The American Jewish Community In The1930s

In the third decade of the20th century, the Great Depression was a heavy blow to the American Jewishcommunity. It had not only destroyed the economic foundation which was established by the early Jewishimmigrants and their descendants in the United States, and also posed a great threat to the survival of the EasternEuropean Jewish immigrants who were the third largest immigrants reached America. At the same time, theeconomic crisis triggered the wave of anti-Semitism, the lack of belief and cultural issues. The American Jewishcommunity had experienced a full range of shock of political, religious, cultural and other aspects. These factorsforced the American Jewish new immigrants and the early settlers stand together dealing with the changes of theliving environment.In1930s, the formation of American Jewish "Sub-economic circle" had provided the indispensableconditions for the development of Jewish participation in politics, the Zionist, religious reform as well as cultureand the development of education. This period was a turning point to the American Jewish community, benefitedfrom the economic and public opinion advantagements, they actively engaged the United States’ political world,and influenced the Roosevelt administration and the United States’ immigration policy. Facing up to the greatpressure of secularization of the religious subsector in the entire United States, the American Jewish communityactively adjusted the relationship with the major religion, the religious tolerance provided a great chance to thesurvival and development of the Jews in the United States, and the Five-day work rules stablished the status ofJudaism in the United States. When the Jewish people who had considered American as their new homeland,they suffered a series of spiritual frustration which push them return to their national culture, and rebuild theirnational country after the World War II.Pressured by many kinds of survival pressure, the American Jewish community began their great changesin1930s, these changes rapidly improved the economic status in America, and their tradition of participation inpolitic life had been carried forward which began to influence American national policy. After World War II, thesympathy showed to the Jewish people who experienced the Holocaust changed the surviving condition, and theAmerican Jewish community realized their golden developing times. The rise of cultural and national identity sense promoted the revival of Jewish culture; Additionally, Judaism had become one of the main three religioncommunity. In a word, the period of1930s was a very important transformation period for the American Jewishcommunity, which not only brought depression and despair, but also provided precious survival experience forthe American Jewish community to adapt to the American life.