The Jewish Americans History Movie Review Essay Paper

THE JEWISH AMERICANS
Student Name
Course
Instructor
Date
The United States has for many centuries been viewed as a land of immense opportunities. The region has an abundance of resources and services that are characterized by employment opportunities and quality educational and health care facilities. Similarly, the country’s liberal laws and provisions in the constitution that accords citizens with different rights and freedoms also make it very attractive to outsiders. As such, America is a popular destination for many people especially from developing and under-developed regions who migrate into the country in search of the American dream. There are also individuals who relocate to America from far and wide regions to escape persecutions and live freely regardless of their race or religion. One notable group of people that migrated into America and managed to establish themselves albeit with some challenges is the Jews. Majority of the Jews escaped from Europe where they were treated inhumanely and even forced to convert. Despite discrimination and victimization from white Native Americans, Jews were better off living in America and a significant number succeeded to become responsible members of society. The Jewish Americans is a phenomenal documentary that details the American Jewish history. The essay seeks to review the documentary Jewish Americans and highlight on the divergences between American Jewish memory and American Jewish History.
Jews faced massive challenges characterized by rampant discrimination and brutality in many European and South American countries. They were considered outsiders and were suspected to be up to no good in society. To escape the atrocities in their countries of origin, it is believed that 23 Jews sailed and entered America through Manhattan, then an outpost of the Dutch empire in 1654. The group mostly comprised of individuals who had fled Brazil because the Portuguese had demanded that they convert or die. Since then, more Jews have migrated into America but they have struggled to live and be accepted as Jewish Americans. Jews were predominantly shunned in society because they held onto their Jewish heritage, customs and religious beliefs very strongly. While they made efforts to be part of the American culture, most of the Jews remained adamant on letting go of their beliefs. It is in this regard that Native White Americans highly considered Jews a puzzle. According to the locals, although Jews looked like people, they were very divergent. Jews hold unique names and read the Old Testament in Hebrew as opposed to English. They also celebrated Sabbath on Saturdays and not Sundays. Jews dietary needs were also strange. For instance, they prohibit the consumption of bacon and mixing milk with meat.[PBS. "YouTube." YouTube, 2015, /watch?v=XuyN7hoVZmU.] [Walkowitz, Daniel J. The Remembered And Forgotten Jewish World. 2nd ed., Macmillan Publishers, pp. 110.]
Additionally, many Americans had misinformed perceptions and stereotypes about Jews from their readings of the Bible. As such, they associated Jews with illegal dealings and considered them to be untrustworthy. As a result of these stereotypes, Jews were treated with utmost suspicion and in some cases forced to live in isolation and abject poverty. Similarly, as was the case in Europe regarding the treatment of minorities, Jews in America were also denied the opportunity to vote or hold public office for quite a long time before changes were made. However, despite the tribulations they faced in America, Jews were more at peace compared to other regions they had lived before. Some Jewish individuals including Albert Einstein established themselves as respectable members in society. Early Jewish Americans were renowned for their business skills and mindsets that saw a significant number of them flourish as merchants with retail outlets spread across the country.[Walkowitz, Daniel J., pp. 121.]
It is essential to note that Jewish Americans were very loyal and were happy with their acquired American citizenship. In this regard, many Jews took up arms and participated in the war that saw America gain its independence. Jews particularly supported the US constitution that called for the freedom of association and the right to engage in Judaism without provocation and intimidation. Nonetheless, the fulfillment of these constitutional rights was not immediate as Jews continued to be discriminated long after America had gained its independence. For instance, it wasn’t until 1818 and after the signing of the Jew Bill that Jews in the region were given the chance to vote. In some states, Jews were ...