Jewish Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Jewish - Essay Example The participation of Jews in the 20th century entertainment industry contributed to this concept and has led into assertions that continue to create a sense of popularity over specific Jewish cultural stereotypes. The stereotypes that have been created in entertainment began with the third generation of Jews from the immigration that took place. After this time, there was an alteration in how Jews were looked at, specifically which combined the Americanization of Jews and the traditional identity that has been added into the identity of how Jews are looked at within popular culture today. The concept of Jewish culture before the entertainment began to be a part of mainstream America was one that was separate from other parts of America. The first and second generation Jews came from Eastern Europe and other areas that had different traditions and concepts of lifestyle. More important, most of the immigrants that were a part of the melting pot were restricted to ghettos and had difficulty in basic earnings and the ability to reach the American dream. Stereotypes were created from this developed from contrasts within America specifically because of the expectations and assumptions of how Jews lived within American culture. There were different aspects that were associated with what it meant to be Jewish as well as the inability to accept Jews into the American culture because of the contrasting traditions, cultures, festivities and language (Gold, 12, 1996). The problem with Jews in America was based on the marginalization of the minority, specifically because there wa s a belonging of being in the ghettos and having traditions that were not American. Many looked at this as a separate idea of what it meant to be American, which created boundaries and barriers with the American identity. The stereotypes that were created were first based around the economic situation of Jews. Living in the ghetto and taking jobs that were mediocre because of the