Hues of adjustment: Landsmanshaftn in inter-war New York and Tel-Aviv

Abstract

Jewish immigrants in New York City and Tel-Aviv founded landsmanshaftn – local associations of those arrived from the same country, region, city or village. Comparing these civil organizations' goals, structures, and activities during the interwar period illuminates noteworthy aspects of emerging modern Jewish cultures. Landsmanshaftn advanced various forms of immigrant acculturation in New York and Tel-Aviv. They reflected and enhanced economic, social, political, religious and linguistic circumstances, as well as they unveiled differing urban attitudes, multi-layered national and ethnic identities, and divergent sentiments and ideologies regarding the East-European shtetl. Although Landsmanshaftn reveal distinct modes of adjustment in New York and Tel-Aviv, they also disclose similarities, responding in both cities to the immigrants' need for communal experience.