Cultures of Opposition

Hadassa Kosak is Assistant Professor of History at Yeshiva University.

"…an impressively researched and thoughtful book … Kosak is able to bring to the forefront the larger context in which Jewish immigrants made a place for themselves in New York City." — Journal of American Ethnic History"Hadassa Kosak's theoretically sophisticated study of the political culture of early East European Jewish immigrants to New York is both interesting and valuable … Kosak makes particularly good use of newspapers published during the period with which she is concerned, and of unpublished, underutilized, autobiographies and interviews … her work deserves to be read and applauded." — Jewish Culture and History"A fascinating story of artisanal Jewish people as they make the journey from the Pale of Settlement to New York's Lower East Side at the end of the nineteenth century. The source material is vibrant and alive with meaning. The analysis of the relations between artisans and the official keepers of the Jewish tradition is thoughtful and clear. The voices and the events she chronicles make this history real and readable." — Elizabeth Ewen, author of Immigrant Women in the Land of Dollars: Life and Culture on the Lower East Side, 1890–1925

• List of Illustrations Acknowledgments IntroductionPolitical Culture and Community: The Historical Perspective Cultural Strategies and Political Culture: The Sociological PerspectiveThe Ethnic Identity PerspectiveSynthesis and Narrative: Jewish Immigrants, 1881 to 1905 Chapter OneJewish Immigrants to the United States, 1881 to 1905: The Decline of the Old Communities The EmigrantsJewish Citizenship in ActionThe Decline of Traditional CommunitiesThe Impetus to Emigrate Chapter TwoConflicted Cultures: West and East European Jews A Prologue: The Brody EpisodeSettlementOfficial Philanthropy and Communal NetworksSelf-Help Networks and the Making of Social Solidarity Chapter ThreeJewish Immigrants and the New York Clothing Industry Garmentmaking: From Craft to IndustryRoutes of Entry into the Garment IndustryEarnings and Work Hours Chapter FourMaking a Home and Earning a Living on the Lower East Side Demography and EconomySelf-Help and Social OrganizationGerman Jews and the Immigrant Community: Geography, Economy, and IdeologyThe Origins of Jewish Labor Organizations Chapter FiveThemes of Collective Action The Culture of Collective ActionInterpretations of Labor UnrestStruggles for Control of the WorkplaceStruggles for Closed Shop and against ScabsStruggles against Sweatshops and the Contracting SystemStruggles against the Task System Chapter SixThe Politics of Morality: Jewish Workers and the Ethnic Community Agencies of Cultural TransmissionAppropriating the Power of the LawThe Jewish Community and Established JusticeCommunity as an Economic and Social Weapon Conclusion Notes Index