Chapter 11

Claudia Hernandez
April 21, 2008
LAS 284
Chapter 11
Between “Two Endless Days”

The Jews of Russia and Eastern Europe also began their migration to America during the 1800’s. Unlike the Japanese immigrants, they could not return to their homeland, and almost everywhere government officials had encouraged acts of violence against Jews. “The pogroms, observed Abraham Cahan, forced Jews to realize that “Russia was not their homeland and that a true home must be found for the Jews. But Where?”” (279) So when they heard stories about freedom and a better life in a land called America and how well ordinary people were doing here they started to migrate. By the beginning of World War I, one-third of all Jews in Russia and Eastern Europe had emigrated, most of them to the United States.
Although they often thought about all the possibilities and wealth that could await them in America, they couldn’t stop but wonder if they would ever return or see their loved ones again. This is something that I think all people migrating here or to another place in hope of a better future must go through. Sadly, most immigrants saw themselves as exiles, unable to return to Russia as long as religious persecution persisted. The Jews had to make America their new home.
Jewish immigrants were educated, 80% of the women and 63% of the women who came between 1908 and 1912 were literate. Not only did they bring their values, they brought something more useful, their skills, especially in the sewing trades.
They settled in the lower east side and began to establish a community. They formed networks composed of people from the same town or district in Russia. This is still seen nowadays.
Similar to the Irish women who migrated here, most young Jewish women working were single, planning to work for a few years before marrying.
Similar to the