Bread Givers

In the 20th century, Jewish immigrants fought to keep their culture and religion alive in their communities within America. Jewish scholars and teachers, or rabbis, continued to study their holy books. A major area of study revolved around the study of the Torah, which includes the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament. The study of the Torah and other holy books reminded the Jewish communities of their cultural traditions and practices. Jewish law requires a strict observation of the Sabbath, dietary restrictions, and observations of Jewish holidays. As Jewish immigrants integrated into American culture in the 20th century, many members of the Jewish community feared that they would lose their religion due to the Americanization movement. The Americanization movement encouraged the spread of American culture and philosophies to unify the different traditions and religions that continued to come into America.

Younger Jewish immigrants pushed back against the religion’s patriarchal belief system. In the 20th century, Judaism, like other religions, relied heavily on the idea of a patriarchal system, which dehumanized and discriminated against Jewish women. However, as young Jewish women integrated into American society, they realized the oppression of this belief system and either left the religion or looked to find a way to democratize Judaism.