As I mentioned in last week's blog, I thought the whole idea of the "Jew Store" was a really interesting concept that I wanted to continue learning about. Ironically, the first two chapters in the Provincial resurfaced my interest while simultaneously explaining what it's like to grow up in the family store. I found it rather interesting to assess the demand for such a small store selling cheap products but with a large competitive market. However, the author points out that "if anything happened, it would be the classy stores that would go out of business because people would come to where it was cheapest" (27). I thought it was particularly noteworthy to point out the specific word choice that the author uses to describe his competitors. The term "classy" is used not only to describe stores around them but also the types of people the store caters to and attracts. Here, we see an immediate generalization and separation between minority and religious groups against the whites. This distinction and clear racial segregation has been a recurring theme throughout the different readings we have been assigned over the course of the semester. Additionally, the author points out how the groups of people that their family store caters to is particularly for "the Negro trade." (27). This store was one of the first stores to allow black people to have access to their bathrooms and facilities. The relationship between the black people during this time period and the Jewish people holds a huge element of significance and value. The Jewish people in the south, particularly store owners, have gone out of their way to push for the freedom and liberation of the African Americans living in these particular cities. Despite all the animosity and hardships that these poor storeowners have undergone, they continue fighting for the minority groups that surround these towns in hopes to achieve southern liberalism.
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Usually when I am choosing to read a book, memoirs are probably my last choice. However, reading "The Jew Store" a family memoir by Stella Suberman took me by surprise and exceeded all my expectations. Not only was this memoir touching, emotional and comical, but, I also found it quite relatable and helpful in achieving my goal of gaining a deeper understanding of Judaism. When I first read the title, I thought a Jew Store meant a store that sold Jewish people, silly I know. However, upon delving into the memoir, the Jew Store meant so much more than what I had thought. The Jew Store was seen as a place that sold things at a low cost with its main consumer market being members of working class families and African Americans. I also noticed that the Jew Store had an underlying representation throughout the memoir as well. It represented a place that gave this Jewish family , the Bronsons, something to be proud of during a time where racism and oppression were the main points of conversation. Similarly, the idea of the store was demonstrative of equality and equal opportunities for minorities. It showed other citizens of Concordia that minority groups are just as capable and have the intelligence to be successful. It also shows that with any amount of perseverance and determination you can reach your ultimate goals in life. Being the only Jewish family in this town, the Bronsons chose to step out of their comfort zone and not let the generalizations of society stop them from doing what they wanted to do. The Jew Store is a sign of hope toward a more liberal and accepting future for the Jewish people. Another aspect that I found interesting about the memoir was the presence of African Americans. As I mentioned above, African Americans frequented the Jew Store, however, they were forced to enter from the back door. I thought this point was rather interesting because it shows the clear discrimination toward these minority groups and separation that they had to be subjected to from society. That being said, Aaron Bronson, the store owner, again decided to rise above the generalizations imposed by society and was the first person to hire an African American in his store. This is relatable to the relationship previously discussed in class between the African Americans and the Jewish people particularly in the south. It put a smile on my face to know that despite tough times, the Jewish people were always willing to lend a hand to those in need and breakdown the barriers created by elitists throughout this time period.
Chapter 5 was enriching with history regarding the Civil War. I found it quite interesting that Rosen decided to delve into southern cities, more specifically how they were perceived throughout this time period. For example, I never would have thought that Louisiana was “emblematic of the acculturation and assimilation of Jews in the antebellum South” (109). When reading about these cities, all southern cities that I tend to visit rather frequently, not once did I ever think to myself about the Jewish community that exists or that existed years ago. This chapter made me realize the importance of Jewish roots and when reflecting, always have Judaism in the back of my mind. When I would think of the south, in my head, I would always think that it would be more culturally segregated and not as welcoming of minority groups as the north would be. However, I was mistaken. The northern states weren’t nearly as hospitable towards Jews as the southern states were. The Jews that resided in the south fought so vehemently for confederacy as they had a sense of pride and determination that was unparalleled and quite admirable. I thought this quote would resonate well with class discussion and it was one of my favorites of the chapter as well. “We of the South, feel that prudence and self defense demand that we should protect ourselves” (113). These people were fighting for independence and freedom at the risk of their own lives but what mattered to them most was that they fought for what was rightfully theirs and for their own individual freedom.
