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September 29, 2011 9:44 PM   Subscribe

In October 1870, as American Jews were observing the High Holidays, The Atlantic Magazine published an article called "Our Israelitish Bretheren." 'At the time, it served as a sort of crash course about a tiny, mystifying minority. Today, it survives as something quite different: a snapshot of a transitional moment in Jewish history.' Written by American biographer, James Parton -- the founder of American Heritage magazine.
posted by zarq (13 comments total) 10 users marked this as a favorite
 
It's Israelitish Gefiltefish season soon. Having just read Hare with Amber Eyes, about a Jewish family from 1870-2009, 1870 does seem to be a key beginning moment of modern Jewish culture. Sort of like emancipation proclamation for American slaves.
posted by stbalbach at 10:18 PM on September 29, 2011


"13,000 Jews in Palestine... Pilgrims or children of Pilgrims."
posted by cell divide at 10:24 PM on September 29, 2011 [1 favorite]


l'shanah tovah dudes


the 1870s were also when Yiddish theatre started getting big, iirc.
posted by elizardbits at 10:26 PM on September 29, 2011 [1 favorite]


Shana Tovah!
posted by KokuRyu at 11:28 PM on September 29, 2011 [2 favorites]


Everything before had been a schmear campaign.
posted by Cerulean at 1:23 AM on September 30, 2011 [4 favorites]


I have to say, it brought a wee little tear to my eye to read about the Shabbat service and get nostalgic for Temple Rodef Sholom in my hometown, where we did the EXACT SAME STUFF 140 YEARS LATER! (minus the weird gender stuff)
posted by Mooseli at 1:40 AM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]


Fascinating article, thanks. Does anyone know any more about the stories from the Jewish Messenger mentioned a couple of times?

I also found Parton's book Topics of Time online, with this article and some others (UNCLE SAM'S TREATMENT OF HIS SERVANTS, THE YANKEES AT HOME, CONGRESSIONAL PECCADILLOES, INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, OUR ROMAN CATHOLIC BRETHREN, How CONGRESS WASTES ITS TIME, THE CLOTHES MANIA, LOG-ROLLING AT WASHINGTON, CORRESPONDENCE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK). It's interesting to compare the (much longer) article on Catholics with the one on Jews.
posted by paduasoy at 2:22 AM on September 30, 2011


I pop in just to say, remember to cook your gefiltefish just right, and not a second shorter! TRIGGER WARNING if you have scoleciphobia.
posted by hat_eater at 4:21 AM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]


"...the 1881 assassination of Czar Alexander II sparked a series of Fiddler on the Roof-style pogroms..."

I know what they're trying to say, but man, that sentence went down strange.
posted by neroli at 5:45 AM on September 30, 2011 [2 favorites]


Recent tweet from @gabydunn: At Starbucks. Brother calls. I pick up, say "Shana Tova!" Group of Jewish nerds sitting by me high five. I'm the Portman of this Starbucks.
posted by treasure at 7:27 AM on September 30, 2011


Shanah tovah, everyone!
posted by leahwrenn at 9:22 AM on September 30, 2011


Given the 1870 publication date, and assuming that the author was then 25, he would have been 102 years old when American Heritage began publishing. Not impossible, but...
posted by issue #1 at 2:47 PM on September 30, 2011


issue #1: "12Given the 1870 publication date, and assuming that the author was then 25, he would have been 102 years old when American Heritage began publishing. Not impossible, but..."

You're absolutely right, I got it wrong. Per Wikipedia, the founder of American Heritage was Mr. Parton's grandson, also named James Parton. His NYT obit. Sorry about that folks. And thanks for pointing it out, issue #1.
posted by zarq at 6:18 PM on September 30, 2011


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