This research is concerned with ethnicity in America. Specifically, the values and life styles of the Hassidic Jews are examined within the context of their impact on the ability of the Hassidic Jews to assimilate into mainstream American society. An alternate anglicized spelling of Hassidic is Hasi dic. Both versions are widely used. For the sake of consis tency, Hassidic is used in this research, unless Hasidic is found in a direct quotation.
The "tormented relationship between . . . Jews and gentiles has endured for nearly two millennia."1 Throughout this period in most of Europe, and in Eastern Europe particularly, the Jews have been the scapegoat for society's problems. In 1348, as an example, the Jews were blamed for the plague which caused the Black Death.2 In 1500, Jews in Germany were accused of ritual murder. For this alleged action, 30 Jews were burned at the stake. After 25 years had passed, it came to light that the Jews had been innocent of ritual murder. In 1573, however, the German political leader who had proved the innocence of the Jews died. Rumors spread that he had been poisoned by the Jews, and they were expelled "for all eternity."3
During these centuries, Jews were harassed throughout Christian Europe. In Germany, Martin Luther advocated that the following actions be taken against the Jews:
. . . their assets be sequestered, their homes razed, their synagogues be levelled, . . . they be driven from the roads . . . assigned to the mines . . . , compelled to fell trees . . . in misery and captivity as they incessantly lament and complain . . . .4
It was during one of these periods of oppression that Has sidism was born. The founder of modern Hassidism was Israel Baal Shem Tov, who lived in Carpathia in the first half of the eighteenth century, and somewhat beyond.5 During this time, "East European Jews were turning for solace to religion . . .," at a point in their history when the...