Jewish Myth

Thus, the records clearly illustrated on the financial aspect of the Jews and the faulty assumptions from many writers. Another study estimated that, “of the nation’s six million Jews, between 700,000 and 800,000 were poor.” (Steinberg 90). Thus, many of the Jews started out at the same level as others and many were regarded as penniless. To assess their rapid mobility, we must first look at their background of origin from Eastern Europe. The Jews were prohibited from owning land over there. So, we cannot assume that their owning of land previously might be the reason why they can have a greater financial level. But, Jews had jobs in the rural economy of the countries, and gained significant experience as merchants and traders. Plus, they had jobs that prepared them for the modern industrial economy. According to the 1897 Russian census, “38 percent of Jews were employed in manufacturing or as artisans and another 32 percent in commerce, making a total of 70 percent.” (Steinberg 95). Jews played an important role in key industries that helped them grow rapidly in the United States. Jews owned about 365 mills producing sugar, tobacco and
other products and have put Russia in the world market and not only that, they also had a role in some of the leading branches of Russia such as banking, railroad construction and extracting industries. However, not to give the impression that Jews made great fortune in Eastern Europe that is, “…on the whole, Eastern European Jews were unquestionably poor….” (Steinberg 97). Despite being poor, however, Jews had advanced economic sector of their country of origin and had main concentration towards the growing industrial sector of America. This was one of the upper hand for the Jews to begin with. Their skills from Eastern Europe served them well and at the correct time. Other immigrants were mainly farm laborers or not at all skilled. A data shown by United States Immigration Commission in 1911 showed that, “Among the Jewish immigrants arriving between 1899 and 1910, two-thirds or 67 percent of the adult labor force were classified as skilled. The figures for English, Germans and Scandinavians are much lower: 49, 30, and 20 percent, respectively.” (Steinberg 98). No other immigrant group had this much of skills and because of their skills they were paid higher wages than other immigrants due to the fact that they can work for higher positions and had the skills to back it up too. In one of the data by U.S. Immigration Commission, it showed that foreign-born male workers were paid between $11.92 and $12.91, while on the contrary, Jews were paid between $13.28 and $14.90. Clearly showing the financial earning advantage for the Jew and also why they were successful much quicker than the others. Another explanation is that their literacy rate was higher than that of other immigrants. According to the 1897 Russian census, “…literacy for those over ten years of age was 50 percent for Jews and 28 percent for non- Jews” (Steinberg 101). Comparing this to the fact that immigrants from Western Europe literacy rate never exceeded 5 percent and also from northern Italy it was only 12 percent. Literacy has helped the Jews to learn a new language (English) faster than any other immigrant. Plus, it facilitated them to get jobs in positions which requires an individual to read and write. Different ethnicities came to the United States in pursuit of the American dream and that it was a safe haven for many immigrants. Various groups had several results and various challenges, but Jews were given special attention because of their quick success in the United States and that caught the eye of many sociologists to advance a theory for the Jews because of amount of success perceived by them. As the theories started to roll in many other writers started to follow the theory of the other writers with only a few changes, but the overall idea was the same. With no thorough background research, the theories that relate to the Jews culture and unity started to pile up, symbolizing Jews as the success source. According to Steinberg, “Thus, it is held that there are ethnic reasons for ethnic success, and the causes are to be formed within the group themselves.” (83). Therefore, many would look into the groups only and judge them of their beliefs, behavior and religion, in order to explain a theory that was difficult to answer as to why the Jews were rapidly growing? Hence, it did influence our cognition as to why or how are they “actually” successful? Giving a platform to many writers and novelist, like Stephen Steinberg to research and creating a curiosity in people to research about the Jews from their origin and to assess the factors that made them successful at a time when the industry was growing. If they came at a different time they might not have been that successful, and it is rightfully said that, “Thus, in large measure Jewish success in America was a matter of historical timing” (Steinberg 103). Thus, this myth that arose did give a significance in our culture.
Which is, a myth is a theory that has no evidence or has no facts that back it up, but it does give a theory to help understand people at a time when no other answer is given, it did play a role to help understand people why the Jews were successful, but at the same time, raised the curiosity of other people to challenge the myth with facts and to prove the actual reason for the Jews success. A myth plays a role of filling a hole when nothing is able to fill it, even in today’s society too. Hence, Jewish success was due to their skills and literacy and at a time when the industry was growing. Which helped the Jews to accomplish goals set forth by them, but also having the skills and knowledge to make those goals a realistic chance of achieving
them.