Fw: [Cz-L] Czernowitz Jewish status seekers

I would say that Czernowitzer Jews in the Austrian Empire were allowed to achieve whatever status not because of "matter of social status" more because they did not have to put up with various oppresive laws or other kind of infrigements that would have diminished the developement of a free society at the time rare in other parts of Europe. I would say that there was more secularisation than assimilation per se. Overall the free mixed culture stew made up for such vibrant Jewish life.
As for "Ritter" Knighthood that would have been a rarity. 
                                                                                        Fred Weisinger (Friederich von Weisinger)?

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: HARDY BREIER <HARDY3_at_BEZEQINT.NET>
To: Paul Heger <pheger_at_gmail.com>; Czernowitz-L <Czernowitz-L_at_cornell.edu>
Sent: Sat, 13 March, 2010 2:11:25 AM
Subject: [Cz-L] Czernowitz Jewish status seekers

It is all a matter of social status :
The Austrians lifted restrictions on Jews and allowed Jews
a status that was impossible before.
  This formed classification based on wealth.

  Upper class : (considered themselves Austrians)
  Doctors ,lawyers ,professors ,military ,press ,banking, business.
  Jews got rich and influential.They lived in the upper streets .
  They got titles like"Ritter von" and were respected by all.
  They paid back by assimilation. They volunteered for the Army.
  Many found a hero's death in the battlefields of Italy and Montenegro.
  They dressed like Austrians ,walked with the fashionable walking cane,
    spoke good German (never Yiddish) and loved Franz Joseph.
    Religion : Rare visit to the Temple on High holidays.
    Tombstones : in German pointing out status and merits to the homeland.

  Middle class : (aspirants to be Austrians)
    Tradesmen- small business -laborers :
    Their German was far from good, Yiddish was spoken at home .
    They were drafted into the Army. They called Franz Joseph -
    Kyre Weidel.
      Deep family roots in the Jewish quarter.
      Living quarters in the mid- town streets .
    Tailors, shoemakers , barbers, locksmiths , carpenters
    factory employees ,groceries ,small business.

        Religion : Almost daily visits to the Shil, observant of all religious
            holidays visit and respect parents in the Old Jewish Town.
                Tombstones : In German  but carrying the neccessary Hebrew quotes
        like Hebrew burial date and religious rite.

      The old tradition observant:
      Quartered in the Judenstadt around the big Shils were all the Cheders
      and Yeshives were placed.
              The language : Only Yiddish.
      Food : traditional Cholent , gefilte fish .
        Peyes, Beards , Kaftans , Shtreimls on the streets.
        Nationality : unquestionable Jewish.
      Tombstones : Only in Hebrew and readable only by the initiated few.

    All climbing up the status ladder.

      Then came the Nazis and changed the scheme.
Hardy

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Received on 2010-03-12 21:21:54