Learning about Jewish peddlers was not only a foreign subject to me but prior, I had absolutely no idea what it even meant. Therefore, upon reading the header of the chapter, I decided to delve into my own research before engaging in the reading for last week. That being said, one of the aspects of peddling that interested me the most was that it was used as a means to forge relationships between Jews and non Jews. I think this type of relationship building, amongst all the animosity and hatred that was being spewed during this time period, was necessary in fostering relations between different religious groups. More specifically, as Diner points out "the Jewish peddlers, as it were, taught their Christian customers something about Judaism, and real, as opposed to mythic, Jews" (91). This type of openness towards their respective beliefs was rather refreshing considering the racial generalizations we had discussed in prior chapters. I never realized the importance that peddlers had in the United States. Not only were their services used in most regions of the United States, but their presence was so widespread that they had representation in various different cities across North America. What is interesting is the region of the south in particular, attracted peddlers for a longer period of time. The activities of peddlers really set the stage for penetrating what they deemed as "unknown spaces" and eventually cleared the ground for the settlement of Jewish communities. The topic of Jewish peddlers throughout this chapter really opened my eyes to the various aspects of Judaism that I was never exposed to. I think the phenomenon of being a peddler gives these people an advantage to be exposed to new languages, cultures, and social settings. It really gave them a leg up as they were experts at developing relationships with people some based upon business and others merely pleasure. They had to fully immerse themselves in their customers life which meant they needed to understand their day to day culture, religious beliefs and living needs. This adaptation and the broader theme of peddlers showed me the transformation and development of a very important skill used practically every day in my life; relationship building.
Chapters 6 and 8 were especially eye opening. As my first blog, I thought it would be more beneficial to look at a more broad topic that both chapters touch on; the strong disparities between the blacks and the whites beginning in the Progressive Era. I find it to be so interesting how this divide was increasingly emphasized by the whites. There was no hierarchy within the black community. The psychology behind belittling a member of a different race, or ethnicity is highlighted here as well. This view of society, in particular the way the whites treated the blacks throughout this time period, was demonstrative of the fact that they wanted to prove their strength and superiority at a time where cultural divide was beginning to mesh more and more and immersion was being widely accepted. How does this tie into Jews one may ask? Well, this categorization and generalization applied to the Jews in society at this time. They were equally categorized by the whites as a group that was a racial minority. I found this quote to be particularly interesting in Chapter 6 as it explains the identity crisis that the southern Jewish people faced. "Jewish racial identity became a problem not because of the new immigrants [...] but because southerners continued to perceive in all Jews [...] distinct social, economic and political characteristics..." (138). This categorization and generalization was further highlighted to the wider public. A trend that grew popular especially in the South was the fact that the racial divide was determined by the division of the color lines. People felt strongly to categorize ethnic minorities by placing them on either side of the color line. I thought this topic was particularly interesting because not only do we see how much more progressive the world is today than it was, but also, the racial and ethnic distinctions that were made about Jews in the South in particular. In addition, I enjoyed how Chapter 8 highlighted the importance of activism, particularly in the South. Some were motivated by religious impulses and others by secular humanism. Although the notion of activism and protecting ones religious group is so important, the chapter sheds light on how both the African Americans and the Jews during this time were extremely reliant on the Whites. This reliance only further strengthened the power that the Whites had over the rest of the minorities and gave them the strength that they were seeking to be the most powerful.
As you have probably read on my "About" page, my name is Carolyn Leopold and I am passionate about my Jewish identity. I decided to take this class for my many reasons. Although I was Bat Mitzvah'd at age 13, I noticed that I was rather lost in what I thought I knew about Jewish culture and history. I soon realized that my background and knowledge that I thought I had was rather surface and I didn't understand the true meaning of Judaism. Particularly, living in Atlanta for the past four years and taking a personal interest in Savannah, Georgia, this topic, needless to say, peaked my interest. I always enjoyed the strong Orthodox presence around Emory campus as it made me feel like there was a strong presence of a Jewish community so close to home. That being said, I always wondered what the rest of Georgia was like and exactly where most Jewish people resided in the state. I visited Savannah two years ago for a long weekend. The beautiful cobble stone walkways, small yet charming establishments and magnificent views were just a few highlights of my trip. It was obvious that this small city on the outskirts of Georgia had so much to offer and was rich in history. Ironically, here I am today delving into that history that created the foundations for such a quaint getaway. While reading Chapter 1 and really trying to gain a full understanding of what exactly this course has to offer, I found myself reflecting on the importance of jewish identity. The immigration of both Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews to Savannah is particularly appealing to me as I have personally visited this place and can relate to the history that lies beneath its cobble stones. Southern Judaism has never been a topic that I have even remotely thought about. After our class introduction, I found myself doing my own personal research on the particular immigration to Savannah. I think it is extremely important to use a global lens that draws on the Jewish diaspora and learn more about the differences between Jewish people in the North versus those in the South. Chapter 1, for me, highlighted the need to dig into exactly what we believe in, our faith, practices and our own individual identities.
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