, a more open expression of hitherto latent anti-Jewish ressentiment” (Weitzmann 135) “Only the blind and deaf could fail to note an ominous change in the atmosphere, a chilling decline in civility, a more open expression of hitherto latent anti-Jewish ressentiment” (Weitzmann 135)
Anti-Semitism and Academia 1875—Theodor Billroth’s racial difference thesis 1875—Theodor Billroth’s racial difference thesis 1880—fraternity exclusion 1880—fraternity exclusion –Waidhofener Prinzip University students highly anti-Semitic University students highly anti-Semitic
Self-Awareness Revolution began new stage Revolution began new stage Force of anti-Semitism Force of anti-Semitism Growing numbers of Jews Growing numbers of Jews Different movements developed Different movements developed
Assimilationism Strong assimilationist thrust? (Schorske 7) Strong assimilationist thrust? (Schorske 7) Still separatist in many ways Still separatist in many ways Ideal of Jewish bourgeoisie Ideal of Jewish bourgeoisie Mainstream Judaism assimilationist if that means “the adoption of the lifestyle of the non-Jewish majority and the reform of religious practices to make them more adaptable to modern life and to the norms of behaviour current in the country of which they were citizens” (Weitzmann 124) Mainstream Judaism assimilationist if that means “the adoption of the lifestyle of the non-Jewish majority and the reform of religious practices to make them more adaptable to modern life and to the norms of behaviour current in the country of which they were citizens” (Weitzmann 124) Gymnasium education Gymnasium education
Religious/Societal Dichotomy Secularizing Jewish lifestyles Secularizing Jewish lifestyles Choosing between assimilating, staying culturally Jewish Choosing between assimilating, staying culturally Jewish Working Saturdays Working Saturdays Economic issues Economic issues Remained separate Remained separate
Leopoldstadt Largest concentration Largest concentration “Ghetto” but attractive “Ghetto” but attractive Strengthened identity internally, externally Strengthened identity internally, externally Jews in workforce Jews in workforce
Zionism “What bound the Zionists together was their ideology: that Jews were a people whose vital existence could not be defined in religious terms, that this concept of nationality transcended class and other divisions within Jewry and bound together all Jews who committed and submitted themselves to their national destiny, a national homeland in Palestine” (Weitzmann 144) “What bound the Zionists together was their ideology: that Jews were a people whose vital existence could not be defined in religious terms, that this concept of nationality transcended class and other divisions within Jewry and bound together all Jews who committed and submitted themselves to their national destiny, a national homeland in Palestine” (Weitzmann 144) Jewish nationalism within Austria Jewish nationalism within Austria
Jewish Culture “The Jew belongs in the coffeehouse” (Beller 41) “The Jew belongs in the coffeehouse” (Beller 41) Education Education Political impotence creative energy Political impotence creative energy Response to lack of collective identity among assimilated Jews Response to lack of collective identity among assimilated Jews
Conclusion Responded to growing number and growing anti-Semitism by strengthening various identities Responded to growing number and growing anti-Semitism by strengthening various identities Reveals flaws in romanticized era Reveals flaws in romanticized era Roots of anti-Semitism Roots of anti-Semitism