The 'estranged' generation? : social and generational change in interwar British Jewry

This book focuses on the nature and extent of social change, integration and identity transformation within the Jewish community of Britain during the interwar years. It probes the notion – widely articulated by Jewish communal leaders at this time – that the immigrant second generation (i.e. British and foreign-born children of Russian and Eastern European Jews who migrated to Britain in the late Victorian era up to the First World War) had ‘estranged’ themselves from their Jewishness, Jewish elders and peers and were fast assimilating into the British mainstream.The volume analyses the second generation’s developing outlooks and behavioural trends in a variety of environments, effectively charting the changes and continuities present therein. As a whole, the book sheds light on the varied ways in which this group developed new identities that both drew from and reflected their Jewish and British heritage. "Acknowledgements"--"Contents"--"Abbreviations"--"List of Figures" -- "Chapter 1 Introduction" -- "Chapter 2 Home and Family Life" -- "Attitudes Towards Immigrant Elders" -- "Yiddish" -- "Food" -- "Gender Roles, Relationships, Marriage and Sex" -- "Geographic Mobility" -- "Conclusions" -- "Chapter 3 Education and Work" -- "Elementary Education" -- "Further and Higher Education" -- "The Professions" -- "Other â#x80;#x98;Newâ#x80;#x99; Jobs and Vocations" -- "The â#x80;#x98;Usualâ#x80;#x99; Trades and Jobs" -- "Conclusions" -- "Chapter 4 Religion" -- "Immigrant Attitudes to Religion" -- "Religious Education" -- "Traditions Upheld? Bar Mitzvahs, High Holy Days and Endogamy" -- "Traditions Undermined? Synagogue Attendance and Sabbath Adherence" -- "General Attitudes Towards Religion" -- "Conclusions" -- "Chapter 5 Politics" -- "Politics and the First Generation" -- "Trade Unionism and Mainstream Politics" -- "Communism" -- "Anti-Fascism" -- "Zionism" -- "Conclusions" -- "Chapter 6 Sport and Recreation" -- "First-Generation Leisure and Recreation" -- "Street, School and Youth Club Sport and Recreation" -- "Organised and Professional Sport" -- "Boxing" -- "Commercial Leisure: Gambling, Cinema and Dancing" -- "The Social, Cultural and Religious Impact of Leisure" -- "Outdoor Recreation and Holidaying" -- "Middle-Class Sport and Leisure" -- "Conclusions" -- "Chapter 7 Conclusion" -- "Appendix One - Biographical Sketches" -- "Select Bibliography" -- "Primary Sources" -- "Contemporary Books, Essays and Other Publications" -- "Memoirs, Autobiographies and Biographies" -- "Secondary Sources" -- "Unpublished Works and Theses" -- "Websites." This book focuses on the nature and extent of social change, integration and identity transformation within the Jewish community of Britain during the interwar years. It concentrates mainly on examining the notion - espoused by communal and religious leaders throughout the 1920s and 1930s - that an 'estranged' generation of Jews of migrant heritage existed within the population. This book, therefore, focuses specifically on the migrant second generation (i.e. British and foreign-born children of Russian and Eastern European Jews who migrated to Britain in the late Victorian era up to the First World War), and analyses their purported 'estrangement' from Jewish religion, culture, traditions and lifestyles and their acculturation of the values, characteristics, traits and identities of mainstream British society. It charts and analyses the fear of 'estrangement' evident among first generation migrants and the established Jewish community of Britain between the wars. However, the main focus is firmly placed on the migrant second generation themselves, and traces the nature and extent of this group's detachment from Jewish mores and customs and their attachment to mainstream society Annotation Focuses on the nature and extent of social change, integration and identity transformation within the Jewish community of Britain during the interwar years. It probes the notion - widely articulated by Jewish communal leaders at this time - that the immigrant second generation (i.e. British and foreign-born children of Russian and Eastern European Jews who migrated to Britain in the late Victorian era up to the First World War) had 'estranged' themselves from their Jewishness, Jewish elders and peers and were fast assimilating into the British mainstream. The volume analyses the second generation's developing outlooks and behavioural trends in a variety of environments, effectively charting the changes and continuities present therein Front Matter ....Pages i-xiv Introduction (David Dee)....Pages 1-20 Home and Family Life (David Dee)....Pages 21-80 Education and Work (David Dee)....Pages 81-148 Religion (David Dee)....Pages 149-204 Politics (David Dee)....Pages 205-272 Sport and Recreation (David Dee)....Pages 273-332 Conclusion (David Dee)....Pages 333-343 Back Matter ....Pages 345-377 David Dee. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 355-370) And Index.